MORTON keeper Kevin Cuthbert has targeted a nine-point haul from the Ton's final three games of 2008 as the perfect platform to secure First Division survival in the New Year.

Clyde's midweek victory over Airdrie has returned the Greenock side to second bottom but with a home game with Ross County on Saturday, a trip to rock bottom Airdrie and a December 30 visit from Partick Thistle ahead, Cuthbert is confident of a maximum points haul.

The Cappielow No.1 said: "I think we have got to be looking at winning our last three games of the year. There is no point in saying we have two home games so we have to look at six points.

"The game away to Airdrie is one we also have to win given they are below us and if we take full points off them then we would go eight in front with a game in hand.

"But we have also got to look at pulling Clyde, Dundee and of course Ross County back in. So if we can beat County we would go level with them and that would make a great start to that."

Cuthbert blamed himself for St Johnstone's late winner last week up at McDiarmid Park but reckons that he has proved good value for the Ton since his summer move from Saints.

He said: "I have always made it a point of holding my hands up and I felt that was the right thing to do regarding St Johnstone's winner.

"That said I think I would also be honest in saying that was my first since I joined Morton."

Ross County have already beaten the Ton twice this season, administering three and four-goal beatings in successive weeks in the league and the Alba Challenge Cup.

But Cuthbert said: "These losses came during our dreadful start to the season and we have improved a lot since then. We are confident we can climb the table."