Morton v Ayr United Preview 

High flying Ayr United make their second trip of the month to Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology looking to repeat their victory over Morton in the third round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. 

Morton are providing streams for fans in the UK and overseas, purchase at tv.gmfc.net/passes. 

Photo - GBR Photographs. 

Squad News 

After two disappointing league results, Imrie may be tempted to make changes to the side, especially considering the nature of the tournament. Lewis McGrattan’s performance and goal were a couple of the very few positives to take from Saturday’s tepid display against Arbroath, and whilst his namesakes Strapp and McGregor must also be knocking down Imrie’s door looking for starting berths. 

With the SFA not listing their suspensions online until a Friday, we’re assuming that given his ordering off was for a second booking and not violent conduct, Jai Quitongo will be available for selection, before sitting out at Firhill on October 1st. Hopefully those inside Cappielow don’t take a leaf out of Lee Johnson’s book, however, and have confirmation from the authorities regarding the striker’s availability!  

Current Connections  

Our former captain Sean McGinty has struggled for minutes recently at Somerset and if Lee Bullen looks to shuffle his pack, he may well make an appearance at Cappielow, along with deposed goalkeeper Aidan McAdams. They are of course captained by former ‘Ton favourite Andy Murdoch. 

Morton’s central defensive pairing of Alan Lithgow and Jack Baird have both represented, Ayr, as have midfielders Robbie Crawford and Grant Gillespie and Assistant Manager Andy Millen.   

Photo - GBR Photos

Tale of the Tape  

The recent defeat to The Honest Men is of course fresh in the memory, and I covered the league fixtures from last term, so we’ll take a different angle. The clubs have never met in this competition, whilst in their most recent League Cup meeting, a Lawrence Shankland hat-trick against his former club at Somerset Park was enough to give the hosts a convincing 3-1 win in July 2018 in a group stage game as Raymond McKinnon’s ultimately brief spell in charge of Morton got off to an inauspicious start, in spite of a Michael Tidser free kick giving Morton the lead. 

Ayr were also victorious in a League Cup tie in 2005 at Cappielow and we have to go all the way back to 1980 for our most recent win in that competition, 2-1 at Somerset Park. I’m afraid we lost the second leg 0-2 at Cappielow, however, and I refuse to go back any further to upset myself looking for our most recent win over a tie. 

The Scottish Cup isn’t much to write home about either (although unlike Ayr, we have won that particular trophy). The clubs’ most recent meeting saw a 2-3 defeat at Somerset Park in December 2005, with Morton storming back from 0-3 down only to be controversially denied a late penalty when Jason Walker was felled in the box. The last time we knocked them out of the Scottish Cup was way back in January 1971. Ouch. 

Opposition Analysis  

Ayr may have had their wings clipped by Raith Rovers at the weekend, but will be confident going into the tie against a Morton team they comfortably kept at bay only 19 days ago. The hope for Morton fans will be that star man Dipo Akinyemi is given a well-deserved rest for the tie, and that Sean McGinty keeps his place. Although it’s fair to say there is also a bit of fire power waiting in the wings, with Josh Mullin and Bradly Young both coming off the bench on Saturday, the latter pulling the score back to 1-2 before Andy Murdoch’s equaliser and Scott Brown’s subsequent winner for the Fifers. 

It is of course difficult to predict how both will line-up, but expect changes on both sides. 

Photo - GBR Photos. 

Betting Guide  

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

Ayr are comfortable favourites to overturn a stuttering Morton at even money, whilst the ‘Ton come in at 12/5 and the draw at 23/10.

If Morton are to get through the tie, it’s unlikely they’ll be doing so in a terribly high scoring affair, so Morton to win to nil is 9/2 and a correct score of 1-0 to Morton is 15/2 

Match Officials  

Referee- Craig Napier 

AR 1-  Drew Kirkland 

AR 2- Graeme Leslie