Dundee 2 - 1 Morton

Dundee 2 - Palenik (2), Sturm (74)
Morton 1 - Graham (42)

Att - 3,952


Morton were unlucky to lose this match after an excellent second half performance but a Chris Templeman miss proved to be a pivotal moment.

Our injury situation enforced a series of changes for this match. Dean Keenan's role as a defensive midfielder was filled by Jay Shields. Kevin Finlayson came in for Michael Gardyne and Brian Graham replaced flu stricken Iain Russell. We started with a a very strange 4-5-1 formation. The usual defence but with Kevin Finlayson, Jay Shields and Jim McAlister in the centre of midfield with Graham and Stevenson on the left and right wings respectively and Templeman up front himself. Kevin Finlayson tucked in one on the right was particularly perplexing. However our terrible start led to a quick change of thought by Jim McInally. Brian Graham was pushed up front to partner Templeman, Stevenson moved to the left wing with Finlayson now on the right.

Dundee took the lead after only 2 minutes in what can only be described as a comedy of errors. Daquin and McDonald combined on the left and Morton attempted to defend the situation as a Boys Brigade team would ( that's probably offensive to a BB team) as Jay Shields, Peter Weatherson and Kevin Finlayson all ran out to confront McDonald who slipped a lovely ball between the three to Freddy Daquin who was inexplicably unmarked while three players were at McDonald. Daquin clipped a cross in to the near post where Czech defender Milan Palenik arrived totally unmarked ( a recurring theme where our defence is concerned) to reach out a leg to knock it past Lee Robinson - who had completely misjudged the situation - and then ram home on the line.

Our first half performance was terrible. The defence were all over the place and the midfield were being taught a lesson by Kevin McDonald. These defensive frailties were evident shortly after Dundee's opener. A flick on by the unmarked (recurring theme) Zemlik - who continued his persistent fouling seen against Celtic in midweek - was not dealt with by Ryan Harding who stumbled clumsily and fell allowing Bob Davidson a one-one-one chance but luckily for us he elected to volley over from just inside the box.

Our equaliser was a travesty, a total injustice, an unfair reflection of the game but you didn't hear any Morton fans complaing when Brian Graham curled a stunning left foot effort into the postage stamp top corner. The finish topped off a flowing move that Graham himself started off with a flick on. Stevenson picked the ball up and played in Jim McAlister with a great ball through MacKenzie's legs, Jim then turned and laid the ball off for Graham to shoot and score.

Early in the second half we had a free kick in a dangerous position. After last weeks thunderbolt you'd think Stevenson would try his luck again but Peter Weatherson decided to take it and curled over. I've included a video of the free kick below:



Our second half performance was much improved we were a threat going forward and Jay Shields was almost controlling the game in centre midfield. He was playing all the right passes, keeping it simple but usuing the ball effectively. So it was a doubly cruel blow when Dundee scored their winner against the run of play and through Jani Sturm - the Slovenian striker who rejected Morton earlier in the season. Neat link up play set Gavin Swankie away down the left, he confronted Peter Weatherson and skipped by Peter's poor attempt to tackle to race to the bye line. From there Swankie clipped a great ball to the back post for the unmarked Scott Robertson to crash a header against the crossbar. Sturm was the quickest to react as he bundled home what proved to be the winner. If I were a Dundee fan I'd be calling for Sturm to start ahead of Jan Zemlik. Zemlik is a human battering ram but that's about all he's got in his locker. You can tell from his movement and ability to snap up chances that Sturm could go on to score a lot of goals in this division if given the chance.

It could've all been so different if Chris Templeman had converted a great chance at 1-1. Kevin Finlayson, who had a fine second half, skipped past the highly rated left back Dixon before swinging over an amazing inch perfect cross (no honestly) for Templeman who was arriving at the back post. It seemed to be a simple diving header to give us the lead but the big striker somehow managed to glance the ball over the cross bar. A critical miss that changed the game and one that any striker worth their salt has to be putting away. I like Templeman but this sort of finishing is unacceptable.

All in all a very good performance in the second half meant we probably deserved to walk away with a point but terrible defending and a shocking miss meant that we travelled back with nothing to show for it. If we continue to defend like this leaving away venues with no points will be as much of a recurring theme as unmarked Dundee players were in this match.


Morton (4-5-1, quickly changed to 4-4-2):

1. Robinson - 5
2. Weatherson - 5
3. Walker - 6
4. Harding - 4 (12. Linn - 79 mins)
5. Greacen - 6
6. Shields - 8
7. Finlayson - 7
8. Stevenson - 7
9. Templeman - 6
10. Graham - 7
11. McAlister - 8

Subs Not Used:

14. McAnespie

15. McLaughlin

16. McKellar
20. McGurn

Booked: Weatherson, Shields, Finlayson.

Dundee: Samson, Griffin, MacKenzie, Palenik, Dixon, Daquin, McDonald (McHale 80), Robertson, Swankie, Davidson (Lyle 46), Zemlik (Sturm 65). Subs Not Used: White, Rae

My man of the match: Jay Shields

Sponsors man of the match:

Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Watch the goals and a selection of highlights here: http://www.thedees.co.uk/downloads/interactive/morton_001.mov

Tele' match report: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=15745

Tele' after match reaction: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=15746

Scotland On Sunday match report: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1561872007

BBC match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7017208.stm

Dundee v Morton Preview

Tomorrow Morton travel to Dundee for the second time this season. In that CIS cup tie we were beaten 2-0 (match report - http://greenockmortonfc.blogspot.com/2007/08/dundee-2-0-morton.html).

This match - a league encounter rather than the cup - should prove to be as difficult as the earlier fixture. Not only are Dundee a decent team, as shown in their battling performance against Celtic in midweek, but Morton have a crippling injury list exacerbated by last Saturday's tussle with a bruising St. Johnstone side.

In today's Greenock Telegraph Roger Graham quotes Jim McInally as saying: “Both Michael [Gardyne] and Dean [Keenan] must be rated very doubtful. Iain [Russell] has been sick and it looks as if it might be flu. We’ll need to play it by ear.” Therefore Russell, Keenan, and Gardyne can be added to a list that already includes David MacGregor, Kieran McAnespie, Chris Millar and although they have both recently featured on the substitutes bench, Scott McLaughlin and David McGurn. Neither are match fit.

Ludovic Roy is out for Dundee while defender David Worrell is doubtful.


For me Dundee's key men are the central midfield pairing of Kevin McDonald and Scott Robertson (pictured). Robertson was particularly impressive when he played against us in August while McDonald was a stand out against Celtic the other night. This match could be won and lost in the midfield and I suspect this could be our downfall.


My Prediction: Dundee 2 - 1 Morton

Tele' match preview: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=15727

BBC team news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7017208.stm

Roger Graham On Andy McLaren

The back page of today's Greenock Telegraph is dominated by an interesting opinion piece by Roger Graham. The topic is Andy McLaren (pictured - playing for Scotland) and his Morton departure.

The full article can be read on the Tele' website so instead of analysing the full article I'll just pick out two comments I found very interesting.

The first was a comment that Roger Graham himself knew that "at times Morton Football Club bent over backwards to accomodate a man who, in his own autobiography's title, is a 'tormented' soul". He also goes on to say Morton were "always prepared to act sympathetically." I'd say these two comments point to the fact that it was definitely time to get rid of McLaren. The club shouldn't need to bend over backwards to accomodate any player especially a guy in his 30s. His behaviour on the pitch was erratic and that combined with his performances meant it was time to go irrespective of whether the decision was taken by McInally as McLaren claims or as a mutual decision.

The second comments regards the reason behind McLaren's departure. Graham makes a very good point when he points out that McLaren wasn't complaining about leaving Morton at the time he left. In fact McLaren was quoted in the Greenock Telegraph on the 26th of May 2006 as saying: "I had a year's contract at Morton. The option was there to renew it if I played a certain amount of games, which I did, but I don't want to exercise that option. I don't feel another season in the Second Division is right for me at this stage in my career." It would seem that Andy has changed his mind about why he left Morton.

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=15705

McLaren Stays Silent On Claims

In today's Greenock Telegraph Chris Fitzgerald reveals that he attempted to talk to Andy McLaren regarding his claim that Morton still owe him £30,000. However McLaren refused to comment because he is legally bound by his agreement with the Sunday Mail to serialise extracts from his book.

However McLaren is quoted as saying: "Once my book comes out, I'll be in a better position to discuss the matter."

The Evening Times also had a small snippet on McLaren's claims. The piece titled 'Ton owe McLaren Zilch' has no by line and simply says: "MORTON have dismissed claims in a new book by Andy McLaren that they owe the ex-Kilmarnock and Dundee United winger £30,000 in unpaid wages."

Evening Times snippet: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.1712125.0.0.php

St. Johnstone In The Semis

St. Andrew's first aid volunteers beware, Morton will face St. Johnstone at Cappielow in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Tonight St. Johnstone ran out convincing 4-1 winners against 2nd division side Brechin City.

The semi-final will be played on Tuesday the 2nd of October.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7010060.stm

Gardyne's Ankle Only Swollen

There were fears that Michael Gardyne (pictured) had broken his ankle as a result of a crunching tackle in Saturday's bruising encounter with St. Johnstone.

An article by Roger Graham in today's Greenock Telegraph reveals that after an X-ray it was discovered that Gardyne's ankle was badly bruised and swollen rather than broken.

He is expected to be out for a couple of weeks.

Alex Walker and Dean Keenan were also injured in the match with concussion and a bruised ankle respectively but both are expected to be available for next Saturday's trip to Dundee.

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=15562

Andy McLaren - Morton's Reply

Today on http://www.gmfc.net/ Morton have posted a Club Comment in reply to allegations made by Andy McLaren in the Sunday Mail.

The club reply acknowledges McLaren's claim that he told the management of personal problems he was having / has had. However, the club statement also says that they arranged qualified help for McLaren but after a few weeks it became clear that Andy's problems were becoming 'more complex'. Where the club and McLaren differ is that the club say McLaren 'amicably' agreed to leave at the end of season 2005-06. Whereas McLaren claims Jim McInally phoned him and said "Hi Andy. Listen, we're letting you go, We think it's time for you to move on. It's time for a parting of the ways and I'm not going to change my mind." This point is crucial in determining whether the club owe Andy £30,000 or not.

The club's statment goes on to point out that they co-operated with the SFL and SPFA in regards to Andy's claim but after sending out the copies of all necessary documents and explaining the situation they have not heard anything regarding the matter since.

Personally I think McLaren must not have a case because if he did I suspect the SPFA would have backed him to the hilt but as Andy himself admits the SPFA never kept in touch with him leading him to say: "I made several attempts to keep in touch with the SPFA but it appeared to be a one-way street. I've no idea if they are still fighting my case or if they stuck my file in an old cardboard box in a broom cupboard. However I wont give up the fight."

The club finished by wishing Andy all the best for the future.

Read the statement here: http://www.gmfc.net/club-news/news-view.asp?id=227

Tele' reporter Russell Steele also talked to Gillian Donaldson about McLaren's claims: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=1&id=15571

Andy McLaren Criticises Morton

I've just received a text from a friend who says that Andy McLaren has criticised Morton in tomorrow's Sunday Mail. The criticism appears in the first part of the serialisation of McLaren's autobiography Tormented.

I haven't seen the extract yet but the text I received says: "Inside back page [of the Sunday Mail] is all about a meeting with Jim [McInally]. He told him he'd been abused as a kid and got punted days later. He says the club owe him 30 grand."

McLaren's book is ghost written by Mark Guidi who is chief sportswriter at the Sunday Mail. The book is published by Mainstream Publishing and is due to be released in October sometime, rrp £9.99.

Mainstream's website includes the following blurb on Tormented:

"Andy McLaren is a professional footballer with an extraordinary story to tell. While playing for Reading in 2000, he failed a random drugs test and was immediately banned from football. He was forced to admit to being an alcoholic and cocaine abuser, and checked in to the Priory Clinic in Glasgow. After working hard to overcome his addictions, he resurrected his career with Kilmarnock later the same year and gained his first national cap when Scotland played Poland in 2001. But what had made him resort to drink and drugs?

In Tormented, McLaren reveals how he discovered through psychoanalysis that he had been a victim of abuse in childhood, and how this had led him down the path of alcohol and drug abuse. He documents his difficult journey to sobriety, during which he contemplated suicide, and explains how he coped with the shocking revelations from his past.

Tormented is a powerful, honest tale of a man whose career never hit the heights that his talents merited. It is the most revealing book written by any footballer, and his remarkable life story, laced with hope and humour, will be an inspiration to men and women in every walk of life."

*UPDATE* Read the article here: http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=lowest-of-the-low%26method=full%26objectid=19833726%26siteid=64736-name_page.html

Scroll down the books for the information on McLaren's book: http://www.mainstreampublishing.com/private/forthcoming_titles_sport.html