DUNDEE United staged a dramatic and unlikely comeback to stun Morton and take a 2-1 first leg lead in the Premiership play-off quarter-final.

The Tannadice outfit were second best during a first half that saw captain Thomas O’Ware power the hosts into a seven-minute lead in front of a busy Cappielow.

But it was United who would grab the upper hand going into Friday’s return as Simon Murray and Blair Spittal both netted a long-range strike each.

The form book did not look good for Morton going into this one. Despite finishing fourth in the Championship and holding United to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, Jim Duffy hadn’t witnessed his side win a league game since March 18.

He probably couldn’t believe his eyes then when his charges roared into an early lead.

A Lawrence Shankland throw in 10 yards from the byeline was met powerfully by the head of the unmarked O’Ware in front of goal, leaving Cammy Bell powerless. Cappielow shook with the force of their captain’s 11th of the campaign.

Rattled, United tried their best to come back. On 12 minutes Thomas Mikkelsen stung the palms of Derek Gaston with a turn and shot with little success.

It only acted as an incentive for Morton who, even at this early stage, would have sensed the nervousness in their opponents. Within 60 seconds Michael Tidser gathered the ball 30 yards out, wound up his left foot and scudded a thumping shot off Bell’s crossbar and over.

Then came a penalty shoot for the dominant hosts on the half hour. Gary Oliver appeared goalside from a Shankland free-kick only to hit the deck under the close watch from William Edjenguele. A rather clumsy challenge from the Frenchman went unpunished by Willie Collum.

The second half brought a renewed impetus from the visitors and on 51 minutes a stunning leveller silenced Cappielow.

Murray collected the ball on the edge of the Morton area with his back to goal. The forward managed to roll his man to then drill an unstoppable right-foot effort high beyond Gaston into the far corner.

In what was their only real cause for excitement in the second half, Morton claimed for another penalty as O’Ware looked to be pulled down in the box on 64 minutes by Edjenguele. Again, nothing was given and the visitors took the lead within 60 seconds.

Spittal was the hero in tangerine with a speculative effort from 30 yard which caught the Morton defence off guard, with the ball creeping in.