Morton v Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Match Preview 

by Russell Gordon 

After the weekend’s fantastic and much needed win in Arbroath, Morton immediately return to action in hosting the only club in the division they are yet to meet this term. Inverness Caledonian Thistle visit for a match which was originally due to be played on 21st October, but was postponed due to travel difficulties for the Highlanders, in spite of Morton being forced to travel to Hampden in worse circumstances two weeks previous. 

With Morton looking to build on Saturday’s victory, a first league win at Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology since the opening day of the season would not only take our favourites off the foot of the table, but would provide an excellent confidence boost ahead of the visit of fellow strugglers Queen’s Park at the weekend. 

Tickets for the match can be purchased below: 

Fanbase | Dashboard (fanbaseclub.com) 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Squad News 

One casualty from Saturday’s victory was Kirk Broadfoot, who was withdrawn not long before Morton’s winner with what looked like a head knock, so he could be forced out of action against his former club. That concern will be slightly negated though with his replacement, Darragh O’Connor getting more game time under his belt. Tyler French, who also came off the bench at the weekend, could step in if required. 

Imrie confirmed in his in-house club pre-match interview that Jai Quitongo has suffered a reaction to his treatment and his return will again be delayed following a couple of cameos before missing out on the weekend’s match. Jamie MacDonald will again miss out having had an injection and Calum Waters is of course a long way from returning. 

After an eventful, and ultimately successful return to action after re-signing last week, Lewis Strapp will be pushing for a starting berth, which could allow Iain Wilson to return to a more familiar midfield role in which he excelled following Strapp’s introduction at Gayfield. 

Robbie Muirhead and Kirk Broadfoot (should he make it) are both walking a suspension tightrope, having amassed five league bookings each this season. 

Current Connections 

The only significant connections between the teams come in the Morton squad, with Broadfoot, Steven Boyd and George Oakley all having represented Thistle in their careers. 

Broadfoot enjoyed a relatively successful campaign in the Highlands in 2021-22, helping Thistle to the play-off final before moving onto Lowland League circus act Open Goal Broomhill and spending last season in the fifth tier before taking the step back up to The Championship with Morton in the summer. 

Oakley and Boyd joined up with Billy Dodds’ charges on Broadfoot’s departure in the summer of 2022, with Oakley not lasting very long after apparently enduring a tempestuous relationship with Inverness’s objectionable former boss. Boyd stayed the whole season, finding himself a place on the bench for their cup final defeat by Celtic in June before moving onto Cappielow. 

Morton boss Dougie Imrie of course enjoyed a two-year spell in the Highlands between 2008 and 2010, before moving to St. Mirren and then Morton. 

Only Wallace Duffy of Inverness has been on the Morton payroll, having arrived on loan from St. Johnstone in the summer of 2019 in a deal that was quickly cancelled following Inverness’s approach to sign him on a more permanent deal. He failed to make an appearance in blue and white hoops. 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Tale of the Tape 

Morton had the better of the exchanges last season as they finished above Inverness for the first time this century. A late Grant Gillespie penalty ensured the Morton fans enjoyed their journey home from the Highlands after the first meeting of the teams before a rampant ‘Ton destroyed an injury-hit Thistle in front of the BBC cameras, with goals from Robbie Murhead, Gillespie at the second attempt after having being thwarted by Mark Ridgers from the spot, a David Carson own goal and a second half Cammy Blue coup de grace. 

There was of course the added bonus of a Billly Dodds temper tantrum, with Ridgers the subject of his ire, to feast upon for the jubilant ‘Ton support. 

On our second visit to the Highlands, Morton led twice through Calvin Miller and Robbie Muirhead only to be pegged back on both occasions and being forced to settle for a point. 

It was Inverness’s turn to celebrate on April Fool’s Day though, as David Carson made up for looking the fool on his previous visit by notching a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory for Thistle after Scott Allardice’s fine strike had been cancelled out by another Gillespie spot kick. 

Opposition Analysis  

After a horrendous start to the season, Inverness have enjoyed the sort of renaissance that we in Greenock are pining for from our own team. It’s very easy to simplify it, but there can’t be a coincidence that that upturn in the Highlanders’ fortunes has come since they dispensed with the services of the unpopular Billy Dodds. 

Amidst rumours that Morton boss Dougie Imrie was favourite to take the reins at Caledonian Stadium, Inverness took a left-field approach in appointing their new boss, with former Dundee United, Everton, Newcastle and Scotland striker Duncan Ferguson taking the Inverness hot seat following an underwhelming spell at Forest Green Rovers. 

Thus far, the appointment has paid off in spades- their 3-2 win at Arbroath on Ferguson’s debut in the dugout saw them climb off the foot of the table at the expense of Morton- a position we’re yet to climb from since. Including that win, they’ve embarked on a run of seven out of the last eight unbeaten in the league whilst progressing in the Scottish Cup. 

Ferguson’s recruited well with the addition of free agent David Wotherspoon, although fellow new boy Cillian Sheridan is yet to make a significant impact. I do realise I’m tempting fate, here. 

Wins against Airdrie and Ayr have helped Inverness up the table, while credible draws with Partick, Dundee United and Dunfermline have done their cause no harm at all. 

The only blot in Ferguson’s copybook so far has been a 1-2 defeat to big-spending Raith Rovers, having led with five minutes of the game remaining. That however was followed up with a resounding 4-1 weekend trouncing of Queen’s Park, which may owe as much to the Spiders’ current woes as it does to Inverness’s fine performance. I’d hope that with things beginning to look up for Morton, that result isn’t quite as ominous as it might have been a month ago. 

With the prolific Billy McKay adding now having scored in three consecutive games, he will, as usual, have to be closely watched, but one person we may not see much of is Ferguson, who was ordered to the stand at the weekend and will be unlikely to be patrolling the touchline for the visitors. 

With things looking up under the enigmatic boss, and a propensity to spend money they don’t have with no regard for paying it back, I’d expect Inverness to add to their squad in January. Perhaps it’s a good thing we’ve got two meetings before the turn of the year. 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

What’s Happening Elsewhere? 

There’s another massive match for the Morton support to keep their eyes on in midweek, as Saturday’s conquests Arbroath host a big-spending Raith Rovers side who will be looking to again usurp title favourites Dundee United at the table’s summit on Wednesday. 

No prizes for guessing what result those of a Morton persuasion will be looking for from that one! 

Betting Guide  

All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7am on 12th December 2023 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. 

There’s not much to separate the teams, with Morton priced at 15/8 and Inverness at 8/5, with the draw at 9/4. 

George Oakley to find the net against his former side and complete his own streak of three games finding the net in a row is 5/2 and a draw at half time and Morton at full time comes in at 5/1. 

Match Officials  

Referee- Lloyd Wilson takes charge of his first Morton game of the campaign. According to my records, the last Morton game he took charge of was the 0-0 draw at Dens Park in October last year. 

AR 1- David Roome 

AR 2- Craig Macrae