Partick Thistle 5 - 0 Morton

Partick Thistle 5 - Buchanan (24, 80), Corcoran (35, 39), Cairney (66)
Morton 0 -

Att: 2986

Morton were absolutely destroyed by a rampant Partick Thistle side. Thistle's strikers Liam Buchanan and Marc Corcoran ran riot against a shocking Morton defence for whom Allan McManus was particularly bad. Ryan Harding wasn't much better and was subbed at half-time. Young goalkeeper Ryan McWilliams was at fault for a couple of goals but didn't need his shattered confidence damaged further by Kevin Finlayson grabbing him by the throat after a defensive mix up.

The day was topped off by Stewart Greacen's dismissal for a wild tackle in the 67th minute.

For me Irons should've definitely been sacked after this match.





Morton (3-5-2):

1. McWilliams - 4
2. McGuffie - 6
3. Harding - 4 (14. MacGregor - 46 mins - 5)
4. McManus - 3
5. Greacen - 6
6. MacFarlane - 5 (15. Grady - 65 mins)
7. Finlayson - 5
8. Jenkins - 5
9. Graham - 6 (12. Wake - 52 mins)
10. Weatherson - 7
11. McAlister - 6

Unused Subs:

16. Monti
20. Cuthbert

Booked: MacFarlane

Sent Off: Greacen (67)

McWilliams
Greacen McManus Harding
Jenkins McGuffie MacFarlane Jenkins McAlister
Graham Weatherson

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Maxwell, Robertson, Archibald, Paton, Cairney (McKeown 87), Rowson, Corcoran (Donnelly 75), Boyle, Buchanan, Erskine.

Subs Not Used: Corrigan, Hamilton, Hinchcliffe.

Bookings: Archibald.

My man of the match: Liam Buchanan (Partick Thistle)

Sponsor's man of the match: Liam Buchanan (Partick Thistle)


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report

Greenock Telegraph - Match Reaction

The Scottish Sun - Match Report

The Daily Record - Match Report

ptfc.co.uk - Match Report

bbc sport - Match Report

tontastic pictures

Kilmarnock 3 - 1 Morton

Kilmarnock 3 - Sammon (24 pen, 64), Kyle (90)
Morton 1 - McGuffie (44 pen)

Att: 3645

In my preview for this match I said: "Who will ever forget beating Hibs 4-3 last season or Kilmarnock 3-1 in 2006/07? Not me anyway." Well this is one cup match I wont remember in the years to come - I was at the match in body, but not in mind. For a match report check the links at the bottom of the page.

Morton (3-5-2):

1. McWilliams
2. McGuffie
3. Harding
4. McManus
5. Greacen
6. MacFarlane (12. Wake - 75 mins)
7. Finlayson (16. Paartalu - 82 mins)
8. Jenkins
9. Graham
10. Weatherson
11. McAlister

Unused Subs:

14. MacGregor
15. Monti
20. Wylie

Booked: Finlayson, Jenkins

McWilliams
Greacen McManus Harding
MacFarlane
Finlayson McGuffie Jenkins McAlister
Weatherson Graham

Kilmarnock: Combe; Clancy, Skelton, Hamill (Pascali 45), Wright, Ford, Bryson, Sammon, Kyle, Taouil, Invincibile (Fernandez 45).

Subs Not Used: O'Leary, Owens, Bell

Booked: Skelton, Kyle

My man of the match:

Sponsor's man of the match:


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Didn't get one

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report

The Scottish Sun - Match Report

The Daily Record - Match Report

Kilmarnock Standard - Match Report

bbc sport - Match Report

Tontastic Pictures

Kilmarnock v Morton Preview

In recent seasons some of Morton's biggest highs have been as a result of beating SPL opposition in the cup. Who will ever forget beating Hibs 4-3 last season or Kilmarnock 3-1 in 2006/07? Not me anyway. So tonight's fixture, away to old foes Killie, will give us the chance to experience those highs again; highs that are all the sweeter when they're against a team that we have a real rivalry with. One that goes back to the mid to late '80s and possibly even further.

However, the match doesn't just present us with another opportunity to hit the headlines with a a cliched giant killing it also offers the Rugby Park side the chance to gain some revenge for the 3-1 reverse in January 2007. Frazer Wright is one of five players who survive from that day (Simon Ford, Garry Hay, Danny Invincible and James Fowler are the others) and he has told the Scottish Sun's Ewing Grahame and Willie Cochrane he is determined to avoid a similar result, he said: "Morton were in the Second Division when they knocked us out. We scored first but then collapsed due to bad defending, and we don't want to make those mistakes again.We were locked in the dressing room for around 45 minutes to an hour afterwards with the manager and Billy shouting at us. We certainly don't want to experience that again because it's just not fun."

I believe that both teams are a good bit stronger now than they were then. We have moved up a league and have a superior squad with additions like Allan Jenkins, Ryan McGuffie, Neil MacFarlane, Dominic Shimmin Allan McManus and Kevin Cuthbert providing strength, experience, ability and know how. Sadly Cuthbert and Shimmin are long term injuries and miss out tonight as does former Killie goalkeeper Colin Stewart while Bryn Halliwell's short term contract has expired and the club haven't announced an extension. This means Ryan McWilliams continues in goal, otherwise we have no frsh injury concerns.

Unfortunately, I also believe that our opponents have improved in the last two years. Kevin Kyle - who should be uber confident after hearing of his Scotland call up today - and Mehdi Taouil are big threats while former Celtic wonder kid Mark Burchill is in line to make his debut. Alan Combe returns in goal and Danny Invincible and Garry Hay look set to start to give the home team as good a chance of vitory as possible.

I fancy Davie Irons to go back to the 4-5-1 for this one to give us more numbers at the back and in midfield. The key battle could be between Stewart Greacen and Kyle and whoever comes out on top in that battle of the giants could go a long way to determining which team wins the tie but I think Kyle will be too strong for the Ton captain and Kilmarnock will be too good for us.



Admisson Prices*

Adults - £15
Concessions (Over 65's, Under 18's & Students with photgraphic card) - £10
Under 16's - £5

*from gmfc.net: here


Last Meeting

06.01.2007 - Scottish Cup 3rd Round
Morton 3 - 1 Kilmarnock


Possible line up

McWilliams
McGuffie Greacen McManus MacGregor
Finlayson Masterton MacFarlane Jenkins McAlister
Weatherson

Betting (high street prices)

Morton are best priced at 5/1 with and .
Kilmarnock are 8/15 with .
The Draw is 10/3 with .


My Predicition

Kilmarnock 2 - 0 Morton

The Scottish Sun - Mortified (25.08.2009)

Monti Free To Concentrate On Football

Morton midfielder Carlo Monti has had a charge of serious assault dropped by crown prosecutors.

Monti (pictured, left) was alleged to have repeatedly punched and kicked James McGregor to his severe injury, permanent impairment and danger of his life outside a gym in Glasgow in June 2007. McGregor was in a coma for three months after the attack.

However, prosecutors decided to drop the case last week. A Crown Office spokesman was quoted in Saturday's Daily Record as saying: "A report was submitted to the procurator fiscal in Glasgow concerning a 19-year-old male in connection with an incident in June 2008. After full and careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances, Crown counsel decided there would be no further proceedings against him."

Hopefully this closes a dark chapter in the former Celtic player's life and he now moves on and focuses his attention on making the most of his football career at Cappielow.

Daily Record - Ex-Celtic Starlet A Free Man After Coma Attack Charge Is Dropped (22.08.2009)

Ayr United 0 - 2 Morton

Ayr United 0 -
Morton 2 - Weatherson (23, 85)

Att: 2304

Peter Weatherson and Lady Luck combined to give Morton their first win of the season at Somerset Park on Saturday.

Davie Irons did exactly as he said he would in Friday's Greenock Telegraph and started with a 3-5-2 formation - and it's no coincidence that we won our first match of the season using it. Ryan McWilliams was back in goal; Ryan Harding, Stewart Greacen and Allan McManus made up the back three; the midfield was the same as usual but with Ryan McGuffie pushed on to play right wing-back while Brian Graham partnered Peter Weatherson up front.



Morton started brightly and created a few half chances for Weatherson and Allan Jenkins but they both failed to score with headers. The best chance in the early period of the match fell to Ayr. Chris Aitken was fouled right by the corner flag out on the Morton left and his quick free kick presented a glorious chance for Mark Roberts but the fomer Killie man failed to connect with diving header from six yards out and the ball skimmed off his head and wide for a goal kick.

Roberts' miss was greeted with a bit of a verbal bashing from the Ton support and in particular my mate Russell who told him it was "time to hang them up, ya auld bastard." Roberts seemed to take it in good spirits, flashing a big cheesy grin. Allan McManus provided a bit of comic relief by feigning anger at the comment and pointing out that he was the same age as Roberts.

Shortly afterwards Weatherson gave Morton the lead. Both Ayr keeper Stephen Grindlay and defender Kevin James went for the same cross and while both missed the ball they did manage to collide with each other to such an extent that James had to go off on stretcher after being knocked unconscious. Spoonsy was lurking at the back post and profited from the defensive mix up by blasting the ball into the open goal.



Both teams had excellent chances to score just before half time. Former Celtic youngster Kevin Cawley passed up the chance to get the honest men level but he headed Ryan Stevenson's cross against the post with the goal at his mercy. Then Brian Graham had the chance to extends the Ton's lead but couldn't beat Grindlay who made an excellent point blank save.




The second half saw more of the same as both teams missed excellent chances before Weatherson wrapped up the win five minutes from time.

Jenkins and Neil MacFralane were the Morton villains. Jenkins expertly chested a Weatherson pass past the last defender and composed himself for the finish but only managed to use his instep to volley over the bar when it looked much easier to score. Then it was MacFarlane's turn to exasperate the Ton support. The defensive midfielder burst forward from midfield and played a neat one-two with Brian Graham. Graham's cute return ball put MacFarlane one-on-one with Grindlay. However, he seemed to take an eternity to finish and then choose to try and dance round the keeper by dragging the ball past him with the sole of his boot. McAlister was unmarked to his left and a simple pass would've meant an easy tap in for Jimbo but the Ayr stopper managed to recover and snatch the ball from under MacFarlane's feet.

Morton started defend really deep in the second period which invited Ayr onto us



Ayr were not without their chances and were aided in their attempts to get back in the game by the way we seemed to sink further back as the game went on to such an extent that the back three almost seemed to be right on top of McWilliams in the Ton goal. Ryan Stevenson - who looks a class act, but who I've read has a poor attitude - was controlling the game and had Ayr's best efforts of the second half. He blasted one against the junction of bar and post so hard you'd think the bar might've come off and then had another long range effort that went inches over the cross bar. Davie MacGregor came on as a substitute as Irons went to a back four to try and plug a few gaps at the back and it was the long serving defender who started repaying the manager for handing him another years contract by amazingly clearing the ball off the line when he seemed in an impossible position to do so.



Peter Weatherson punished Ayr for their missed chances with a sublime piece of skill five minutes from the end. He picked the ball up 25 yards from goal with two defenders in front of him and just when it looked like the only thing he could do was look back to link up with a team mate he flicked the ball through the middle of James and Andy Aitken with the outside of his right boot and ran round James, took a few touches before slotting past Grindlay with ease. I don't want to get carried away here but this was the kind of goal Dennis Bergkamp used to score and one which is all the more special when you consider that Peter isn't known for his pace and so the piece of skill has to completely fool the defenders if he is to get past them to score. It's not like Didier Agathe just knocking the ball round them and running; Peter made a fool of his opponents and finished expertly to complete his double. Well done Spoonsy, that's the kind of goal that makes the admission money worthwhile.

This was a rarity for a few reasons - not only did we witness a Morton win at Somerset Park but it was an enjoyable match in a division that usually churns out dire fixtures that aren't worth the ridiculous prices they charge (I had to pay £8 for my four year old son on Saturday). However, I don't think anyone should mix up an entertaining match with us playing quality football; I still think we were launching long balls far too often and the deep defending could've been our undoing but I really enjoyed this match and would happily see us win like this every week - and I think we can if we stick with the 3-5-2. Roll on Tuesday.

Morton (3-5-2):

1. McWilliams - 7
2. McGuffie - 6
3. Harding - 7
4. McManus - 6
5. Greacen - 7
6. Masterton - 5 (14. MacGregor - 66 mins)
7. Jenkins - 6
8. MacFarlane - 6
9. Graham - 7 (16. Wake - 82 mins)
10. Weatherson - 8
11. McAlister - 6

Unused Subs:

12. Finlayson
15. Monti
20. Trialist

Booked: Graham

McWilliams
Greacen McManus Harding
MacFarlane
McGuffie Masterton Jenkins McAlister
Weatherson Graham

Ayr United: Grindlay, Connolly, James, Gibson, A. Aitken, Keenan, C. Aitken (Prunty, 80), Stevenson, Easton (Borris, 80), Cawley (Gormley, 56), Roberts.

Subs Not Used: McGowan, Samson.

Booked: James, Keenan

My man of the match: Peter Weatherson

Sponsor's man of the match: Ryan Stevenson (Ayr)


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report

Greenock Telegraph - Match Reaction

The Scottish Sun - Match Report

The Daily Record - Match Report

ayrunitedfc.co.uk - Match Report

bbc sport - Match Report

Tontastic Pictures

David Sargent's Ayr United Pictures

Ayr v Morton Preview

"We're on the road again. I just can't wait to get on the road again." - Willie Nelson clearly wasn't managing a Scottish First division team when he came up with the lyrics to that song as Davie Irons would surely testify. Tomorrow we travel down the coast to face 1st division new boys Ayr United in what will be our sixth away game in seven competitive fixtures so far this season. The match is one we really need to take something from or the pressure on the Morton management team will start to become unbearable.

So far this season our formations have been a big talking point. The 4-5-1 isn't popular (particularly at Ross County on Tuesday when Brian Graham was used as the attacking spearhead, even though his playing style isn't suited to the role) so I think a lot of fans will be delighted to hear that Irons is considering reverting to the 3-5-2 that was relatively effective last season. He told the Greenock Telegraph's Roger Graham of his intentions today: "I'm definitely thinking of going back to 3-5-2."

I think this is the formation that best suits the personnel we have in the squad and if I've learned anything from reading World Soccer, FourFourTwo and listening to interviews with the world's best managers it's that the way to succeed is to pick your formation based on the strengths of the players you have available rather than rigidly sticking to a formation and trying to fit players into it. Carlo Ancelotti said as much in this month's FourFourTwo:

A coach must have the capacity to build a system based on the characteristics of his best players, not the other way around. At Parma, I played 4-4-2. At Juventus, I played with three central defenders. At Milan we evolved from 4-3-1-2 to 4-3-2-1 to accomodate trequartisti. If I had the players that best suited a 4-3-3, I would have no hesitation in doing it, I am not locked to any system.

In my humble opinion our squad's characteristics favour a 3-5-2. We have no full backs; Allan McManus's age means he would be best suited to playing in the middle of a back three; Jim Mclister and Kevin Finlayson can run all day and are most effective covering the flanks from back to front; Peter Weatherson needs a strike partner and we have an abundance of strong central midfielders to choose from so we would benefit from being able to get more of them into the team. I think it would be a wise decision to go back to the 3-5-2.

As the back page of today's Tele' screams, we have a keeper crisis. Kevin Cuthbert is still injured, Colin Stewart has a broken finger and Bryn Halliwell is in hospital after he took a knock in Tuesday's defeat at Ross County and subsequently passed blood. Fortunately, Irons says that it doesn't look serious but it does mean Ryan McWilliams comes in for only his second start for the club. I thought Ryan had a couple of shaky moments against Dunfermline but hopefully he can put those behind him and show that he has a future in professional football as his performance could be the difference between three points, one or none.

Dominic Shimmin is still out while the Tele's 'Injuries' box states that Ryan McGuffie and David MacGregor suffered slight knocks on Tuesday but should be okay for tomorrow.

Today former Morton defender Brian Reid tells the Ayrshire Post of his affection for his old club but stressed that this will mean nothing tomorrow: “I played 140 games in two spells at Morton and still know a lot of people including the chairman Dougie Rae who was a director when I was there and the kit man Andy Bryan who has been around for years. They are good people but I’m an Ayr United man now and want nothing more than to beat them on Saturday.”

Reidy will have to try to get the win he desires with only 18 first team players. However, he only has one player absent on Saturday - Martin Campbell is out with a thigh strain - the small squad is purely down to financial reasons although he is in the market for another striker. He had a look at a former Swiss under-21 internationalist and Robbie Winters in a couple of bounce matches but neither look likely to earn contracts, or feature tomorrow, as the Ayr boss feels that they are no better than what he already has at the club.

Maybe I'm being a little overly optomistic but If Irons uses a 3-5-2 I can see us sneaking a 1-0 win tomorrow. A win that will set us up for Tuesday when we will be back on the road again to face Ayr's rivals Kilmarnock in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Admisson Prices*

Main Stand

Adult - £15
Concessions - £8 (OAP's and under 16's only)

Terracing

Adult - £15
Concessions - £8 (OAP's and under 16's only)

*from ayrunitedfc.co.uk: here


Last Meeting

28.04.2007 - Scottish 2nd Division
Ayr United 1 - 0 Morton


Possible line up

McWilliams
Greacen McManus Walker
Finlayson McGuffie MacFarlane Jenkins McAlister
Weatherson Graham

Betting (high street prices)

Morton are best priced at 9/5 with .
Ayr United are 13/10 with , and .
The Draw is 13/5 with .


My Predicition

Ayr United 0 - 1 Morton
7/1 with , and .


Greenock Telegraph - A Keeper Crisis After Halliwell Is Hospitalised (21.08.2009)

ayrunitedfc.co.uk - Morton preview

Ayrshire Post - Ayr To Take On Morton (21.08.2009)

oddschecker.com - Ayr v Morton

Morton Fail To Offload Paartalu

It would appear that Erik Paartalu is no longer part of Davie Irons plans after the Chester Chronicle revealed that a free transfer to Chester City only fell through because the Australian midfielder wasn't interested in the move.

Chester manager Mick Wadsworth - who worked with Paartalu (pictured, left) at Gretna - told the Chronicle that Morton were more than willing for the move to go through to such an extent that we would still pay some of his wages, he said: “I also want a strong midfield player and I thought I had one in Erik Paartalu. Morton are willing to release him and help with his wages.

“I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for him to put himself in the shop window, but I can’t budge him.”

Chester Chronicle - Chester City FC: Blues Sign Lewis Alessandra But Miss Out On Erik Paartalu (20.08.2009)

Ross County 2 - 1 Morton

Ross County 2 - Lawson (68), Wood (70)
Morton 1 - Masterton (63)

Att: 588

Match report to follow...










Morton (4-5-1):

1. Halliwell - 6
2. McGuffie - 6 (14. MacGregor - 74 mins)
3. Walker - 6
4. Harding - 5
5. Greacen - 6
6. Masterton - 7
7. Jenkins - 5
8. MacFarlane - 6 (12. Weatherson - 80 min)
9. Graham - 6
10. Russell - 5 (16. Finlayson - 74 mins)
11. McAlister - 6

Unused Subs:

15. Wake
20. McWilliams

Booked: Masterton

Halliwell
McGuffie Greacen Harding Walker
MacFarlane
Russell Masterton Jenkins McAlister
Graham

Ross County: McGovern, Boyd, Morrison, Vigurs, Keddie, Watt, Kettlewell (Lawson 56), Wood (Stewart 83), Di Giacomo, Brittain, Moore (Gardyne 56)

Subs Not Used: Girvan, Malin.

My man of the match: Stevie Masterton

Sponsor's man of the match:


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Greenock Telegraph - match report

bbc - match report

The Scottish Sun - match report

Morton 0 - 2 Dunfermline Athletic

Morton 0 -
Dunfermline 2 - Kirk (19), Cardle (79)

Att: 2661

A Morton side lacking ideas in the final third were given a lesson in finishing by a decent Dunfermline team I think could run Dundee close this season.

In his programme notes Douglas Rae indirectly criticised Davie Irons for his decision to play with one up front against Dundee; suggesting that Peter Weatherson "played the [first] half virtually on his own." It's probably just coincidence but the manager decided to give Peter a partner and went with two up front. However, it was a surprise to see James Grady come into the fold as he seemed to be out of the first team picture. Another strange decision was the way we set out. The four at the back was fine but the midfield four was hard to decipher - MacFarlane sat behind, McAlister played centrally, Carlo Monti was on the left while Stevie Masterton seemed to play one in from the right with no one outside him. The other big surprise was the debut of young goalkeeper Ryan McWilliams who was flung in at the last minute after Bryn Halliwell injured his back in the pre-match warm up.


Throughout this match Morton were tidy in the way they passed the ball around the defence and then when moving the ball onto Neil MacFarlane or Stevie Masterton when they dropped off to receive possession (this is a problem in itself as Masterton's natural inclincation is to drop off for the ball but in doing this he is really treading on MacFralane's toes and at the same time leaving one less option going forward) however, whenever we attempted to go beyond this we ran out of ideas. We couldn't find a way through the Pars midfield and defence as they unsettled us by quickly pressing the Morton player in possession all over the pitch meaning lots of mistakes and backwards passes. We really lack creativity in the final third as well as a real cutting edge up when we do manage to create anything.


Unfortunately Dunfermline do have a cutting edge, particularly in the form of Andy Kirk who confirmed my preview prediction that he would score when he headed past the stranded McWilliams in the 19th minute. Calum Woods and Willie Gibson combined well down the right and Kirk was alone in the six yard box to nod Woods into the net. The marking was terrible as was the attempts to defend out on the left. We had chances after this but there's a just a feeling around the team at the moment that if we go a goal down it's a long way back. I just felt we were beat as soon as Kirk scored.


As I said, we did have our chances in the second half but we failed to convert on four occasions. Early on Weatherson's crisp volley was well saved by Greg Fleming in the Pars goal. Brian Graham - who impressed after coming on as a substitute - also passed up three chances, two of which he probably should've scored. The first he lobbed over the onrushing Fleming only to see his shot land in the roof of the net. He should've definitely scored the second opportunity but he somehow managed to screw his shot past the post after McAlister's cut back left him with the goal at his mercy. His final chance was very unlucky. Graham jumped with the keeper and got there first but his header looped up then bounced on the grass and dropped onto the cross bar and agonisingly behind for a goal kick. It just wasn't going to be our day.


Joe Cardle - a right footed winger who can play on either side, and who tormented us playing for Airdrie last season - wrapped the match up in the 79th minute. The pacey wide man ran at Ryan McGuffie down the Morton right before jinking inside onto his stronger foot, running on unopposed and curling a wicked effort into the top corner via the cross bar. One of those goals that even draws applause from the opposition fans but will have a manager tearing his hair out at the ineptitude of the defending. I feel sorry for McGuffie as he was exposed down the right and isn't a natural defender but I was reading an article the other day in which an ex-pro was saying that you should always show a wide man down the line on his weaker foot rather than let him inside but Ryan failed to do that. Then after he'd got away from the right-back no one else came to meet him; no centre-back or midfielder, which gave him enough time to pick his spot and finish the game off.



At the end of the day Dunfermline were good value for their win and it really could've been more had the referee shown a bit more balls and not given fouls on McWilliams when the nervy Ton debutant simply appeared to flap at a couple of high balls rather than actually get fouled. The lack of cutting edge and creativity in the final third are real worries for the Ton faithful at the moment and the only solution I can see is a couple of new signings. The only other alternative is to soldier on with what we've got and have a pretty poor season - it looks like it's going to be a long season and I can guarantee Douglas Rae people will not be bringing a friend, they'll have a hard enough time convincing themslves to go unfortunately.


Morton (4-4-2):

1. McWilliams - 5
2. McGuffie - 6 (14. Wake - 85 mins)
3. MacGregor - 6
4. McManus - 7
5. Greacen - 6
6. Masterton - 5
7. Monti - 5 (15. Jenkins - 65 mins)
8. MacFarlane - 6
9. Weatherson - 6
10. Grady - 6 (12. Graham - 65 mins - 7)
11. McAlister - 6

Unused Subs:

16. Russell
20. Halliwell

Booked: Greacen

McWilliams
McGuffie Greacen McManus MacGregor
MacFarlane
Masterton McAlister Monti
Weatherson Grady

Dunfermline: Fleming, Woods, McGregor, Higgins, McCann, Bell, Gibson (Cardle 59), Burke, David Graham (McDougall 65), Bayne, Kirk (Phinn 77).

Subs Not Used: Dowie, Paterson.

Booked: Higgins.

My man of the match: Brian Graham

Sponsor's man of the match: Wasn't Announced


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Greenock Telegraph - match report

Greenock Telegraph - match reaction

dafc.co.uk - match report

dafc.co.uk - match reaction (Jim McIntyre)

dafc.co.uk - match reaction (Joe Cardle)

bbc - match report

The Scottish Sun - match report

Morton v Dunfermline Preview

Believe it or not but Morton are actually playing a match at Cappielow tomorrow. Dunfermline Athletic - and not Real Madrid as the advertising billboard just off Sinclair Street was claiming - are our guests as we play our first competitive match at home since the last day of last season when we lost 2-0 to Ross County.

4-5-1 or not 4-5-1, that is the question. Some fans are saying we have been playing 4-5-1 in every game so far, Davie Irons has claimed in yesterday's and today's editions of the Greenock Telegraph that it has always been a 4-3-3, I say it's been a mixture of the two. I believe that we set up with a 4-3-3 in the matches against Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath and 4-5-1 against Dundee and St. Mirren. The reasons are pretty obvious, the first two were against teams in lower leagues so it's easier to attack them while in the other two matches we were away to an SPL team and the favourites for the league so it made more sense to get men behind the ball and frustrate superior opponents rather than attack them with three dedicated front men.

In today's Tele' Irons has indicated that he might make an attacking alteration tomorrow, he said: "I don't imagine there will be many changes, if any. I might tweek [sic] it a bit to give us another attacking option." On that basis I have a wee feeling we might go with a 4-4-2 because we are at home and because the 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 has left Peter Weatherson very isolated up front and for him to be effective he really needs someone up with him. Brian Graham was quite impressive when he came on at Dundee last week but if he decides to go with two up front I can't see past him looking to Brian Wake's experience to try and unsettle the Pars defence. I'd also like to think that Allan Jenkins would be back in the starting line up after he was inexplicably dropped, this would probably mean Stevie Masterton would start on the bench. The only other thing I can think that Irons meant by adding another attacking option is that he's maybe considering playing someone more attacking on the right of a front three instead of Kevin Finlayson, possibly Graham or Iain Russell.

Dominic Shimmin and Kevin Cuthbert are still absent but everyone else is deemed fit to start. Although the Tele' does mention that Colin Stewart is recovering from a broken finger.

According to the Dunfermline Press Greg Ross and Andy Dowie have returned to training after injury so Pars manager Jim McIntyre has a fully fit squad from which to choose for the game. It's hard to ascertain whether or not Dunfermline will be a weaker or stronger team than last season. On one hand they have lost experienced professionals like goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, defenders Scott Thomson and Scott Wilson and have replaced them with younger players in Andy Dowie and former Clyde duo Neil McGregor and Chris Higgins. They have also signed former Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming on loan from Oldham. However, I'd say that their best signing of the summer was that of Kilmarnock winger Willie Gibson. I went to a Kilmarnock v Hibs match last season and, although Gibson wasn't brilliant, you could see he had potential and certainly looked like he'd be a very good player in the first division.

As always Andy Kirk will be their main threat and to have any chance of success tomorrow Stewart Greacen and Allan McManus will need to put the shackles on the Northern Irish international. However, I think he will score but that it will be a late equaliser to cancel out a Spoonsy opener to make the final score 1-1.


Admisson Prices*

MAIN STAND

Adult - £17
Concession - £11
Parent & Child - £20
Additional Child (12 - 16 years) - £5
Additional Child (Under 12 years) - Free

TERRACING

Adult - £15
Concession - £10
Parent & Child - £18
Child (12 - 16 years) - £5
Child (Under 12 years) - Free

*from gmfc.net: here


Last Meeting

05.05.2009 - Scottish 1st Division
Dunfermline 2 - 1 Morton


Possible line up

Halliwell
McGuffie Greacen McManus Monti
Finlayson MacFarlane Jenkins McAlister
Weatherson Wake

Betting (high street prices)

Morton are best priced at 7/5 with .
Dunfermline are 8/5 with .
The Draw is 11/4 with .


My Predicition

Morton 1 - 1 Dunfermline
6/1 with , and .


dafc.premiumtv.co.uk - Morton preview

Dunfermline Press - Manager Thanks Fans For Backing (13.08.2009)

oddschecker.com - Morton v Dunfermline

Russell's Going Nowhere

Davie Irons has today denied that Iain Russell will be leaving Morton in the near future.

In Monday's Scottish Sun Bill Leckie exclusively revealed that Alloa were lining up the former Brechin striker as a replacement for Greig Spence who has signed for Celtic for £100,000.

However, when asked about Leckie's story by The Greenock Telegraph's Andrew Forrester Irons suggested it was nonsense, he said: "I had heard about the story but I don't know where it came from. I know Allan very well and also know how he goes about his business. He would've been in touch if there was any interest, so as far as I'm concerned there's nothing going on."

Morton paid Brechin £40,000 for Russell two years ago and his contract expires next summer.