Morton v Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Match Preview 

by Russell Gordon 

Off the back of Morton’s draw in Kirkcaldy against the league’s second top side, Dougie Imrie’s Morton welcome the league’s second bottom team to Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology with the visit of an Inverness Caledonian Thistle side who have struggled to drag themselves from danger despite some encouraging signs when the ex-Scotland striker took the reins in September. 

Having picked up four points from six this week, another three would see the ‘Ton extend their unbeaten run to an incredible seventeen matches! 

Match tickets are available at the below link: 

Fanbase | Select Ticket (fanbaseclub.com) 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Squad News 

After enjoying a relatively lengthy period without too many injuries, they’re beginning to stack up again for Imrie’s team. 

Ryan Mullen sat out of Tuesday night’s draw and was replaced by Jamie MacDonald, who himself wasn’t fully fit, but turned in a solid performance in the kingdom, though he was well protected by his backline. 

Likewise, George Oakley was forced onto the sidelines after Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s appalling foul last Saturday. Robbie Muirhead returned to the team, although he didn’t look his usual self, and Jai Quitongo up top through the middle didn’t really work, whether due to Quitongo’s own lack of fitness or how uncomfortable he was in the role is up for debate. 

Iain Wilson’s withdrawal on Tuesday was another massive blow, and the sight of him limping from the pitch wasn’t a pleasant one, although Grant Gillespie filled in admirably on his introduction. 

With Imrie needing to manage minutes with Morton’s hectic schedule, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michael Garrity or Lewis McGrattan getting a starting berth, depending on the health and fitness of Muirhead and Quitongo. 

Current Connections  

After the recent departure of Steven Boyd, there are two former Thistle players in the Morton squad. Kirk Broadfoot enjoyed a season in the Highlands, playing his part in helping them to the Premiership play-off final, where they lost 6-2 on aggregate to St. Johnstone, before moving closer to home by signing for Lowland League Open Goal Broomhill and moving back up the pyramid to Morton as the plug was pulled on the fifth-tier side by their backers. 

George Oakley spent the first half of last season at Inverness, though an alleged difficult relationship with Billy Dodds soured his time in the north, and Dougie Imrie took his former Hamilton teammate to Cappielow in a move that has certainly suited Oakley and Morton. 

Dougie Imrie of course, had a two-year spell at the Caledonian Stadium from 2010-12, before moving to St. Mirren and then Morton in 2013. 

Inverness defender Wallace Duffy briefly joined Morton on loan from St. Johnstone in 2020, but left without playing a match after he was offered a permanent deal up north which suited Duffy and the Saints better than a temporary move to Cappielow. 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Tale of the Tape  

The teams have met twice this season, with Morton collecting four points so far. Off the back of the victory over Arbroath at Gayfield in December that kicked off Morton’s terrific unbeaten run, they dragged themselves off the foot of the Championship with a 2-1 midweek victory at Cappielow, in a match that was re-arranged from October. George Oakley pounced on a horrific error from Thistle defender Nikola Udjur to caress the ball into Mark Ridgers’ net. Jack Baird doubled the ‘Ton’s advantage by getting on the end of a mammoth Lewis Strapp throw in to lash home. 

A late Adam Brooks header made for a nervy ending, but Morton held on to kick start their season at long last. 

Later that month, while other clubs (including Inverness, whose game at Cappielow was postponed due to non-existent travel difficulties) weren’t asked to travel up and down the A9 in supposedly treacherous weather conditions, Morton and their fans weren’t extended such a courtesy, but secured a 0-0 draw from a fairly turgid affair in pretty foul conditions to maintain an unbeaten run which by that point had reached five games. 

Opposition Analysis  

Inverness are having a miserable time of it this season. After a slow start to the season, Billy Dodds, who had been given an extended contract off the back of their somewhat fortunate run to last season’s Scottish Cup final, was emptied to make way for Duncan Ferguson. That appointment saw an immediate reaction, with a 3-2 win at Gayfield taking them off the foot of the table at the expense of Morton and propelling them to a run of six unbeaten in the league before a narrow late defeat by big-spending Raith Rovers. 

Ferguson brought in free agents David Wotherspoon and Cillian Sheridan, with differing levels of success, resulting in both moving on- Wotherspoon to Dundee United, while Sheridan was released after a disappointing spell in the Highlands, eventually signing for Queen’s Park. 

They’ve also had their struggles off the pitch. After plans for a proposed battery farm on land owned by the club were approved earlier this month by Highland Council, the plans are now under review, which with massive losses year on year, was seen as a solution to addressing their financial woes, but has now left them in limbo until a decision is reached. 

Results since Christmas have been underwhelming, and coupled with the improved form of Ayr, Queen’s Park and Dunfermline in recent weeks, they’ve been left in the play-off place at the foot of the table, albeit seven points clear of Arbroath. 

A Scottish Cup exit to Hibernian has halted any chance of a repeat of last year’s cup run, and left only one Championship club in the competition at this late stage of the season. And since then, three draws haven’t done much to lift them up the table, although a last gasp Cameron Harper equaliser at Gayfield last weekend struck a hammer blow to the Red Lichties’ survival hopes, keeping their relegation rivals at arm’s length 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

What’s Happening Elsewhere? 

Speaking of Arbroath, the BBC cameras visit Angus for the visit of big-spending Raith Rovers, an evening that the hosts will be looking forward to with a massive sense of trepidation after shipping six appalling goals to Queen’s Park in a midweek Hampden rout. 

On Saturday, the Spiders visit Airdrie in a game that any of a Morton persuasion would accept a draw from, although those with a more direct interest will be looking for a result to provide a cushion from the drop rather than catch the ‘Ton in the play-off places. 

It’s a similar scenario at East End Park, where Dunfermline host Ayr United. After collecting four points from their last two games, a win for the Pars would prove an excellent week’s work, while also damaging our nearest challengers’ hopes of catching Morton. 

The division’s match of the day takes place at Firhill, where a wounded Dundee United will hope to recover from their shock midweek defeat by Airdrie by maintaining their fine league record against Partick this season. With big-spending Raith likely to be topping the table going into the match, the pressure will be on the Terrors, and one can only hope they stand up to it, allowing Morton to take advantage with a win to move into third. 

Betting Guide  

All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 29th February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling.  

Morton are clear favourites at 4/5, with Inverness priced at 31/10 and the draw at 12/5. 

Grant Gillespie to score the final goal of the game is 8/1 and Morton to win without conceding is 2/1. 

Match Officials  

Referee- Graham Grainger takes charge of his second Morton match of the season, having been in the middle of our 1-2 defeat by Dunfermline at Cappielow in November.

AR 1- Craig Ferguson

AR 2- Scott Bunting