Morton v Motherwell – Match Preview  

by Russell Gordon 

Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology hosts the BBC Scotland cameras along with its biggest crowd in at least six years as Premiership strugglers Motherwell come to town to face a five-star Morton team who are on fire for a Fifth Round Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie that is really whetting the appetite of the Greenock faithful. 

Glen’s Vodka Scottish Championship Manager of the Month for January, Dougie Imrie’s side will be smelling blood against a side that has been familiar opponents in recent years, and have more often than not proved a thorn in Morton’s side. 

With the prospect of extra time and penalties to be factored into the TV schedule, the game kicks off at the earlier than usual time of 7.30pm, and with the match not available on the season ticket, individual match tickets are available at the below link: 

Fanbase | Select Ticket (fanbaseclub.com) 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Squad News 

While Tyler French sat out of the previous two rounds at the behest of parent club Dundee, with the transfer window now closed, and the Dark Blues’ interest in the competition ended by Kilmarnock last month, there’s no reason for the right back not to be available for the match. 

Jai Quitongo will likely still be unavailable, though Steven Boyd and Jamie MacDonald should be getting closer to returning and one or both may make the bench. 

Experienced centre back Kirk Broadfoot has missed the last couple of games through injury, so the prolific defensive duo of Jack Baird and Darragh O’Connor will likely continue at the back. 

Imrie will have his usual dilemma between club captain Grant Gillespie and Alan Power, imperious on Saturday, with both likely to play a part at some point in the proceedings. 

It should be noted that Jack Baird, Cammy Blues and Lewis Strapp are walking a suspension tightrope, having been booked in the previous rounds and will sit out of a potential quarter final should they collect another booking and Morton progress. 

Current Connections  

There aren’t too many connections in the two playing squads with only Robbie Crawford and Darragh O’Connor having represented the Steelmen, and no ex-Morton players in the visiting squad. 

Crawford initially joined Motherwell on loan from Livingston in 2020, before signing a permanent deal in January 2021, making 29 appearances for the ‘Well before moving to Partick a year later and eventually wound up at Cappielow in August 2022, where he has become a firm favourite with the Morton support. 

O’Connor joined up at Fir Park in the summer of 2021 from the youth set-up at then English Premier League side, Leicester City, having previously served Waterford in his native Ireland. He made only one appearance in claret and amber, and enjoyed a loan spell at Queen of the South in the second half of the 2021-22 season, scoring once in fifteen appearances before signing up with Morton that summer. 

Tale of the Tape  

Those of a nervous disposition look away now. Of course, Motherwell have enjoyed a loftier status than Morton in the Scottish game for a considerable time now, but while the clubs have been frequent foes in cup competitions in recent years, upsets have been few and far between. 

The clubs met at this stage in 2007 after Second Division Morton’s demolition of Kilmarnock in the previous round, but a 4500-strong travelling support were left disappointed as their favourites failed to follow up that success, falling to goals from Brian Kerr and Scott McDonald. 

Morton’s next visit to Fir Park was a chastening 0-6 Scottish Cup mauling in 2012 that I don’t really want to elaborate on, similarly the two 0-4 League Cup Group stage defeats at Fir Park in 2017 and 2019 respectively. 

Our most recent Scottish Cup visits have been far less embarrassing, but no less devastating. In the dark old days of COVID in 2021, Morton held the ‘Well until Stephen O’Donnell looked to have won the tie in extra time with a last-minute strike from range, before Markus Fjortoft forced penalties in the nick of time, only for Motherwell to progress in the shoot-out. 

The following season, under new manager Imrie, Morton again took Motherwell to extra time in Lanarkshire, and took the lead thanks to a fine Robbie Muirhead strike, before being pegged back late on by a Kevin Van Veen penalty and falling to a last-minute howitzer from Liam Donnelly which again sent the ‘Ton fans home cursing their luck. 

Morton’s last win over the Steelmen was in a League Cup tie in 2015, when an Alex Samuel double and a Michael Tidser strike saw the Greenock side prevail 3-2 in extra time, a result that flattered the visitors, and resulted in crowd trouble in the Wee Dublin End and Motherwell boss Ian Baraclough losing his job. 

Fans of both sides looking for positive omens may wish to point towards the last time their favourites won the cup. In 1922, Morton triumphed 2-1 at Fir Park en route to Hampden glory, while in 1991, Motherwell progressed on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate at Fir Park and a 1-1 draw at Cappielow before going on to lift the trophy in one of the tournament’s greatest ever finals against Dundee United. A defeat that will give many Morton fans of a certain vintage a cold shiver! 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Opposition Analysis  

Motherwell haven’t enjoyed the best of seasons, with Tuesday’s mauling of Ross County being only their second win in their last twenty league games. A crucial, and morale boosting win it was though, providing them with a considerable buffer from the Highlanders, who are very much cut adrift in second bottom now, with a relegation battle an unlikely prospect in Scotland’s top-flight. 

It could be said that Motherwell, and a few others such as Aberdeen and St. Johnstone, are fortunate that Livingston and Ross County have been so poor, but Tuesday’s win was their sixth match without defeat, although their only successes came against the Staggies and the Lions, as well as League One Alloa in the last round of the cup. 

With Tuesday’s win providing a bit of breathing space, and a push up the table towards the European places unlikely, their main focus for the season will surely be the Scottish Cup. 

I picked the brains of Motherwell fan Scott Philip ahead of the match, who is feeling a bit happier about life after Tuesday’s victory: 

“When I heard Dougie Imrie saying in his post-match interview on Saturday that Morton couldn’t be in a better position going into Friday’s tie, I thought to myself that for Motherwell it couldn’t be much worse. A run of just two wins in twenty games (home wins against lowly Livingston and League One Alloa) had left us again with the main objective of staying in the league. 

A seemingly underwhelming transfer window followed, losing key striker Mika Bireth, then losing out on a deadline day deal for Kevin Van Veen to Kilmarnock over wage demands, leaving us extremely short of attacking options, and adding to the air of negativity surrounding Fir Park. 

There was no downing of tools throughout that period despite the lack of wins, and that’s probably why Stuart Kettlewell didn’t feel too much pressure on his job. The players stuck with him and performances since Christmas have vastly improved. Unlucky not to take three points at Hibs and St. Johnstone in recent weeks, then again after a strong second half against Kilmarnock on Saturday, our inability to turn draws into wins has been a real Achilles heel this season. 

But it was on Tuesday night when things finally seemed to click and ‘Well recorded a 5-0 win of their own. Albeit against a struggling Ross County, the result didn’t flatter Motherwell in the slightest, and I’m sure even Derek Adams wouldn’t have had anything negative to say about the quality of football on show from Motherwell. It was clear to see we had found our rhythm and there’s no doubt that we head to Cappielow on the back of a much-needed lift. 

Theo Bair scored from the spot on Tuesday to make it six in six as he continues to prove wrong those who ridiculed his signing in the summer. Bair has stepped up to fill the striker void and shown in recent weeks that he offers much more than just a physical presence, thriving with confidence and scoring a variety of goals. Blair Spittal helped himself to a brace on Tuesday, including a goal of the season contender. He’s normally at the heart of anything Motherwell do at the top end of the park, regularly chipping in with goals and assists, playing alongside Harry Paton in an advanced midfield role. The ever-reliable Paul McGinn has been another standout this season, showing his versatility as he’s slotted seamlessly into the left hand side of a back three. Andy Halliday may miss out after coming off early in the second half on Tuesday. If so, then 17-year-old Lennon Miller may return to the starting XI after a few months out with a knee injury. 

All the evidence would suggest that this probably won’t be straightforward for Motherwell. Having failed to win on the road in five months, I don’t think the word “shock” could be used in the event of a cup exit. We needed 120th minute goals to rescue the last two meetings in recent years at Fir Park, and I’d happily take more of the same on Friday night at Cappielow.” 

What’s Happening Elsewhere? 

Most of the Scottish Cup action takes place on Saturday, with Aberdeen, led by Morton-daft Neil Warnock hosting a Bonnyrigg side who have cantered to this stage by disposing of minnows Fraserburgh, Albion Rovers and Falkirk thus far. 

Hibernian take the long trip to face Inverness, while Kilmarnock host League One Cove Rangers. 

Glasgow hosts two match ups between Premiership and Championship clubs as relegation threatened Livingston travel to Firhill to face Partick, while Viaplay Sports unsurprisingly plumped for Ayr United’s visit to Rangers, a tie that will have its own little sub-plot if you’re that way inclined. 

On Sunday, the satellite broadcaster will be in Paisley as our good pals St. Mirren welcome, wait for it… Celtic! The BBC’s other game sees Hearts visit Airdrie for what should be a terrific tie, which will bring back some memories of some titanic Scottish Cup tussles between Hearts and the old Airdrie from the ‘90s. 

In the Championship, a rejuvenated Queen’s Park, fresh from victory in the Highlands last week, visit a Dunfermline side that was battered by Morton last weekend and with every passing week are getting dragged closer and closer to a relegation battle. 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Betting Guide  

All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 8th February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling.  

As the Premiership side, Motherwell are unsurprisingly favourites to win the match at 10/11, while a Morton win comes in at 5/2 and the draw also at 5/2. 

Cinch Scottish Championship Player of the Month, George Oakley to score the first goal is 6/1, while Morton to continue their fine defensive record with a clean sheet (in 90 minutes) is 7/2. 

Match Officials  

Referee- John Beaton takes charge of his first Morton game of the season, his last being the 2-1 victory over Queen’s Park on the penultimate day of last term. 

AR 1- Jonathan Bell 

AR 2- Alan Mulvanny 

Fourth Official- Ross Hardie