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Away Day Guide - Raith Rovers (23rd December) Photo - Reddit Tickets Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets are priced at £20 for adults, £13 for U21s/OAPs and £8 for U16s. Disabled Supporters Information Wheelchairs User supporters and their personal assistants can be allocated in the Main Stand. Where this stand is not open for general use, wheelchair users will have the option of using the Penman Family Stand. In these circumstances, where wheelchair guests would prefer not to sit in what would be a ‘home’ stand they will be accommodated in the McDermid Stand. Toilet facilities will be available however food outlets will not. There are 14 car park spaces in the North Car Park reserved for blue badge holders. These are allocated on a first come basis to home and away supporters. The main point of contact is Raith’s Disability Access Officer, Margie Robertson. You can reach her by emailing SLO@raithrovers.net. Supporters Buses The Gourock Morton Supporters bus will depart from Gourock Train Station at 5.10pm. The bus is now FULL. The price will be decided on the day. Message their page on Facebook or contact Mark on 07847847357 to book a space. By Train There are two services an hour to Glasgow Central on the low line, departing Gourock :08 and :38 every hour, as well as one train an hour on the high line, departing Wemyss Bay at :57 every hour. From Glasgow Central there are services to Edinburgh, with the option to transfer to Glasgow Queen Street for faster services to the East Coast. At Edinburgh, alight at either Edinburgh Haymarket or Waverley, onto services bound for either Perth or Arbroath. All information taken from the ScotRail website. By Car Use postcode KY1 1SA for the stadium. From Cappielow, the journey should take around 1hr30mins via the M8 and A921. Limited on-street parking is available around the stadium. Pre-Match Upon arrival in Kirkcaldy, The Novar Bar (17 Nicol St, Kirkcaldy KY1 1NY) is a regular pre-match haunt for both home and away supporters. The Novar is around a 12 minute walk (0.6 miles) from the stadium. Photo - Kingdom Taverns

Morton vs Queens Park – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon. Whilst the Cappielow pitch suffers amidst the sub-zero snap, Dougie Imrie’s side have been anything but frosty on Sinclair Street this season. The Ton have claimed maximum points in five of their eight outings in Inverclyde this season, as they prepare to welcome Championship newcomers Queens Park, the last side to visit the Tail o’ the Bank on league business this season. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad Update The Morton manager will surely look towards a more recognised starting XI for this clash, having rotated heavily in last week’s penalty shootout defeat to Raith Rovers in the SPFL Trust Trophy. Darragh O’Connor, Alan Lithgow, Darren Hynes, Carlo Pignatiello, Alex King, Lewis McGregor and Jaze Kabia all found themselves starting against Raith, but it appears unlikely that Imrie will deviate this far from his core squad for tomorrow’s encounter. That been said, promising young star Alex King, following two stunning goals in two sub appearances, may have done enough to stake a claim for a starting berth against the Spiders. Current Connections Queens Park was the final club second-in-command Andy Millen played for, in a playing career that saw him turn out for eleven Scottish clubs. Morton skipper Grant Gillespie and attacker Jai Quitongo both joined Dougie Imrie’s squad from Queens Park in the summer, having spent two seasons each with the Spiders, assisting their ascension to Scotland’s second tier. Lee Kilday served The Ton with distinction in a five year stint, clinching League One and making a sub appearance in the League Cup Semi Final in 2016, albeit a very brief one. Jason Naismith, and more recently Josh McPake, have both had brief loan spells with the Ton, joining from St Mirren and Rangers respectively. Tale of the Tape Morton’s impressive unbeaten run began against Queens Park on 4th October. Following a humiliating 5-1 defeat in the hands of Partick Thistle, Dougie Imrie rejuvenated his side for a midweek trip to Ochilview to face an impressive looking Queens Park. Morton’s forwards combined, as goals from Jaze Kabia and Robbie Muirhead denied Queens Park Championship top-spot and clinched a vital three points for the Greenock side. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis The Spiders will enter tomorrow’s match every bit as confident as their hosts. In similar fashion to The Ton, the Glasgow side are unbeaten since being hosed 5-0 by Ayr United on 8th October. Their impressive run of form has included a 4-0 win at Firhill, hitting Raith Rovers for five as well as a comfortable 4-0 win against strugglers Hamilton in the last set of Championship fixtures a fortnight ago. Ahead of tomorrow’s match, I spoke to Enzo Tamagnini (@SpidersTalkPod), who spoke of his side’s impressive run of form – “The past month or so has been fruitful for Queen's Park. We've moved up to third in the league within two points of leaders Ayr, and progressed in both the Scottish and Challenge Cups. There have been no shortage of goals either. Over the past five games, Dom Thomas has bagged five, Simon Murray four, and Grant Savoury three, with a few others chipping in along the way. They'll be facing the best defence in the league this week at Cappielow however, who are unlikely to give them as many opportunities as other sides have. The last time we met Morton was bitterly disappointing for Queen's. We'd come off a decent run of three wins, with the Greenock side not yet having started their (ongoing) incredible run of form. There's no question for me that Dougie Imrie got the better of Owen Coyle tactically that evening at Ochilview and the better side won. With how tight this league is, a victory could put either side in a great position moving into the second half of the season. Although I would be quite happy to take a draw, I believe this team has it in them to sneak a win at what has become a very difficult place to go; I'm not a gambling man, but if I were I wouldn't be touching this game!” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All match odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 6pm on 15th December 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The hosts enter this match as favourites, pegged at 21/20 to retain all three points. The draw prices at 11/5, with 12/5 your reward if you back the Spiders to win. Given the host’s defensive solidity this term, you can back Dougie Imrie’s side to win to nil at 14/5. If you fancy Alex King to follow up last week’s sensational free kick with another goal, you can back him to score anytime at 11/2. Match Officials Referee – Greg Aitken AR1 – Graeme Leslie AR2 – Ian Hart

Craig and Dean discuss the Challenge Cup tie with Raith before moving on to laugh at England.

Craig and Dean discuss the Challenge Cup tie with Raith before moving on to laugh at England.

Raith Rovers v Morton – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon. The race for promotion to the Premiership takes a back seat for the weekend as Morton travel to holders Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy in the last sixteen of the SPFL Trust Trophy. Morton, and perhaps our victims in the last round Ayr United, are the biggest clubs who have been involved in every campaign without claiming the trophy, only ever reaching the final in 1992, where we fell 2-3 to Hamilton Accies at the old Love Street. Whilst a promotion push will be Dougie Imrie’s priority, he’ll also want to take a step closer to righting that particular wrong. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Imrie has already stated in the club’s in house interview that he’ll be looking to mix things up a bit and give a few of the players a breather as Morton look to extend their uneaten run in all competitions to twelve games. Missing out will be Jai Quitongo and Jack Baird through suspension- both were ordered off against Ayr in the third round victory in September. Darragh O’Connor or Alan Lithgow will likely slot in beside Efe Ambrose in the centre of defence, whilst the likes of Darren Hynes, Alexander King, Jaze Kabia, Carlo Pignatiello and Lewis McGregor will also be hoping to get minutes in order to impress the manager as we head into the vital Christmas period, and look forward to a massive game next week as Morton host fellow highflyers Queen’s Park. Current Connections The only player on either side to have represented the other is Morton captain Grant Gillespie, who made 27 appearances for the Fifers, scoring twice in 2018-19. Rovers’ defender Ross Millen’s dad Andy is of course Imrie’s assistant at Cappielow, and can count Raith amongst his many previous clubs in a nomadic playing career. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape Honours this season are even, with a narrow win apiece in each club’s respective home games- Gillespie’s injury time penalty, justifiably given, but provoking an angry reaction from visitors’ boss Ian Murray proved particularly satisfying. Since the turn of the century, the clubs have met twice in cup competitions and there would be very few complaints from this side of the room if history was to repeat itself. In August 2000, Allan Evans’ Morton travelled to Kirkcaldy for a midweek Challenge Cup first round tie, and came away with a comfortable 4-0 victory thanks to a double from Stephen Whalen and goals from Ross Matheson and Brian Kerr in what was one of the few highlights of a dismal season which saw Morton fall into administration and subsequently into the Second Division. We were again to travel to Stark’s Park in January 2012 for a fourth round Scottish Cup tie and Allan Moore’s side came away with a 2-1 win thanks to a fine Archie Campbell strike and a Peter MacDonald penalty to secure a trip to Fir Park which we won’t talk about. Opposition Analysis Raith haven’t enjoyed the best of seasons thus far- I recall writing before their visit to Cappielow in October how they struggled for consistency, and since then they went on a run of three league wins and a draw in the next four games before losing three league games in a row, a run only punctured by a 3-0 Scottish Cup win over West of Scotland League minnows Auchinleck Talbot. Whilst in an ultra-competitive Championship, they won’t be alone in going on such runs, the 2-5 home schooling from Queen’s Park will have been particularly chastening for Murray and his troops. I spoke to Raith fan Shaughan McGuigan (@ShaughanM), who was quick to bemoan Rovers’ problems at the top end of the park, whilst taking comfort from their record in this particular tournament. “I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely pumped for Saturday’s biggest showdown in football’s premier competition, featuring one of the most in-form and explosive forwards in world football. That’s right, it’s the SPFL Trust Trophy last sixteen tie between Raith Rovers and Morton, and if Rovers are to retain this trinket for the second and a half time in a row, they’ll somehow have to stop Robbie “Red Hot” Muirhead, a striker who with eight goals to his name is well on the way to getting double figures for the first time in his career. For personal, and very petty reasons, my favourite Muirhead memory was the 2018-19 campaign, where he managed a grand total of zero goals in fourteen appearances for Dunfermline Athletic, but anyway, I digress. What Rovers would do for a forward as prolific as Muirhead at the moment. While midfielder, Aidan Connolly has stepped up with seven league goals, the entire forward roster, comprising Kyle Connell, Lewis Vaughan, Jamie Gullan and John Fredriksen have amassed just four between them. It’s something that’ll have to change if Raith are to challenge for the top four, and if it doesn’t happen soon, fans will be desperately hoping that Arbroath and Hamilton remain stuck in a rut and don’t start to close the gap between themselves and seventh placed Rovers. For this weekend though, the frustrations of the league can be put to one side, and with Rovers’ last defeat in the Challenge Cup coming back in September 2019, this is a tournament they always seem to do well in. Yes, that is admittedly a quirk, due to the final against Inverness not going ahead in 2020-21, and the tournament going into a hiatus the following season, but I’ll take my crumbs of comfort wherever I can, thank you very much. While nobody really cares about this competition until the final, where it suddenly turns into the perfect excuse for a day out, both these teams will presumably have to play pretty full strength sides, with neither having huge squads to draw on which would allow them to rotate. Raith had a reasonably full bench for the first time this season against Ayr at the weekend, not that it did them much good right enough, with the 0-2 loss arguably their worst performance of the season, so perhaps the 4-2-3-1 system, which seems to be running out of puff will be changed for this one, if not the personnel. Admittedly they can point to a decent home record, and they came out on top at Stark’s Park the last time Morton visited back in August, but with bigger priorities for both, coming through this match with a clean bill of health feels more important than the result” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7am on 9th December 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Once again, the bookies don’t seem to be too keen on Morton’s chances, in spite of our good run over the last couple of months. Raith are favourites to win the match at 6/5, whilst Morton are 15/8 and the draw is 12/5. Morton to keep their first clean sheet since the mauling of Inverness is 13/5 and the visitors to score in both halves is 10/3. Match Officials Referee- Mike Roncone AR 1- Alastair Mather AR 2- Gordon Crawford

Away Day Guide – Raith Rovers (10th December) Photo - Reddit Tickets Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets are priced at £15 for adults, £10 for U21s/OAPs and £5 for U16s. Disabled Supporters Information Wheelchairs User supporters and their personal assistants can be allocated in the Main Stand. Where this stand is not open for general use, wheelchair users will have the option of using the Penman Family Stand. In these circumstances, where wheelchair guests would prefer not to sit in what would be a ‘home’ stand they will be accommodated in the McDermid Stand. Toilet facilities will be available however food outlets will not. There are 14 car park spaces in the North Car Park reserved for blue badge holders. These are allocated on a first come basis to home and away supporters. The main point of contact is Raith’s Disability Access Officer, Margie Robertson. You can reach her by emailing SLO@raithrovers.net. Supporters Buses There are NO supporters buses running on Saturday. By Train There are two services an hour to Glasgow Central on the low line, departing Gourock :08 and :38 every hour, as well as one train an hour on the high line, departing Wemyss Bay at :57 every hour. From Glasgow Central there are services to Edinburgh, with the option to transfer to Glasgow Queen Street for faster services to the East Coast. At Edinburgh, alight at either Edinburgh Haymarket or Waverly, onto services bound for either Perth or Arbroath. All information taken from the ScotRail website. By Car Use postcode KY1 1SA for the stadium. From Cappielow, the journey should take around 1hr30mins via the M8 and A921. Limited on-street parking is available around the stadium. Pre-Match Upon arrival in Kirkcaldy, The Novar Bar (17 Nicol St, Kirkcaldy KY1 1NY) is a regular pre-match haunt for both home and away supporters. The Novar is around a 12 minute walk (0.6 miles) from the stadium. Photo - Kingdom Taverns

Dean and Gordon welcome guest panellist and Arbroath supporter Ewan Smith onto this week's show. They discuss Saturday's 1-1 draw, the importance of recruitment in January and preview Saturday's trip to Raith.

Dean and Gordon welcome guest panellist and Arbroath supporter Ewan Smith onto this week's show. They discuss Saturday's 1-1 draw, the importance of recruitment in January and preview Saturday's trip to Raith.

Arbroath v Morton – Match Preview by Russell Gordon. This season’s Championship surprise team are back on the road up the A92 for the second consecutive league match, with a trip to Gayfield to visit last term’s shock troops, Arbroath, as Morton look to extend their unbeaten run to ten games after Scottish Cup progress was made with last Saturday’s win over Queen of the South. With the hosts toiling at the wrong end of the table this time around, both teams will be looking for the points for very different reasons, with the spectre of relegation looking darkly over the shoulders of Dick Campbell and his squad. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News With no reported injury concerns, Dougie Imrie has a pleasant selection headache going into the game, with the welcome return of Darragh O’Connor to the side late in last week’s game. With Jack Baird suspended from next weekend’s SPFL Trust Trophy match at Raith Rovers, I’d expect O’Connor to get some minutes at some point in order to get up to speed. Lewis McGrattan may also return to the fold after a fine second half performance last week, having replaced Jaze Kabia just after the break. Alexander King also staked his claim for a starting berth with that terrific goal in the dying seconds of the Queen of the South tie. Current Connections Arbroath goalkeeper Derek Gaston was a popular figure in his seven-year spell at Cappielow, bagging a League One winner’s medal in 2015, and Bobby Linn achieved a similar accolade from a far shorter spell away back in 2007. Midfielder Keaghan Jacobs is the older brother of Morton’s Kyle, who is currently loaned out to League One side, FC Edinburgh. Only Carlo Pigniatello in the ‘Ton squad has played for Arbroath- making three appearances in a brief loan spell from Livingston in 2021. Tale of the Tape Morton’s recent record against Arbroath is nothing short of appalling. We’ve failed to beat them in nine games, dating back to a 2-1 win at Gayfield in January 2019. Of course, in that time, Arbroath have enjoyed perhaps the best period in their history, whilst Morton have toiled with boardroom and managerial upheaval in that time, but even with fortunes reversing somewhat this season, the Red Lichties still managed to turn up at Cappielow and record their first league success of the campaign. An early Dale Hilson goal was added to by a Michael McKenna penalty just before half time as Morton toiled badly in a fixture for which they’d have been banking on the three points, with only McGrattan’s injury time consolation to show for their efforts on the day. To add insult to injury, Jai Quitongo was sent off in the melee as he attempted to wrestle the ball from a reluctant Derek Gaston. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis After such an exhilarating campaign last time around, Arbroath are suffering perhaps the biggest fall from grace in consecutive seasons since our own annus horribilis back in 2013-14 season. They do have the luxury however of a Hamilton side who appear to be in complete turmoil, but work will have to be done to pull themselves clear of Accies and make ground on those above them in their attempts to pull themselves clear of the play-off position. The loss of Nicky Low was well publicised, but the biggest problem is clearly sticking the ball in the net. They are comfortably the lowest scorers in the league with only ten so far. The second lowest are Hamilton, who have notched sixteen. That said, they did manage a couple of draws last month, at Inverness and, heartbreakingly at home to Cove, with the Toonsers netting an injury time equaliser. Last weekend’s 2-0 win over Highland League Champions Fraserburgh will do little to ease the pressure on Dick Campbell as the league campaign resumes. I spoke to Arbroath fan Ewan Smith (@ewansmithpr), who was uncharacteristically pessimistic heading into the match. “Arbroath have a very impressive recent record against Morton- we’re unbeaten in nine, having won three of the last four meetings. Their 3-0 hammering of Morton the last time the ‘Ton travelled to Gayfield will live long in the memory of Arbroath fans as one of the most one-sided wins they’ve enjoyed in recent years. But despite a well-deserved 2-1 win when the teams met in September, Arbroath are aware that they face a huge battle to claim only their third win of the season. Morton have really kicked on since that clash, and are just a point off the top of the table- a full seventeen points clear of the Red Lichties! And to get the win, Arbroath will need to rediscover their scoring touch. They are the league’s lowest scorers with ten goals and have been crying out for a striker all season. The loss of loan stars Joel Nouble, Jack Hamilton and Anton Dowds from last term has hit us hard. The club have tried desperately hard to recruit a striker, but have struck a blank so far, with a lot of the onus now placed on the talismanic Bobby Linn, who has thankfully delivered. His double at Fraserburgh took his tally to seven for the season, only one shy of his best tally since Arbroath reached the Championship in 2019. At 37, the veteran winger is showing no signs of slowing down and will again be a threat to his old club. Another former Cappielow hero Derek Gaston has, arguably, been our best player this season. He’s produced a raft of top drawer saves- despite not having played behind a settled defence- and if Arbroath can find the net then they have a decent chance of claiming the points thanks to Gats. I’m normally supremely optimistic when it comes to Arbroath, and I’d love nothing more than a win to kickstart our survival bid. But I’d settle for a 1-1 draw this time.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 10pm on 1st December 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The bookies haven’t been reading any form guides, with Arbroath the 6/4 favourites against a Morton side who come in at 13/8, whilst the draw is 11/5. Morton to win to nil is 10/3, whilst Morton at half time and full time is 7/2. Match Officials Referee- David Dickinson AR 1- Jonathan Bell AR 2- Barry Reid

Away Day Guide - Arbroath (3rd December) Photo - Arbroath FC Website Tickets – Click here to buy matchday tickets. Prices are as follows – Adults - £20, Concession (U18s, Students, Over 65s and Disabled Fans) - £13, Parent and U12 child - £23, Parent and 2xU12 children - £25. Disabled Supporters Information – The following is an exert from the Arbroath website – “Gayfield Park, home of Arbroath FC has two enclosed disabled seating areas on either side of the main stand which are reserved for wheelchair users and their assistants / carers. Each area can accommodate up to 3 wheelchairs and 3 assistants/carers. These areas also have wall attached seats which fold down in place for any assistant or carer that is present on the day. Each side is accessible via a smooth flat surface suitable for wheel chairs with a disabled toilet on the opposite side of the stand. Our match day stewards are always on hand to give assistance either into the ground, or to the accessible areas. Unfortunately due to Gayfield’s location we don’t own any parking spaces around the ground, but there is plenty of spaces on either side of the ground to park which is all completely free. If the distance from the main gate to the accessible area is too far, then we are happy to accommodate a vehicle into the ground for a close drop off. In this circumstance we would please ask that you contact the club a day or two before hand and arrive a little earlier than normal. We offer a concession admission for those with a disability and free admission to any assistant or carer present. We are a community club and hope to give all visiting and home fans the same experience as they are welcomed into our ground. If you have any questions we are always there to help Tel; 01241-872157 or email; office@arbroathfc.co.uk” Supporters Buses The Gourock Morton Supporters bus will depart from Gourock Train Station at 11.45am. The bus is now FULL, although names are being taken with the possibility of a second bus being booked. The price will be decided on the day. Message their page on Facebook or contact Mark on 07847847357 to book a space. The Port Glasgow Morton Travel Club bus will leave from their new location, The Caledonian Bar, at 11.30am. The cost will be decided on the day. Message their page on Facebook or contact Bryan on 07979760291 to book a space. By Train There are two services an hour to Glasgow Central on the low line, departing Gourock :08 and :38 every hour, as well as one train an hour on the high line, departing Wemyss Bay at :57 every hour. Travel to Glasgow Central and transfer to Glasgow Queen Street. From Glasgow Queen Street, board a train to Edinburgh and transfer there, due to ongoing engineering works between Perth and Dundee. The stadium is around a 12 minute walk (0.6 miles) from the train station. Please note that there is no way of making the return journey on Friday evening. All information taken from the ScotRail website. By Car Use the postcode DD11 1QB for the stadium. The estimated journey time from Cappielow to Gayfield Park is around 2 hours 20 mins (122 miles). There is plenty of street parking in the vicinity of the stadium. Pre-Match Photo - Trip Advisor If you are arriving by train, or are arriving in Arbroath with time to spare, The Townhouse Hotel (99 High St, Arbroath DD11 1DP) is a short distance from the train station and offer alternate matchday hospitality packages. Closer to the stadium, Tuttie’s Neuk (Gayfield, Arbroath DD11 1QJ) is a stone’s throw from the Gayfield turnstiles.

Dean and Stephen analyse yesterday's win, discuss Imrie's recruitment, potential Scottish Cup opponents and preview Saturday's trip to Arbroath.

Dean and Stephen analyse yesterday's win, discuss Imrie's recruitment, potential Scottish Cup opponents and preview Saturday's trip to Arbroath.

Morton v Queen of the South – Match Preview by Russell Gordon After Morton’s fantastic last-gasp victory at Cove Rangers last weekend, the football world’s attention turns to the latest episode in the story of the greatest sporting competition on the planet- yes, our interest in the Scottish Cup resumes for another year! Whilst it’s far from the most attractive of fixtures, with many of us at least looking for someone we’ve never previously met at this early stage, or at best a trip to a far-flung non-league ground that we’re unlikely to visit again, the visit of familiar foe Queen of the South to Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology UK at least provides an opportunity for progression in the competition against a side who have struggled to adapt to their new surroundings since last season’s relegation to League One. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Dougie Imrie should enjoy as close to a full squad as possible ahead of the Doonhamers' visit, with Darragh O’Connor and Lawton Green approaching full fitness, and club captain Grant Gillespie returning from his enforced absence in Aberdeen last weekend. From listening to Imrie’s post-match interview at Balmoral Stadium, I’d expect him to shuffle his pack somewhat, which could see some game time for the likes of Carlo Pignatiello, Alex King and Alan Lithgow, who have all seen limited minutes in recent weeks. Current Connections The only Morton player to have represented Queens is Darragh O’Connor, who, despite last season’s relegation, impressed during a loan spell from Motherwell in the second half of the campaign. In the Dumfries side’s ranks, reserve keeper Scott Fox answered the call to step in for the injured Aidan McAdams in the play-off final of 2021, registering two clean sheets as Morton emphatically retained their Championship status with a 4-0 aggregate hammering of Airdrie. Gavin Reilly had a fruitful loan spell at Cappielow last term from Livingston, under Imrie’s tutelage at least, whilst midfielder Iain Wilson was an inspired addition to Morton’s midfield last term. Full back Rico Quitongo is the brother of Morton forward Jai, and should be available in spite of being sent off for a second booking in their 4-0 defeat of Montrose last weekend. It may well be the most tenuous of connections, but defender Ciaran McKenna’s collision with hapless former Falkirk teammate William Edjenguele allowed Greg Kiltie to square for Charlie Telfer to bury the second goal which helped send the Bairns spinning into League One in 2019, from where they are yet to return. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape Cup ties between the clubs have been common occurrences in recent years, with this the fourth consecutive season Morton and Queens have met in one cup competition or another, and the Doonhamers have the slight upper hand over the ties. I could go back further, but in their most recent promotion season of 2012-13, Queen of the South visited Cappielow in a second round Challenge Cup tie and progressed with a 2-1 win on their way to winning the competition, eventually triumphing on penalties against Partick in the final. Every cloud. The next cup meeting was in the second round of the League Cup in 2015, when newly promoted Morton shocked their more-fancied opponents 1-0 thanks to a fantastic Ross Forbes strike from the edge of the box to secure a third round tie with Motherwell at Cappielow. 2018 saw a 3-3 League Cup group stage draw and a penalty shoot-out win for Morton in Greenock that took us through to a knock-out stage tie with Hibernian at Easter Road, before the following season, Queens visited for the first competitive game under COVID restrictions, this time taking the spoils in a penalty shoot-out for the bonus point as Morton exited the competition early with only one win and three spot-kick defeats in the group stages. Last season saw a 2-1 Challenge Cup Quarter Final defeat in the dying embers of Gus MacPherson’s disastrous reign as Queens went onto the final only to fall to Raith Rovers. With Queens having the better of the league meetings last season, it’s fair to say we “owe” them one. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis You just don’t know what you’re going to get from Queen of the South this season- their four most recent results summing up the inconsistency in their side. Losing 1-3 at home to League One stalwarts Falkirk, before registering an impressive 3-0 victory at promotion-chasing Edinburgh is one thing, but following those results up with a 1-5 shellacking at Alloa and then a 4-0 victory over a very good Montrose side tells you that there’s no method to predicting what sort of Queen of the South team will turn up. I spoke to Queen of the South fan Finlay Jack (@Finlay_Jack5) who is quite optimistic about his team’s chances heading into the tie, although he was also quick to acknowledge the lack of a novelty factor about the match-up. “This is probably one of the worst draws we could’ve got (I’m sure Morton fans are saying similar)- I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve met in cup competition over the last few years, on top of all the league meetings! I don’t think this can quite be considered as a “free hit” for us, but the pressure is all on Morton, here. The league is our bread and butter this term, and we’ve already profited a fair bit from our League Cup run, which ended with a trip to Ibrox in August, but a cup run is always nice. If we can keep our midfield trio of Iain Wilson, Calvin McGrory and Josh Todd fit then we’ve every chance of sneaking a win. And with the gaffer’s 17-year-old son, Lewis Gibson creating goals for fun, I’d be surprised if Paton and or Reilly don’t find the net. Our issue is at the other end of the park. We leak far too many goals. But I’ll remain optimistic… a 3-3 draw and a win on penalties!” Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 4pm on 25th November 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Morton head into the match as 4/6 favourites, with the draw priced at 31/10 and the visitors at 16/5. With Morton conceding in each of their last three, a home win with both teams to score is 11/5, whilst over 3.5 goals in the match is 17/10. Match Officials Referee- Scott Lambie AR 1- Daniel McFarlane AR 2- Ian Hart

Craig, Ewan and Alan discuss Morton's win at Cove, look ahead to the Scottish Cup tie with Queen of the South and discuss the new contract for Alex King.

Craig, Ewan and Alan discuss Morton's win at Cove, look ahead to the Scottish Cup tie with Queen of the South and discuss the new contract for Alex King.

Cove Rangers vs Morton – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon Morton head north tomorrow aiming to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches. The Cappielow side showed guile, aggression and resolve last week to see off a Partick Thistle side who continue to slide down the Championship table. Cove, who appear to have turned a corner following a challenging induction to Scotland’s second-tier, will pose a different challenge to a Morton side that are brimming with confidence under Dougie Imrie. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad Update Skipper Grant Gillespie misses Saturday through suspension, which gives an opportunity for another member of the squad to stake their claim for a regular place in an incredibly settled team. Carlo Pignatiello or Alex King could be slotted straight into midfield, whilst Jaze Kabia could be deployed in the front three, with Lewis McGrattan dropping into midfield. Aside from the suspended Gillespie, Imrie boasts a full squad. Alan Lithgow’s recent return to the bench has boosted the matchday squad, Darragh O’Connor is back in contention following his hand injury, as well as goalkeeper Lawton Green now being fit enough to deputise for Brian Schwake. Current Connections To say that connections between the two clubs are few and far between is an understatement. Full back Adam Livingstone, who joined The Ton on loan from Motherwell, represented Cove Rangers eleven times in their League One campaign last season. Former Cove gaffer Paul Hartley spent a short but distinguished loan spell on Sinclair Street in 1999/00, with a stunning free-kick at Love Street the cherry on top of his short spell in blue and white. Scott Paterson passed through the revolving door that was the Cappielow dressing room in the midst of the administration saga of 2001. Tale of the Tape Cove Rangers made their first ever visit to Cappielow on Matchday Two this season. Despite Morton’s endeavours, the home side struggled to create any clear cut chances against The Toonsers. A moment of genius from Jai Quitongo thirteen minutes from time eventually settled the fixture. Quitongo received the ball with his back to goal before pivoting and smashing the ball home from edge of the area on the half-volley, marking his return to Cappielow with a moment of sheer quality. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis Cove have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks. Following a narrow defeat in the hands of Inverness on 15th October, Jim McIntyre’s side went onto claim an impressive point at Somerset Park in a 2-2 draw, followed up by another point on the road in a pulsating 4-4 draw against Hamilton. They dispatched Queens Park 2-0 in front of the BBC Scotland cameras a fortnight ago with a very accomplished performance, as well as snatching a 90th minute equaliser at Gayfield last week against fellow part-timers Arbroath. Cove’s all-time top goalscorer and skipper Mitch Megginson misses Saturday’s fixture due to suspension, after picking up six bookings so far this campaign. Ahead of Saturday’s match, I spoke to Sportsound presenter, and Cove Rangers Head of Media Richard Gordon, who spoke of the marked improvement of his side since their visit to Greenock – “The defeat at Cappielow on the second weekend of the season was the start of a four-game losing sequence and came at a time when the squad was beset by injury concerns, and Jim McIntyre was experiencing frustration in the transfer market. He subsequently got the men he wanted, and Max Johnston, Jack Sanders and Charlie Gilmour have all made significant contributions. The injuries have continued - Fraser Fyvie missed seven matches, Blair Yule didn't start a game until late September, and Kyle McClelland was crocked after just three hours on the park - but with a bigger squad, the players have coped, and the results since have shown a marked improvement. The back-to-back wins over Arbroath and Dundee in the space of three days in October made a huge difference, and the team is currently unbeaten in four, with the televised victory over Queen's Park providing a memorable highlight. Connor Scully has been the top performer this season, scoring eight goals, including the spectacular overhead kick which won the September/October cinch SPFL goal of the month award.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All match odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 7am on 17th November 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The Granite City side are slight outsiders for this one, chalked at 29/20 to claim their fifth win of the campaign. The draw is priced at 9/4, with 13/8 your reward if you fancy The Ton to travel home with all three points. You can back both teams to find the net at 8/11. If you predict Lewis McGrattan to add a goal to his rich vein of form, you can back him to score anytime at 11/4. Jai Quitongo to score and Morton to win, a mirror of the reverse fixture, will earn you a price of 4/1. Match Officials Referee – Peter Stuart AR1 – John McCrossan AR2 – Elliott Husband Powton

Away Day Guide – Cove Rangers (19th November) Image - Cove Rangers FC Tickets Adult – Stand £20. Ground £18. Concession (OAPs and 12-17s) – Stand £15. Ground £14. U12s – Stand £5. Ground £5. Tickets can be purchased online or at the stadium on matchday. Click the link to purchase tickets. Disabled Fan Information Balmoral Stadium has two spaces for wheelchair users and helpers, with usual admission fees applying. Bookings for disabled fans, including disabled parking in the stadium carpark, can be made by contacting the club on 01224 392111 or info@coverangersfc.com. Supporters Buses The Gourock Morton Supporters bus will depart from Gourock Train Station at 10.30am. The price will be decided on the day. Message their page on Facebook or contact Mark on 07847847357 to book a space. The Port Glasgow Morton Supporters Club are NOT running a bus. By Train There are two services an hour to Glasgow Central on the low line, departing Gourock at :08 and :38 every hour, as well as one train an hour on the high line, departing Wemyss Bay at :57 every hour. Travel to Glasgow Central and transfer to Glasgow Queen Street. From Queen Street, services operate on the Glasgow-Aberdeen line. All info taken from the ScotRail website. By Car Use the postcode AB10 1ZT for the stadium. The stadium car park has limited availability, there is also street parking available in the industrial estate adjacent to the stadium. The estimated journey time from Cappielow 3 hrs 8 minutes (165 miles) via the M80, A9 and A90. Pre-Match Bars in the vicinity of the stadium are few and far between. The Wellington Hotel Bar and Grill (Wellington Rd, Nigg, Aberdeen AB12 3GH) is around a 15 minute walk (0.8 miles) from the stadium. The best bet for a pre-match refreshment would be heading towards the city center The stadium is a 10-15 minute taxi journey (3.2 miles) from the city center. Photo – Aberdeen CAMRA.

Dean and Louise discuss yesterday's victory, the impact VAR has had on the standard of Championship officiating, as well as previewing Saturday's trip to Cove.

Dean and Louise discuss yesterday's victory, the impact VAR has had on the standard of Championship officiating, as well as previewing Saturday's trip to Cove.

Morton v Partick Thistle - Match Preview by Russell Gordon Partick Thistle call in at Cappielow Park Supported by Dalrada Technology UK this weekend looking to arrest a quite remarkable decline in their fortunes since what was, for Morton at least, quite a chastening afternoon at Firhill just six short weeks ago. With the clubs effectively having swapped places in the table since then, with the hosts occupying second place in the table and Ian McCall’s side now in seventh place, although only two points behind Morton in a cut-throat Championship. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Glen’s Vodka SPFL Championship Manager of the Month for September and October Dougie Imrie should have an unchanged squad- whilst club captain Grant Gillespie breached the threshold for a suspension with his booking against league leaders Ayr on Saturday, his ban doesn’t kick in until next Saturday’s trip to Cove Rangers. Centre back Darragh O’Connor has been out since the win over Raith last month and will miss out along with reserve keeper Lawton Green, whilst Efe Amborse is likely to continue after two impressive appearances since his arrival. Current Connections The two Robbies, Muirhead and Crawford, both had short spells at Firhill- the latter in the second half of last season and the former on loan from Dundee United in 2015. It’s fair to say that Muirhead isn’t the most popular of figures amongst the Firhill faithful, so he’ll be hoping to score in his third consecutive meeting with Partick, although a happier ending than last time around would be nice! Speaking of unpopular former employees, Partick boast former ‘Ton winger Scott Tiffoney and striker Brian Graham in their ranks. Graham was particularly scathing in expressing his views of the Greenock club’s support when interviewed by a down market tabloid after his club’s rout of an uncharacteristically poor, and admittedly understrength Morton last month. Manager Ian McCall also managed Morton, back in the dark old days under Hugh Scott, whilst midfielder Kyle Turner is the son of former Morton midfielder Tommy. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape Whilst Morton it was had the better of the head-to-heads last term, it was a different story when we called in at Maryhill. Robbie Muirhead’s fantastic strike from a first half free kick was of little consequence as Partick ran riot against a makeshift defence which was sorely missing the injured Alan Lithgow and suspended Jack Baird, following his red card in the SPFL Trust Trophy win over Ayr the previous week. With Jai Quitongo missing under similar circumstances, and Grant Gillespie’s influence on the team nullified (in my opinion at least) by an early booking, Morton were on a hiding to nothing against a Partick side that were firing in all cylinders on the day. Opposition Analysis As I’ve already said, things haven’t quite gone according to plan for Partick since that afternoon- they’ve since exited the League Cup at Pittodrie and lost five of their six league games with only a win at bottom-dogs Hamilton to show for their endeavours. That run has seen no points from their last four games and fourteen goals conceded in the process, with a 0-4 home defeat by Queen’s Park and a 2-3 capitulation to Dundee, having led 2-0 at the break thrown in for good measure. Stop laughing at the back, there. Partick fans will point to their injury list, with Graham and Tiffoney being notable absentees in recent weeks, but expected to return for Saturday’s Cappielow showdown. With discontent in the support about the goings on at boardroom level, and McCall even facing calls for his own head, Imrie will be wary about what to expect against what clearly appears to be a wounded animal at the moment, whilst also trying to right the wrongs of that visit to Glasgow. Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7am on 11th November 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Morton are slight favourites going into the game at 7/5, whilst a Partick win is priced at 17/10 and the draw comes in at 9/4. Cinch Championship Player of the Month Robbie Muirhead to score the final goal in the game is 13/2, whilst Morton to score in both halves is 13/5. Match Officials Referee- Graham Grainger AR 1- Calum Doyle AR 2- John Stewart

Dean and Chris analyse Saturday's draw at Somerset Park and preview the visit of Partick on Saturday.

Dean and Chris analyse Saturday's draw at Somerset Park and preview the visit of Partick on Saturday.

Ayr United vs Morton – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon. Dougie Imrie’s Morton side travel to Somerset Park on Saturday looking to make club history, as The Ton aim to play five matches without conceding a goal. The history books show that in 2016, the team went four matches with consecutive clean sheets, although these were matches against lower-league opposition in the League Cup group stages. You have to go all the way back to 2006/07 for the last time Morton kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league, albeit this was in the third-tier. Dougie Imrie’s side are in fact trying to best a record, of five consecutive clean sheets in the league, set in the second tier all the way back in April 1996. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad Update The squad was boosted by the arrival of the former Morton fans’ Player of the Year Efe Ambrose, who slotted straight into the back four in place of Carlo Pigniatello. Darragh O’Connor, who is currently out of action with a hand injury, joins fellow centre-back Alan Lithgow on the treatment table, who looks to be a while away from competitive action. Doubt remains over second-choice goalkeeper Lawton Green, who missed the last two weeks with a finger injury. Current Connections Former Morton skipper Sean McGinty joined Ayr last summer, although has struggled for minutes under manager Lee Bullen, as has former Ton custodian Aidan McAdams, who also followed former Morton manager David Hopkin down the coast last off-season. Fans’ favourite Andy Murdoch spent two years on Sinclair Street before being infamously released by a newly-appointed Ray McKinnon. Hard-working midfielder Robbie Crawford graduated from Ayr United’s youth academy into the first team in 2012. The Irvine-born midfielder went onto make 226 competitive appearances for The Honest Men before joining Livingston in 2019. Skipper Grant Gillespie joined Ayr in January 2020, making four appearances in the second half of their campaign, before joining Queens Park. Jack Baird spent two seasons in Ayrshire before joining The Ton this season, with fellow centre back Alan Lithgow spending the 2013/14 season plying his trade at Somerset Park. Ayr United are one of the eleven Scottish clubs that current Assistant Manager Andy Millen has represented. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape Saturday will mark the third meeting of the sides this season. Ayr visited Cappielow on Matchday Six this season, taking all three points back down the coast with them, maintaining their unbeaten start to the league campaign in the process. It was a successful day for the visitors’ strikeforce, Dipo Akinyemi and Mark McKenzie, who delivered a goal and an assist apiece to put the Ayrshire side 2-0 up. Robbie Muirhead halved the arrears with a late header, however the visitors held on to claim all three points. The Ton prevailed in the second meeting of the season, this time in the SPFL Trust Trophy in a match that had no shortage of talking points. Midfielder Lewis McGregor opened the scoring in the first half before Josh Mullin levelled the scoring as the match approached half time. Visiting attacker Paul Smith saw red just after the hour mark, picking up two bookings within six minutes of each other. Morton then went down to ten men after Jai Quitongo was adjudged to have struck full-back Patrick Reading with his arm. Former Ayr defender Jack Baird then saw red eight minutes from time for a lunging last-man challenge as the tie headed to spot-kicks. Familiar face Sean McGinty stepped up first for the Honest Men, with his penalty miss, underlined by an outpouring of sympathy from the home support, proving the difference as The Ton sealed their progression into the next round. Opposition Analysis Table-topping Ayr have taken the most shots in the league, and as a result have scored the most goals in the Championship thus far. This has been in no small part thanks to striker Dipo Akinyemi, who leads the league with eleven goals in thirteen appearances to date. Lee Bullen’s side will be looking for their third win on the bounce, having beaten Partick 4-2 at Somerset and Arbroath 2-0 at Gayfield last Saturday, off the back of a 2-2 home draw with Cove Rangers and a 2-1 defeat in the hands of Dundee a fortnight ago. I spoke to Ayr fan Marc Dunlop (@Marco_Ayr) ahead of the game, who underlined the importance of Saturday’s match for both sides – “Table toppers Ayr United, welcome 2nd placed Greenock Morton to Somerset Park this weekend. Both sides are high in confidence, setting up an extremely intriguing encounter and a potential game of the day in the Championship. The Honest Men left Angus on Saturday with a hard fought 3 points, scoring 2 late goals. Manager Lee Bullen was delighted with the result & will be looking for his side to continue their good form. Ayr have no fresh injury worries, & it’ll be interesting to see which team start, with all substitutions having telling impacts in the last 2 games. A large crowd is expected for what could be described as game of the season, thus far! I, for one, am excited at the prospect. Three points would be a real statement going forward.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All match odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 7.30am on 2nd October and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The hosts head into this top-of-the-table clash as the bookmakers’ favourites, priced at 5/6 to take all three points, with the draw listed at 5/2. Dougie Imrie’s side are chalked up at 14/5 to beat Ayr inside 90 minutes for the first time this season. If you fancy former Killie player Robbie Muirhead to continue his impressive goalscoring return this season, 11/4 is your reward if you fancy him to score his 7th league goal of the season. You can back The Ton to keep their fifth consecutive clean sheet against the league’s top scorers at 10/3. Match Officials Referee – Euan Anderson AR1 – David Dunne AR2 – Alastair Taylor

Photo - The Scottish Football Partnership. Tickets Tickets for Saturday’s game MUST be purchased using Ayr’s online ticketing system. Click here to purchase tickets. Prices are as follows - Adults: £20, Concessions: £13 (Over 65s and Students), Juveniles: £13 (13 - 17-year-olds), Child: £6 (12 and under). Disabled Supporters Information Disabled fans will be housed in the disabled area directly under the Family Stand. Fans will enter through Exit Gate G, which has flat, smooth access for wheelchair users. Parking bays are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, but spaces are kept at the front of the main car park for blue badge holders. Drop off and pick up is also available opposite Exit Gate G. The price of entry is £13, with carers going free. Carer tickets should be bought through the club shop, with concession tickets being available both via the club shop and online. The club’s Disability Access Officer is Jim Scullion, who can be contacted via stadium@ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Supporters Buses The Gourock Morton Supporters bus will depart from Gourock Train Station at 1pm. The price will be decided on the day. Message their page on Facebook or contact Mark on 07847847357 to book a space. The Port Glasgow Morton Travel Club bus will leave from their new location, The Caledonian Bar, at 12.30pm. The cost will be decided on the day. Message their page on Facebook or contact Bryan on 07979760291 to book a space. By Train Industrial action is planned for Saturday, therefore there are NO train services operating on Saturday. If travelling via public service bus, then the two options are the 906/901 from Greenock to Glasgow, then the Stagecoach X77 from Glasgow to Ayr, or using the 906/901 to travel to Largs, then connecting onto the Stagecoach 585 service from Largs-Ayr. By Car From the A77 take the A719 (Whitletts Road) into Ayr. After passing the racecourse on your left, turn right at the next set of traffic lights for the ground, or turn left to take you down to an unofficial car park. Turning right will take you into Burnett Terrace, then left into Hawkhill Avenue and then right into Somerset Road. The ground is down on the left. There is a small car park at the ground adjacent to the Main Stand but this is for pass holders only. There is plenty of street parking to be found in the area around the stadium. Pre-Match Photo - The Ayr Advertiser If alighting at Newton-on-Ayr then The Wallace Bar (6 Tam's Brig, Ayr KA8 8JQ) is a two minute walk from the station en-route to the stadium. If alighting at Ayr then Smiths (13 Dalblair Rd, Ayr KA7 1UF) is a ten minute walk from the station. Ayr United have recently opened The Somerset Hub, located where the old club stop was outside the stadium, providing all the usual pre-match hospitality. Photo - @AyrUnited (Twitter)

Dean, Alan and Darren A discuss the progress the club has made in recent times under MCT, Efe Ambrose signing, Friday night's 4-0 win against Inverness and preview next week's trip to Ayr.