Stirling Albion 0Morton 0
Att - 1,538
Yesterday Morton fought it out with Stirling and gained a point (I would argue missed out on two) on a miserable, rainy day. The admission price,the weather and the 15 minute delay (due to an accident on the Kingston Bridge) made this boring match seem all the more depressing.
Jim McInally started with the 4-5-1 that was so effective against Dunfermline. The only difference was the personnel as Jay Shields came in for Brian Graham and played in a defensive midfield role. In my opinion this formation wasn't necessary in this game. We were playing arguably our easiest away game of the season at the home of part-timers Stirling Albion. If we have any ambition this season we should be going to Forthbank looking for a win. Another Morton supporter made a good point while talking to him in the pub last night. He basically said that yesterday's result wipes out the great result we got against Dunfermline as we failed to capitalise on the unexpected points we gained in that game.
From the outset it was clear that McInally was going to settle for the draw. This was made all the more obvious when late in the game - with the match crying out for the introduction of Bobby Linn - the manager introduced Brian Graham as a direct replacement for Chris Templeman. A manager looking for the win would've put Linn on for a midfielder. I felt quite sorry for Templeman. He worked himself into the ground but it was all fruitless as he lacked any decent support from the midfield. By the time he was subbed he was running on empty.
Morton started brightly as firstly Chris Templeman and then Jamie Stevenson took advantage of the greasy pitch to fire low shots at Myles Hogarth. Templeman's was taken comfortably but Stevenson's was a great effort that had Hogarth beaten but struck the base of the post.
Stirling Albion had a great chance to take the lead when an error by Lee Robinson allowed McKenna a chance at the back post but Morton's keeper recovered well by throwing himself at the strikers feet to block the goal-bound effort.
Former Morton midfielder Chris Aitken had both sets of fans clapping as his audacious lob from the half way line landed in the roof of the net after a poor clearance by Lee Robinson.
The 0-0 draw was a fair result and not exactly a disaster. A particular positive was the defensive performance and another clean sheet for the third match in a row. However, I really think we should have played with two up front and went looking for the three points. I think McInally gave Stirling too much respect and Allan Moore seemed to allude to this in a quote in today's Sunday Mail : "Morton only played with one up which is a huge compliment to us but maybe a reaction to them losing here last season."
A match to forget.
Morton (4-5-1):
1. Robinson - 6
2. Weatherson - 6
3. Walker - 7
4. Harding - 7
5. Greacen - 7
6. Keenan - 6
7. Millar - 6
8. Stevenson - 6 (12. Finlayson - 67 mins)
9. Templeman - 7 (15. Graham - 81 mins)
10. Shields - 7
11. McAlister - 6
Subs Not Used:
14. Linn
16. Coakley
20. McGurn
Booked : Templeman
Stirling Albion: Hogarth, Nugent, Devine, Ellis, Graham, Aitken, Bell, Murphy, Lilley, McKenna (Gribben 86), Taggart (Tomana 71). Subs Not Used: Hay, Harris, Christie.
My man of the match : Stewart Greacen
Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/6951733.stm
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