Morton v Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Match Preview

by Russell Gordon.

The penultimate round of the Championship’s regular season, and Morton’s final home game sees Billy Dodds’ Inverness coming down the A9 to slum it at Cappielow for a third time this season. With the Highlanders guaranteed a place in the promotion play-offs, Morton still require a solitary point, or for either Ayr United or Dunfermline to drop against Partick and Queen of the South respectively to secure our own place in the second tier for another year.

For those who can’t make it to Cappielow, Gerry and Andy could well be giving their last ever commentaries for a stream, depending on next season’s ruling, for a very reasonable £14, which can be purchased here.

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Squad News

With last weekend’s late injuries to Lewis Strapp and Alan Lithgow proving pivotal in Morton’s disappointing defeat against Hamilton last weekend, Morton boss Dougie Imrie will be desperate for their return to the fold. There are no other known injuries to speak of.

Current Connections 

There are very few connections between the two squads, with neither having anyone who’s represented their opponents- although the visitors’ defender Wallace Duffy signed for Morton in the summer of 2019 from St. Johnstone, before having his contract cancelled when Caley Thistle approached St. Johnstone to sign him on a permanent deal. Morton Manager Dougie Imrie had a two year spell in the Highlands, playing 70 times and scoring 11 goals for Inverness.

Tale of the Tape 

I don’t know if you could say it’s honours even between the teams this season, having suffered a 0-2 defeat under the Kessock Bridge in October and the 1-6 hounding in December as managerless Morton’s season hit its lowest ebb, but there have been positives against tomorrow’s opponents.

Morton’s Scottish Cup campaign seemed doomed to an early end when they were drawn against Inverness away. Gavin Reilly’s late equaliser secured a late 1-1 draw against the odds, and the scoreline was repeated in the Cappielow replay before Jack Hamilton proved the hero as Morton progressed to the next round and subsequently a heart breaking defeat at Fir Park thanks to a 5-4 shoot-out win.

The most recent meeting saw a resurgent Morton going north with a point to prove after that 1-6 pasting and coming down the A9 with all three points thanks to a first half goal from Lewis Strapp, as Inverness extended suffered their seventh game of eleven without a victory.

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Opposition Analysis 

Consistency isn’t one of Inverness’s strong points. After an excellent start to the campaign, they were to suffer a winter of discontent that I alluded to above, and only a recent good run cemented their place in the play-offs. That recent run saw a convincing 3-0 win at home to title challenging Arbroath, as well as last weekend’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock, who may well be champions by the time we kick off on Saturday.

That run of 5 without defeat met an abrupt end in midweek though as Inverness fell to a Queen of the South side that are playing for snookers in their attempts to avoid slumming it with Falkirk next season.

The goals of Shane Sutherland have been crucial in recent weeks, whilst Billy McKay has provided his steady stream of goals in recent weeks, but Inverness’s main threat is perhaps Dundee United loanee Logan Chalmers, who has five in the last five and looks to be hitting form at just the right time with the promotion play-offs looming.

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Betting Guide 

All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7am on 22nd April 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. 

The visitors are the 13/10 favourites with Morton priced at 19/10 and the draw at 21/10.

I always try to be optimistic when picking random bets, but can’t ignore Inverness’s firepower, so Morton to win and both teams to score is 21/4 and over 3.5 goals is 10/3.

Match Officials 

Referee- Alan Muir

AR 1-  Michael Banks

AR 2- Kevin McElhinney