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Morton vs Bonnyrigg Rose – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon. Morton’s League Cup qualification hopes are looking far more positive than they were at tea time on Saturday. The loyal Morton fans who travelled to Leith were rewarded with an impressive performance and result in the Capital midweek, with The Ton winning on penalties following a 1-1 draw. News broke on Thursday that Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri should have been serving a one-match suspension following two bookings in previous League Cup fixtures. Morton were subsequently awarded a 3-0 victory. This means that, should Falkirk lose in tomorrow’s final group match against Clyde, and Morton beat Bonnyrigg, The Ton will win the group. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Jai Quitongo will return to the fold after serving his two-game ban due to his ordering off against Falkirk in the opening tie, however Cammy Blues and Alex King will serve one match bans following both picking up a second booking of the group stages at Easter Road. Current Connections Whilst there are no ‘current’ connections between the two sides, Danish forward Andreas Per Bartram and goalkeeper Craig Coyle have both represented The Ton and The Rose. Bartram started his career at hometime club Odense BK, before making the move to Greenock in 1966. Over a three year stay on Sinclair Street, he would score twenty goals in thirty-six appearances, before joining Crystal Palace in 1969, where he would play for a season before returning to The Ton in 1970. He rejoined his hometime club, Odense BK, for a six year spell between 1971 and 1977 before seeing out the rest of his playing days with Bonnyrigg Rose. Edinburgh born Craig Coyle signed for Raith Rovers in 1999, making six appearances over a two year stint before making the switch to Inverclyde, where he would help Morton win the Third Division title following the club’s escape from administration. He would later join Arbroath in 2005, before making the move to then Junior-side Bonnyrigg Rose, where he spent three seasons, helping the Rose win the East Region Super League in 2008/09. He would retire from football in 2017 following spells with Linlithgow Rose, Penicuik Athletic and Hamilton. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape This is the first ever meeting between both sides. Opposition Analysis Having watched Bonnyrigg successfully navigate past Fraserburgh on their way to the pyramid playoff final against Cowdenbeath first hand, I’d like to offer my insight into tomorrow’s opponents. Coming into the second leg of the tie with a two-goal advantage, The Rose managed the game well. They were capable of sitting deep and soaking up pressure from the Highland League side, who struggled to create many clear cut chances despite enjoying most of the ball. The match reached fever pitch in the second half, with Kieran Simpson netting for the home side in the 67th minute to half the arrears and spark the home side into life. Despite the match becoming frantic in the late stages, the Edinburgh side’s resolve shone through as they held on to represent Scotland’s fifth tier in the pyramid play-off final against Cowdenbeath. After a 3-0 home rout of the League Two side, a 1-0 victory in Fife the following week confirmed Bonnyrigg’s promotion. I spoke to sports journalist Amy Canavan (@amyjcanavan) ahead of tomorrow’s clash, who spoke of a quiet confidence in the new League Two side – “Bonnyrigg Rose may be the new kid on the SPFL block, but there haven’t been any teething problems in their three Premier Sports Cup fixtures to date. Manager Robbie Horn has been right and ready to relay that this period still very much falls under ‘pre-season’ for The Rosey Posey, who finished their promotion-sealing season so late in May. With that at the forefront of the mind, positives have been pouring out of performances aplenty. To kick things off with a win against League 1 side, Clyde, was a solid statement to make. A free-flowing first half to match was pleasing on the eye for the ever present, travelling Rose faithful. Could’ve, should’ve had a comfier cushion going in at the interval but the play at times was truly outstanding. A huge day for the players, the club and the community came against Hibernian. Lee Johnson’s side proved to be cool, calm and clinical under the heated pressure. A scoreline in all honesty which reflected harshly on Robbie Horn’s men who made a decent account for themselves against Premiership opposition – and again, with a heavily rotated side from that who defeated The Bully Wee. No matter who has taken to the field, all have acquitted equally impressively. A well-earned point against Falkirk could’ve been all three had one of the many well worked chances deep into the second half found the back of the net. This is still very much a side finding their feet. These games have been terrific exercises ahead of the Rose’s maiden match in the professional leagues, and I suspect Saturday will be no different. Respect, as always, but no fear in sight.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 8am on Friday 22nd July 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The two-tier gap between both sides doesn’t appear to necessarily be reflected by the bookies, with Morton priced 4/6 to win the tie within regulation time, with both a draw and an away win inside ninety minutes priced at 3/1. Given Morton’s praiseworthy defence performance midweek, the home side to win without conceding a goal may be a shrewd investment at 11/5. If you fancy Morton to banish their attacking drought, you can back them to win on a -1 handicap at 2/1. Match Officials Referee - Calum Scott AR1 - Brian Christie AR2 - Cameron Telfer

Hibs vs Morton – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon With Morton’s early elimination from this season’s League Cup all but confirmed, Dougie Imrie’s side head through to the capital to face off against Hibs. In the wake of taking one point from six against League One sides Falkirk and Clyde, The Ton are now relying on winning their remaining two fixtures, and some very favourable results elsewhere, if they have any chance of progressing to the Second Round of the competition. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Dougie Imrie has a far more healthy squad to pick from compared to the start of the group stages, with several first team players returning to the fold against Clyde. Jai Quitongo will serve the second match of his two-game ban picked up after his straight red card against Falkirk. New signing Lawton Green will presumably play his part in the matchday squad as a backup goalkeeper. Current Connections Connections in the playing staff are thin on the ground between the two clubs. Nobody in the current Hibernian squad has ever plied their trade on Sinclair Street. Both Robbie Muirhead and Alan Lithgow spent time in the capital representing Hearts, but nobody in the current Morton squad has ever played for the Leith side. Tale of the Tape Both sides met at Easter Road in the League Cup Second Round in August 2019 in a pulsating 5-3 win for the Hibees. Scott Allan and Josh Vela gave the hosts a 2-0 lead after half an hour before Bob McHugh halved the arrears, with a Lewis Stevenson goal on the brink of half time left the scores even at the interval. Florian Kamberi gave his side the lead in the second half, which looked to be enough to secure the tie, before a Steven Whittaker own goal caused bedlam in the away terraces. The away side’s celebrations were to be short lived, with Kamberi’s second goal of the afternoon coupled with a Christian Doidge goal in the dying seconds confirmed the Premiership side’s progression. Ton fans will cast their minds back to two excellent wins at Easter Road. Jim Duffy’s side overran the capital side 3-0 in February 2016 thanks to goals from Thomas O’Ware, Denny Johnstone and Ross Forbes. Former Hibs youth graduate Ryan Harding sparked delirium in the away end with his 118th minute goal rounding off a remarkable comeback for the Greenock men. Iain Russell’s cute angled finish and a world class free kick from Stevie Masterton had The Ton 2-0 with less than half an hour to play, before two goals in the last ten minutes from the then-SPL side forced the tie to extra time. The Leith side then took the lead in the first minute of extra time, with the home fans taunting the visitors over their surrendering of their lead. Iain Russell’s 115th minute penalty restored parity before Erik Paartalu’s free kick was tapped in from close range by Ryan Harding three minutes later to spark euphoria in the away end. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis Hibs have had a stuttering start to the League Cup so far this season. The capital side opened proceedings in style on 9th July with a comfortable 5-0 win against Clyde, in which all five goals were scored before the interval thanks to Elias Hoff Melkersen, Josh Campbell and a first-half hattrick from Christian Doidge. This result did not, however, set a precedent for the Hibees. The following midweek they travelled to Grangemouth to take on Clyde’s League One counterparts, Falkirk. Falkirk pressed their Premiership opposition early in the first half, creating numerous chances in the opening exchanges. With half time approaching, an excellent Aiden Nesbitt header flew into the net to give the lower-league side a deserved lead at the break. Despite numerous half-time changes being made by Hibs manager Lee Johnson, including former Ireland international Aidan McGeady being hooked at half time in his first start for the club, the Premiership side couldn’t find a way back into the contest. I spoke to Hibs fan John Innes ahead of this midweek clash, who spoke about the need to remain focused despite an upset in the hands of Falkirk – “I’m reasonably confident we can get a positive result on Wednesday night. That being said, after the Clyde game, being 5-0 up and taking our foot off the gas as the job was done, I never envisaged us being beaten by Falkirk. They were by far the better team in the first half, and deserved something from the game as we were very average. I’d expect Morton to provide a similar test. You almost caught us out at Easter Road in 2019, so if I were Lee Johnson I definitely wouldn’t take anything for granted. I watched the highlights of the Livingston vs Morton game, and if you can press as well as you did then, there is a chance you could cause us some issues. I’m going for 3-1 Hibs.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are provided by McBookie and are subject to change. Prices are correct as of 6am on 20th July 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Morton’s poor start to the League Cup, coupled with the Premiership team’s home advantage equates to Hibs being stick-on favourites for this tie, priced at 2/11 to win inside ninety minutes. Morton are a very generous 12/1 to win the tie inside the ninety minutes. There are perhaps some shrewd prices to be found in the goal markets, with Hibs priced at 4/5 to win to nil against a Morton side that have yet to find the net this campaign. If you fancy Morton to repeat Falkirk’s scoreline against the Premiership side, 1-0 Morton is chalked at 28/1. Looking towards the handicap markets, the Leith side are 8/13 to win with a -1 handicap, and 13/8 to win with a -2 handicap. Match Officials Referee - Euan Anderson AR1 - Michael Banks AR2 - Gordon McCabe

Dean, Alan and Craig review Morton's League Cup campaign thus far, give their verdict on the current squad and look forward to this season's Championship.

Dean, Alan and Craig review Morton's League Cup campaign thus far, give their verdict on the current squad and look forward to this season's Championship.

Away Day Guide – Hibs (20th July) Photo – Hibernian FC Website Tickets – After a debacle on the part of the host side, tickets must be purchased ahead of kick off as no walk-up ticketing is available to away fans. Tickets can be purchased in person at Smiths, in person or via telephone at Cappielow. Tickets ordered over the phone can be picked up at the Easter Road ticketing office ahead of kick off. Adults - £12. Concessions (U18s, students and OAPs) - £6. Disabled Supporters Information- Due to the age and design of the Stadium, not all areas are fully accessible to wheelchair users so spaces can be limited in the seating bowl. The following areas are currently available West Stand, lower platform East stand lower North stand lower (restricted view) South stand lower (restricted view) South stand upper (access by lift) Persons with disabilities displaying a valid Disabled Parking Badges on their vehicles will be permitted to park on the south side of St Clair Street under the direction of Parking Attendants/Police. Your point of contact is Disability Access Officer Ann Brown. Ann can be reached by email at disabledtickets@hibernianfc.co.uk or via telephone 07519 11 9771. Supporters Buses – The Gourock Morton Supporters bus will depart from Gourock station at 4.45pm with pick-ups en route. The cost will be decided on the day, message their page on Facebook or contact Mark on 07847847357 to enquire about availability. 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. There are several options for travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh Waverly. There are express trains, that take around 55 minutes, that depart from Queen Street every fifteen minutes. There are also slower services that depart from Glasgow Central. Exit Edinburgh Waverly via Princess Street. The stadium is around a 25 minute walk (1.3 miles) from the stadium. All information taken from the ScotRail website. By Car – Use the postcode EH7 5QG for the stadium. The approximate journey time from Cappielow via the M8 is between 1hr 40 and 2hrs 30 dependant on traffic. All parking in the vicinity of the stadium is paid parking, the Meadowbank Retail Park (EH7 5TN) boasts free parking and is around a 15 minute walk from the stadium. Pre Match – Photo - Geograph.org.uk Middleton’s Pub (69 Easter Rd, Edinburgh EH7 5PW) is a short walk from the stadium and is a frequent haunt of fans visiting the ground. Easter Road and the surrounding streets host several pubs for a pre-match refreshment.

Clyde vs Morton – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon There will be a touch of the familiar for Dougie Imrie as he leads his Morton side on Saturday. Imrie will face Clyde, whom he represented for two years as a player, in the stadium in which he played more than any other. Saturday’s showdown against an already eliminated Clyde should be an opportunity for The Ton to limber up for their trip to Easter Road next midweek, which has become a must-win encounter thanks in no small part to League One Falkirk besting Hibs this week. Defeat for The Ton in either of the upcoming fixtures would almost certainly guarantee the Sinclair Street side’s exit from the competition. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Morton will welcome reinforcements back into their squad, having been forced to name only twelve players last week against League One side Falkirk. Both John Baird and Grant Gillespie are both back in contention following suspensions being served. Dougie Imrie’s side are currently without defenders Alan Lithgow and Daire O’Connor, club captain Kyle Jacobs and attackers Zander Easdale and Robbie Muirhead. Current Connections As mentioned above, Ton gaffer Imrie cut his teeth in senior football with the Bully Wee, joining from Junior side Lanark United in the January transfer window of 2006. Clyde are one of the many Scottish sides that assistant manager Andy Millen represented, spending three years with the club following his departure from Morton as liquidation loomed large over The Ton. Alan Lithgow spent three years with the Lanarkshire side following his release by Hearts in 2008, before moving onto Dumbarton. Clyde’s newly assembled centre back pairing are both familiar faces to The Ton faithful. Peter Grant made a dozen Championship appearances for the club during the shortened 2019/20 season. Brian McLean spent two years on Sinclair Street, joining in the same summer transfer window as the aforementioned Grant. McLean made thirty-one appearances under three different permanent Morton managers before moving to pastures new this summer. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape With The Ton and the Bully Wee not sharing a division since the 2008/09 season, the League Cup has provided the battleground for the two subsequent meetings between both sides. A Thomas O’Ware goal gave Morton a laboured 1-0 win in 2016/17 as The Ton progressed through to the Semi Finals of the competition before eventually falling to Aberdeen at Hampden. Almost a year ago to the day, a Robbie Muirhead double was enough to see off the visitors in what proved to be The Ton’s only League Cup victory of the campaign. Opposition Analysis Our very own Craig Dunning ran the rule over our League One counterparts ahead of Saturday’s League Cup clash – “Clyde come into this game already eliminated from the tournament, after a chastening 5-0 defeat at Easter Road was followed by a 2-1 defeat by League Two newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose in the first competitive game at their new home at New Douglas Park. Clyde's defensive recruitment was a rare reason for optimism among the support, with the reuniting of former Morton centre back partnership of Peter Grant and Brian McLean providing an experienced base with solid track records for League One. Competitive action then began with Hibs scoring all their goals in the first half as Christian Doidge bagged a hattrick in 30 minutes. This was followed by Bonnyrigg Rose centre forward Kieran McGachie dominating both centre backs in the air while Grant made an error directly leading to the first goal, so that optimism is quickly draining away. After a disappointing performance from Joshua Bradley-Hurst in goal against Bonnyrigg, it would be no surprise to see established number one Neil Parry back in goal against Morton. Similarly to Morton, there is a lot of hope being placed on future midfield and attacking signings. Morgaro Gomis and Ray Grant both have the credentials to be good League One players but creativity is not their strength. Jordan Allan and Ross Cunningham show promise but there is little reason to believe there is currently the attacking quality in the squad to aspire to more than a League One relegation battle, so troubling a Championship side will be a huge task.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All match odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 11pm on 14/07/2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Unsurprisingly, the Greenock side enter this match as the bookies’ favourite, priced at 4/5 to come out on top in regulation time, with 14/5 your reward if you fancy the home side to continue the trend of upsets in this year’s competition thus far. If you fancy a comfortable win for the Championship side, 9/4 is your reward for a -1 hanidcap, with -2 goals priced at 6/1 and -3 goals 14/1. Given the strength of the The Ton rearguard, the most eye-catching option may be the away side to win without conceding a goal, chalked at 23/10. Match Officials Referee - Scott Lambie AR1 - David Dunne AR2 - Andrew Bryson

Away Day Guide – Clyde (16th July) Photo – footballgroundguide.com Tickets- Admission prices are Adults £12 and U18s £6. Tickets can be purchased through the ticket store on the following link or via the TicketCo Wallet app on your smartphone. Click here to purchase an e-ticket. Disabled Supporters Information- Away supporters can enter via the exit gate adjacent to turnstile 12. Those ambulant can use the stairs to enter the North Stand, or those in wheelchairs can use the spaces behind the goal, at ground level trackside. There is cover here in the event of particularly inclement weather, but additional space can be allocated in the front of the East Stand, if not in use, (also ground level, but a normal pitch side view as opposed to behind the goal). Stewards are always on hand to assist where required. There is a designated Refuge Point in the first floor landing area, opposite the lift, beside the main staircase, in the event of an emergency. The sign is also in braille. Accessible seats are available in all stands for ambulant disabled. Away supporters can use the disabled toilet beside turnstiles 4-6. There are five designated accessible car park bays for away supporters these are located in the North Stand car park and accessible through turnstiles 7-12. 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. There are several services every hour on low levels to Hamilton West, departing Glasgow Central at :17, :26, :45, and :57. Please be aware that due to ongoing timetable issues, these services are liable to disruption. All information taken from the ScotRail website. By Car – Use the postcode ML3 0FT for the stadium. The approximate journey time from Cappielow via the M8 and M74 is 41 minutes without traffic. Parking is available at the main stand car park, at the north end, or in the underground car park below Morrison’s, beside turnstiles 10-12. Arrangements to specifically drop any spectators off at front door area can be accommodated if requested/required. Pre Match – The Academical Vaults (26 Burnbank Rd, Haamilton ML3 9AA) is a two minute walk from Hamilton West train station and a ten minute walk to the stadium. Bar West (165 Almada St, Hamilton ML3 0ET) is a four minute walk from Hamilton West train station and a thirteen minute walk to the stadium. Photo - MatchPint.com

Morton v Falkirk Preview Photo - GBR Photographs. After a close season lasting a mere nine weeks, Morton return to competitive action tomorrow, with a home tie in the Premier Sports League Cup groups stages with League One minnows, Falkirk. Whilst the local businesses in the Falkirk and Grangemouth area are putting up their bunting and good luck posters, and the fans are waving their heroes off and travelling down in their hordes for their big day out at a Championship ground, Morton will be hoping that a monumental shock such as the defeat to Spartans in 2014 isn’t on the cards. The club will be providing a stream for the match, priced at a very reasonable £10, and available to purchase here. https://tv.gmfc.net/product/morton-v-falkirk-9th-july-2022-kick-off-at-3pm/ Squad News New signings Jack Baird and Grant Gillespie are carrying over one-match suspensions from last season’s competition, whilst Alan Lithgow is side-lined with a long-term injury. Having seen Morton’s pre-season preparations, I’d expect Alexander King to take the left back berth, allowing Lewis Strapp to move into the centre of defence. Current Connections There have been a number of connections on the respective playing staffs of both sides in recent years, with ex-Morton wingers Aidan Nesbitt and Craig McGuffie spending a second season slumming it in the third tier, and now being joined by former ‘Ton loanee Stephen McGinn and striker Gary Oliver; and perhaps even Gozie Ugwu, who spent last season at Cappielow but has spent the last week or so training with Falkirk, with a view to dropping down a level. We of course wish them all similar success to that of other former Morton men whose careers followed similar paths, such as Michael Tidser, Gregor Buchanan, Michael Doyle, Charlie Telfer and Raymond McKinnon. In the Morton camp, the only ex-Falkirk players are Cameron Blues and new signing Jaze Kabia, brought in on loan from Livingston after impressing in pre-season, but we don’t hold it against them. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape It’s been a long time since the two clubs met, given Falkirk’s not-at-all-funny relegation in 2019, so we’ll just have to go back to that season to discuss the most recent meetings between the clubs. After Raymond McKinnon’s departure from Morton to the then struggling Bairns only three months into his reign as Manager, the first meeting of the 2018-19 season was at Cappielow, with a feeling of bad blood in the air. With Falkirk reduced to ten men thanks to a foolish red card for goalkeeper Leo Fasan, former Bairns’ hitman Bob McHugh kept the three points in Greenock, and sent the good guys home happy. Two draws between the clubs, 0-0 at the Falkirk Council Stadium and 1-1 in a Friday night TV game marred by crowd trouble at Cappielow in March were to follow before Morton headed to Grangemouth for what was effectively a winner-takes-all encounter. To cut a long story short, Morton won 2-0 and stayed up. Falkirk were relegated and have remained in League One ever since. Don’t we just love a happy ending? Opposition Analysis The plucky underdogs will be looking to build on the success of avoiding the drop to League Two last season, and have appointed erstwhile Raith Rovers’ Manager John McGlynn in order to help them reach the promised land of the top half of League One this time around. The aforementioned McGinn has arrived, joined by a couple of others, notably Finn Yeats joining from Aberdeen’s youth set up earlier in the week, and others are expected through the door as the season approaches. Sadly, Charlie Telfer has departed, after a somewhat inauspicious three years at the club his goal helped condemn to League One. I spoke to Falkirk fan Jim Jarvie, who is looking forward to his big day out in the bright lights but also aware of the bigger picture in assembling a squad for the challenges ahead this season (Yes, FC Edinburgh and Peterhead, we know). “The League Cup gives us a few competitive fixtures to yet again try another new team for the new season. We’re not quite sure what to expect from the Bairns this time around, but reaching the play-offs would be seen as progress from the previous two disastrous campaigns. Cappielow is always a tricky place to go and will give us a first look at the team in a competitive game under McGlynn, and a first look at new signings Sean Mackie and PJ Morrison- however, I do expect more incomings before the league starts in earnest. Aidan Nesbitt was one of the few success stories of last season , and usually puts in a decent shift, but for me, our best player is Callum Morrison, who will be key in our push for promotion. We’re also delighted to have signed Finn Yeats, who has enjoyed a fruitful pre-season following his release from Aberdeen at the end of last term. Morton fans will recall Gozie Ugwu, who played as a trialist in last weekend’s 3-2 win over Dundee United and could be offered a deal this week. I am however concerned about Jaze Kabia, another of last season’s few shining lights, who could pose problems for us, now Morton have gotten his signing over the line.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7am on 8th July 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Naturally Morton head into the match as favourites against their less illustrious opponents, priced at 3/4, with a draw and an away win both priced at 14/5. In spite of my bravado, I don’t expect a high scoring encounter, and would quite happily take a 1-0 victory, which is priced at a fairly generous 15/2. After Michael Garrity’s late double at Livingston, he’s 2/1 to score any time. Match Officials Referee- Colin Steven AR 1- Stuart Stevenson AR 2- Sean Murdoch

Apologies for the brief outage this morning as we updated our server software and the Forum's SSL certificate. We should now be running as normal, if anyone experiences any difficulties then please let me know. Cheers, Dean.

It's the second instalment of our 'A Moment in Time' series, where we contextualise Morton results from yesteryear. In this episode, Alan and Dean are joined by guests Gerry McGeehan and Gordon Richardson to reflect on the Scottish Cup Quarter Final replay against Motherwell at Cappielow in 1991.

It's the second instalment of our 'A Moment in Time' series, where we contextualise Morton results from yesteryear. In this episode, Alan and Dean are joined by guests Gerry McGeehan and Gordon Richardson to reflect on the Scottish Cup Quarter Final replay against Motherwell at Cappielow in 1991.

Announcement 2.mp4 We are delighted to announce that Titan Spirits will continue to support TheMortonForum this season. Titan Spiced Rum is inspired by Clydeside heritage and Inverclyde's incredible scenery. Visit http://TitanSpiritsLTD.com and secure a bottle of their incredible rum now!

A Moment in Time is our new series, fronted by Alan, taking a detailed look at some of the most significant games in Morton's history. In this episode Dean, Alan, Stephen and guest Gordon Ritchardson take a look at the Peterhead game that clinched the 2003 Third Division title, discussing Morton as a club at that point as well as some cultural and political landmarks of the time.

(Photo- Gary Bradley) Punts, Punishments And Pitch Invasions A Review of Morton’s 2021-22 Season, Part Three. By Russell Gordon It’s fair to say the point collected at Rugby Park was an unexpected bonus, but as we welcomed the new year, the same couldn’t be said about the visit of fellow strugglers Dunfermline Athletic for a match that was very much of the six-pointer variety. Defeat in Imrie’s debut in the Cappielow dugout would’ve seen Morton drop to the foot of the table below John Hughes’ toiling, but more fancied Fifers. What we got was what this observer would describe as the best Cappielow performance at this level since a 4-0 hounding of St. Johnstone in October 1995. After a tepid first half hour or so, in which the Pars had marginally the better of proceedings, Gary Oliver struck his customary goal against the Fifers brilliantly from the edge of the box before a Cammy Blues howitzer and a Gavin Reilly header on the stroke of half time sent Morton in at the break with a commanding lead. If Dunfermline didn’t know what had hit them, neither did the 500 fans scattered around the main stand, who used the break to purr over a scintillating end to the half. Morton would add to their lead in the second, with the hapless Pars debutant Coll Donaldson heading Lewis Strapp’s throw into his own net 18 minutes from time before the coup de grace 7 minutes later, as substitute Robbie Muirhead delicately helped Brian McLean’s sublime pass into Owain Fon-Williams’ net to give Morton a fantastic 5-0 win and leave the park to a standing ovation from the delighted Cappielow crowd. The following week was to be the last of limited crowds (to date), as Morton, with the addition of Hearts right back Jamie Brandon on a six-month loan, travelled to another toiling side, Ayr United. Gavin Reilly’s double was to provide the perfect tonic for those of us who were stuck at home, forced to listen to a commentary team that would make Alex Rae blush with their partisan approach. Six points out of six and onto Fir Park for a Scottish Cup tie that suddenly didn’t hold as much fear as it had done a few weeks previously. Gavin Reilly's double sent Morton on their way to three precious points as they followed up their Dunfermline rout with a comfortable win at Somerset Park. (Photo-Gary Bradley) Whilst Fir Park used to be a place Morton fans hated visiting for the threat of an absolute doing, it was to be a second successive season of Scottish Cup heartbreak, rather than humiliation at the home of the Steelemen. Having lost on penalties last term, Morton took them to extra-time before taking a shock lead in the first period. However, a Kevin Van Veen penalty and a 121st minute screamer from Liam Donnelly, with penalties looming were to dash Morton’s hopes of a repeat of the 1922 win en route to lifting the trophy. So it was back to league duty, and a Friday night date with Raith Rovers, and what was probably to prove the BBC’s most entertaining fixture that they broadcast all season. Gozie Ugwu’s opener was cancelled out before half time as a Jamie Gullan penalty and Reghan Tumilty’s goal sent the visitors in with a thoroughly undeserved half time lead. In the second half, Morton peppered Jamie MacDonald’s goal before finally getting an equaliser through super-sub, Robbie Muirhead. Whilst most observers would accept we were well worth our point, and had the game lasted much longer, we’d probably have collected all three, Rovers’ boss John McGlynn was less complimentary, bemoaning Morton’s tactic of firing long throws into their box. I’m sure his policy of total football will go down a treat as he slums it with League One minnows Falkirk next term. Two more wins were to follow, a satisfying 1-0 victory courtesy of Lewis Strapp’s first-half goal at Inverness and a 2-1 win over a Queen of the South that were looking more and more likely to face the drop to League One- Reilly and Blues doing the damage this time. That win at Inverness was to see the debut of midfielder Iain Wilson, brought in from Dunfermline, and after a slow start, he was to prove an excellent addition. But things were going too well, something had to give. It’s Morton after all. Sure enough, Dougie Imrie was cited by the SFA in relation to historic gambling during his playing days and was hit with a ten-match touchline ban, four of which were suspended. Dougie Imrie's touchline ban put a spanner in the works, but his impact on his new side, and in galvanising a previously fractured Morton support, was incredible. (Photo- Gary Bradley) With Imrie’s presence on the touchline missing, it was perhaps unsurprising to see form dip slightly, with his first defeat coming in the form of a 0-1 reverse at his former side, Hamilton. However, a midweek visit to Glasgow was to provide the perfect remedy as Morton weathered a bit of a storm on the Firhill bog. With Morton having been denied a stonewall penalty in the first half, Partick looked to have taken the lead after Jack Hamilton had saved Brian Graham’s spot kick, seen the rebound hit the post and then being bundled in. As the Partick players celebrated though, the referee had other ideas and disallowed the goal for an obstruction in the melee. Partick don’t ever need anything to moan about, but their woes were compounded late on when Oisin McEntee scored the first goal of his career to send Morton up the road with three precious points and the added bonus of sticking a massive cog in the wheel of the Jags’ promotion wagon. What a shame. Oisin McEntee's first career goal put a massive dent in Partick's title challenge, whilst dragging Morton further clear of the drop just at a point some may have predicted them to wobble. (Photo- Gary Bradley) We’ll gloss over the uneventful 0-0 draw with Arbroath at Cappielow and particularly the 0-3 doing at Palmerston that brought March in and move swiftly onto the return fixture with Ian McCall’s faltering failures at Cappielow. Partick were to take the lead early on through Kyle Turner, causing a minor pitch invasion from Tarquin and Felix in the Wee Dublin End. It’s fair to say that irked the Cowshed and after a series of second half chances, Gavin Reilly’s equaliser was to cause pandemonium not only on the terraces, but also on the pitch, as the crowd spilled on to share their joy with the players and goad their Maryhill counterparts. Those scenes were to be repeated ten minutes later, as Robbie Muirhead again emerged from the bench to provide the winner, and with it, a third invasion of the afternoon and the greatest photograph of all time (thanks Gary). A series of draws in the following weeks effectively cemented Morton’s place in the Championship for another year. Iain Wilson’s first half strike looked to have secured a smash-and-grab win over a much-improved Dunfermline side before a late lapse in concentration at a corner from Kyle Jacobs allowed Lewis McCann to nip in and claim what could’ve proved to be a vital point for the home side. 1-1 Cappielow draws with the two Ayrshire sides were to follow, the latter against Kilmarnock proving far more credible, and Brian McLean could consider himself unfortunate to be punished for a handball that gave the visitors a penalty from which they equalised. The goal of the season was to come the following week from Robbie Muirhead as Morton travelled to a notoriously difficult Stark’s Park and claimed a rare 1-0 victory. Whilst relegation was still arithmetically possible, when you considered the other fixtures between the teams around us, it was done. We were safe. Robbie Muirhead's goal celebrations became a staple diet of the second half of the season, with his goal of the season marked in style at Stark's Park. (Photo- Gary Bradley) We celebrated the anniversary of the Scottish Cup win in the most Morton way possible, with a 0-1 home defeat by Hamilton before survival was rubber-stamped with, yes, you guessed it, a 0-1 home defeat. This time by Inverness. The final game saw a severely weakened team fall 0-3 at league runners-up Arbroath on a night that few in the away crowd were particularly bothered about the football unfolding in front of them before the players, and Dougie Imrie in particular, took the applause for the remarkable turnaround in fortunes under his tutelage. With Kilmarnock getting over the line in the end, to be replaced by Dundee and Cove and Queen’s Park replacing the relegated Queen of the South (leaving Morton as the club who has remained longer in this division than any other continuously) and Dunfermline, it’s probably fair to say that we’ll see two more competitive teams coming up, but a weaker one joining us from the Premiership. What Morton’s ambitions for next season are are clearly budget-dependent, but we’ll likely be favourites to take the drop again amongst the bookies. Whilst we’ve already seen the loss of the out-of-contract Reilly and Wilson to Queen of the South, it’s encouraging to see Dougie conducting some business of his own this early in the summer as we look to upset the odds again. Hopefully the upward trajectory can be continued and we’ll be discussing the commissioning of Dougie’s statue in the not-too-distant future!

Dean, Darren and Ewan analyse the second half of the season under Dougie Imrie. The panel also discuss next season's Championship and the potential benefits of the club switching to a 'hybrid' model. Women's manager Colin McEachnie also chats with Dean about his first three months in the role.

Dean, Darren and Ewan analyse the second half of the season under Dougie Imrie. The panel also discuss next season's Championship and the potential benefits of the club switching to a 'hybrid' model. Women's manager Colin McEachnie also chats with Dean about his first three months in the role.

(Photo- Gary Bradley) The Axe Falls And A New Broom Sweeps Into Town… A Review of Morton’s 2021-22 Season, Part Two. By Russell Gordon With the league campaign going from bad to worse, Morton’s fans had the welcome relief of a couple of cup ties to distract them from the more pressing of avoiding the drop from the Championship. The long journey up to Inverness didn’t get the juices flowing for many though, with a paltry 31 fans making the trip for a game that it would be fair to say filled most of the support with trepidation. Those fears however, were to prove unfounded as Morton produced what at this point of the season was an uncharacteristically fine performance in the Highland capital. Having fallen behind to a scrappy Billy McKay strike, Morton were far from overawed and got their reward nine minutes from time, when Gavin Reilly, only 6 minutes after coming off the bench, ended his goal drought in a Morton jersey by getting onto Jack Hamilton’s long ball to skip round Mark Ridgers to secure a replay. It was perhaps telling of the squad’s feelings though that Reilly chose to ignore the fans as he celebrated his landmark finish. The following Wednesday saw another lengthy trip- this time to Dumfries for the SPFL Trust Trophy quarter-final against fellow league strugglers Queen of the South. With the tournament being Morton’s most realistic opportunity to win a trophy, we could’ve perhaps expected a positive approach from Gus MacPherson heading into the match, so it was probably good for those in attendance that they didn’t get to see the manager’s pre-match interview with BBC ALBA, who were covering the match live. MacPherson’s interview focussed not on how heplanned to win the game and advance in the competition, but on the pre-determined set up of the tournament that saw Morton playing away from home in every round as the 32nd team to be drawn out in the first round. Quite what relevance it had at the quarter-final stage is beyond me anyway, but Gus’s ramblings gave off the air of a man in the dying embers of his reign. The night didn’t improve from there. An uncharacteristic Jack Hamilton mistake was to give the Doonhamers a first half lead, but it looked as if we’d salvaged a draw and an extra 30 minutes when Alan Lithgow’s late header produced an unlikely equaliser after a truly dreadful Morton performance. Lithgow was to “celebrate” by cupping his ears to the travelling support, further emphasizing the rift between the squad and the support. He had of course, been the subject of a torrent of abuse a few weeks earlier, but it may have been advisable to keep his powder dry as seconds later he was partly culpable as Queens went straight up the park to bag a winner. No sooner were Morton back in the tournament as they were out again. Gus MacPherson’s coat was on an extremely shoogly peg now, as the fans, and finally the board, went into the Ayr United game at Cappielow demanding nothing less than a victory. What was to follow was actually one of the more entertaining games of the Gus MacPherson era, but an afternoon marred with shame, as Morton hitman Gozie Ugwu was appallingly treated by two cretins in the Cowshed, who decided to abuse him for nothing other than the colour of his skin. What was reassuring was how quickly they were rounded on by those around them, and ejected from the ground. After a thorough investigation, they were issued with lifetime bans from Cappielow, to the surprise and dismay of nobody. But to matters on the park, it was two fine Ugwu headers that were to provide the goals for Morton on the day, but an excellent Steven Bradley strike and Tomi Adeloye’s goal had looked to give the Honest Men the points before Ugwu’s second goal. Gozie Ugwu's double gained a point at home to Ayr as the Gus MacPherson era came to an end. (Photo-Gary Bradley) Enough was enough, and as we left into the Greenock night, it was barely 5pm by the time messages were coming through that MacPherson had been relieved of his duties and had swiftly left the stadium. One suspects that an ultimatum had been given to the boss that nothing less than three points would have done against a struggling Ayr side, and the search for a new boss began. Robbie Muirhead made it clear he was less than impressed with the Cowshed's backing after opening the scoring against Inverness in the cup replay. (Photo-Gary Bradley) Derek Anderson was put in caretaker-charge for a Cappielow double-header against Inverness in the cup replay and the league with Morton in turmoil behind the scenes. On the park though, it was to be another credible performance as the Caley Jags came down twice in five days, firstly for the cup match. Robbie Muirhead was to be the target of the support on this occasion, having not enjoyed his most productive of evenings until the point he curled Morton into the lead a couple of minutes before the break. Rather than express his joy at producing such a fine strike, he was to take the lead from his captain the previous week and express his disdain for the home support. Again, there was to be a quick-fire counter, with Danny Devine bagging Thistle’s equaliser a couple of minutes after the break. However, on this occasion, we did have a happy ending. With no extra time, it was straight to a penalty shoot-out, and Devine provied to be the Highlanders’ fall guy, as Jack Hamilton’s fine save took Morton through to a fourth-round meeting with familiar foes Motherwell 5-4 after nine flawless spot kicks. Jack Hamilton's fine stop from Danny Devine's spot kick saw Morton defy the odds to dispose of the much-fancied Inverness in the Scottish Cup. (Photo- Gary Bradley) But it was to be a different story when Inverness came back down the road a few days later. Visiting boss Billy Dodds had been extremely critical of the temporary changing facilities provided for his team in midweek and was accommodated far more than he should’ve been for his outburst as arrangements were made for his side to use the gym between the Cowshed and Sinclair Street terraces. They were to take out their frustrations after that cup defeat by annihilating Morton 6-1, our biggest defeat at Cappielow since Ayr United’s 6-0 victory over a Morton side in the throes of administration way back in January 2001. Maybe it wasn’t Gus’s fault after all? With an appointment apparently imminent, Anderson took charge of his final game as caretaker against high-flying Arbroath at Gayfield. A much-improved performance saw another hard luck story against the Red Lichties though, with Jack Hamilton’s brother Colin again netting the opener before being clawed back by a Gary Oliver counter as the Angus fog thickened and the match looked under serious threat of abandonment. Unfortunately though, it was to finish with Falkirk loanee Anton Dowds doing what no other Falkirk player has managed in an awful long time by netting a winning goal against Morton, taking Arbroath to the top of the table in the process. A Gary Oliver equaliser wasn't enough to gain a share of the spoils at a foggy Gayfield just before Christmas. (Photo- Gary Bradley) The festive period was to prove eventful off the park- with the new Omicron variant of COVID hitting the world hard, the Scottish Government decided to take action to quell the problem. Crowds across the country were restricted to a maximum of 500, regardless of capacity or the amount of open-air space at grounds. With games against Queen of the South and Dunfermline over that time, the c. 1000 season ticket holders were allocated a game each to attend, with Morton’s hands tied behind their back by the restrictions. But the news we did want to hear finally arrived- the appointment of Morton’s new boss- former player, and First Team Coach to David Martindale at Livingston; Dougie Imrie. It was to be an unexpected and risky appointment, having seen the board go with the tried-and-trusted Gus MacPherson previously. Without the opportunity to bring his own staff in, Imrie was thrown into the lions' den, and immediate results were demanded as soon as possible. Not only that, but he also had to fix what appeared to be an increasingly fragile relationship between the players and their supporters. The new boss gets to work by taking his beleaguered squad to title favourites Kilmarnock for his debut on the touchline. (Photo-Gary Bradley) Imrie’s debut in the dugout was delayed by a COVID outbreak in the Queen of the South squad though, as the pandemic probably did Morton’s bean counters a favour and gave Imrie a bit more time to work with his new charges before he did debut on the touchline at title favourites Kilmarnock just before the new year. Things weren’t to start well, with Rory McKenzie’s fine strike giving Killie a first half lead and Morton thankful for Jack Hamilton’s incredible performance between the sticks in front of only 500 of the Ayrshire club’s support. But with Mark Russell having a torrid time at left back, Imrie did what we’ve not seen in long enough by taking the necessary action in replacing him with Lewis Strapp. Strapp wasn’t to look back under the new gaffer, but in the short term, we were to get out of Rugby Park with a precious point as Alan Lithgow headed home an excellent corner from the substitute. In the end, some Morton fans were disappointed that we were happy to keep possession in the corner late on with Killie having been reduced to ten men. Alan Lithgow's second half header gained an unlikely point as the Dougie Imrie era got off to a promising start. (Photo-Gary Bradley) Make no mistake though, those first steps were a point gained, rather than two points dropped. Perhaps there was some light at the end of the tunnel…

Dean, Alan and Craig kick off our season review coverage. In the first of two instalments, the panel discuss summer recruitment, the decision to retain Gus MacPherson and the league campaign under Gus until he was relieved of his duties in December.

(Photo- Gary Bradley) Out With The Old And In With The New… A Review of Morton’s 2021-22 Season, Part One. By Russell Gordon. After the rollercoaster ride that was season 2020-21, most Morton fans would’ve quite happily accepted a season of mid-table mediocrity with any realistic fears of relegation being extinguished as early as possible, even if there was no real danger of us threatening the play-offs at the other end of the table. Sounds boring on the surface perhaps, but whilst that was exactly what we got, it could hardly have been described as an uneventful campaign. With fans’ group MCT getting their feet under the desk before officially announcing the purchase of the club from an increasingly unpopular Crawford Rae in September, all eyes were on which direction the club would take and what lessons had been learned from the calamitous last few years of the Golden Casket era. It didn’t start well. Having scraped to survival, manager Gus MacPherson was handed a two-year deal as a reward for his “achievement”, which raised many an eyebrow amongst sections of the support who were somewhat underwhelmed by the former Queen’s Park and Queen of the South boss’s performance in failing to avoid the relegation play-offs in the first place. MacPherson’s first signing was to cause even more concern- former Morton trialist Alan Lithgow came in from Livingston on a two-year deal. Whilst Lithgow’s injury record can’t be ignored, the main bone of contention for many was a criminal conviction he attained in his younger days for an offence that a lot of fans found unpalatable. Former Raith striker Gozie Ugwu was charged with the unenviable task of trying to provide the goals for MacPherson's struggling side. (Photo-Gary Bradley) There were of course re-signings and departures again- Robbie Muirhead was handed a new deal, owing in no small part to his play-off heroics, whilst stalwarts such as Gary Oliver, Brian McLean, Cameron Blues, Michael Ledger and club captain Kyle Jacobs came back for more. Former Hibernian and Sheffield United midfielder Stephen McGinn was lured to title favourites Kilmarnock, whilst Ayr United boss David Hopkin decided to raid his former club for some of the stars who brought him so much success in his time at Cappielow. Few tears were shed over the loss of Cameron Salkeld and in particular Sean McGinty, but the losses of Markus Fjortoft and Aidan McAdams to the Honest Men weren’t greeted with the same relief or joy down Inverclyde way. Wingers Aidan Nesbitt and Craig McGuffie departed for League One minnows Falkirk, ultimately contributing to their heroic efforts to avoid the drop to League Two, which was nice for them. Joining Lithgow at Cappielow were Raith Rovers’ forward Gozie Ugwu, who brought a much-needed physical presence to the front line, and former Dundee and Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton- a signing that was perhaps unfairly mocked by many observers. Only time would tell if those calls were fair or not. Former ‘Ton full back Mark Russell would also return, having enjoyed a successful spell at Finn Harps in Ireland. It would be fair to say that in those early weeks of the season, the squad seriously lacked depth and experience, and just to exacerbate that problem, Morton were hit by a COVID outbreak on the eve of the season’s kick off. After a couple of dull pre-season friendlies; a 0-0 draw behind closed doors at Dumbarton and a 2-0 win over Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood (God, I miss Highland tours), the intention was to start the League Cup campaign with a trip to Stranraer, for a game for which travelling fans were officially banned from attending due to the restrictions. Those who chose not to travel didn’t miss anything- the match was called off on the morning as a result of Morton’s failure to raise a team due to the outbreak at Cappielow, and Morton were forced accept a 0-3 defeat. Incredibly though, Morton were able to field a team against East Kilbride only three days later, on a day of confusion as the club and the Telegraph told conflicting stories about whether the game would or would not go ahead, and whether anyone would be able to attend or not. In the end, the game was played behind closed doors in what was a bit of a public relations faux pas on the club’s part. With Gus MacPherson also in his sickbed, a shadow Morton team toiled to a 0-0 draw with their Lowland League counterparts, prevailing 5-4 on penalties to take the bonus point going into the game with top seeds Kilmarnock. With Morton effectively out of the tournament through very little fault of their own, the trip to Rugby Park, in front of a limited number of home fans brought room for optimism as Morton led for the vast majority of the match- young Lewis McGregor’s fine early strike was only cancelled out in injury time before the hosts went on to take the bonus point in a penalty shoot-out. The curtain came down on Morton’s brief campaign with a 2-1 victory over Clyde at Cappielow, as Robbie Muirhead took up where he left off in May with a double to crush any hopes the Bully Wee may have had of progression to the knock-out phase of the competition. With Morton’s interest in the League Cup meeting a premature end, focus moved onto the start of the league campaign, with much-fancied Dunfermline Athletic visiting relegation favourites Morton on the opening day. In front of a crowd that was again limited only to home fans, Morton could’ve considered themselves unfortunate not to collect all three points, having led through a first half Gary Oliver penalty against his favourite opponents. But in the end it took a Lewis McGrattan cross looping into the Pars’ net to salvage a draw as the Fifers claimed a rare, but memorable Cappielow point. Three points were to follow for Morton the following week at Hamilton, as Gozie Ugwu’s first half strike proved enough to separate the visitors from the newly relegated Accies, in spite of the ordering off of Cammy Blues late in the game. Four points from six, all was well in the world. But Morton being Morton, quickly dispelled any thoughts that we might have been in for a good season by losing 2-3 at home to early strugglers Queen of the South, and rounded off August with a 0-3 trousering at the hands of Partick Thistle in Glasgow. MacPherson had some major surgery to perform on the squad as the month reached its conclusion and the clock ran down on the summer transfer window. To be fair, corrective action was taken, with Mansfield striker Jimmy Knowles, Newcastle winger Tom Allen and centre back Oisin McEntee, and Brentford midfielder Jaako Oksanen (the latter two under-21 internationals for the Republic of Ireland and Finland respectively) came in the door, along with Livingston striker Gavin Reilly, all on season-long loans. Livingston loanee Gavin Reilly endured a difficult first few months of his Morton career. (Photo- Gary Bradley) The Challenge Cup, now known as the SPFL Trust Trophy, returned after a year in abeyance and Morton were handed a trip to Airdrie to face… Celtic B (?) Morton won 3-1, and that’s really all that needs said about such a farce of a fixture. We move on. September wasn’t to prove a vintage month- a respectable performance at Rugby Park saw the ‘Ton fall to a late Rory McKenzie winner for Kilmarnock before falling by the same scoreline to Raith Rovers at Cappielow the following week. Despite the beautiful sunshine that early autumn afternoon, the storm clouds were gathering over Cappielow. The month was rounded off at Somerset Park as Morton were reacquainted with a former boss in the week that we were freed from the shackles of Crawford Rae and finally became a community-owned club. That boss however, was to be Jim Duffy; successor to David Hopkin, who had already been emptied by the Ayrshire club as a result not only of their own slow start to the season, but also of fan mutiny against Hopkin. What we got was one of the worst football matches you’re ever likely to see, between two absolutely horrible teams to watch, which ended goalless. Gus MacPherson and his backroom staff suffer through the turgid 0-0 draw at Somerset Park like the rest of us. (Photo-Gary Bradley) It was becoming increasingly obvious that Morton were going to endure a difficult season- the football was turgid and the support was becoming increasingly impatient with the manager. But whilst the Raith and Ayr games were truly awful, it’s perhaps more concerning when you play well and don’t get your rewards. When high-flying Arbroath came calling, few would have fancied Morton to take anything from a game against the league’s surprise package. With Jack Hamilton being beaten by his brother Colin on the cusp of half-time, Morton could’ve easily retreated into their shell, but an excellent second half performance, with a goal from Gary Oliver seconds after the restart, and a fantastic Cammy Blues strike to give Morton the lead, looked to have given us the three points. Lady Luck had other ideas though, and Oisin McEntee was harshly punished for the use of an elbow late on and Michael McKenna duly converted the resultant penalty to deny Morton what could’ve been two valuable points. Our saving grace at this point was Dunfermline’s abysmal start under Peter Grant, but surely that couldn’t go on forever? At least there was a break from league duty though, as the SPFL Trust Trophy campaign continued at Links Park. Whilst the rest of the country were enthralled by Scotland’s incredible late World Cup win over Israel, a hardy band of Morton fans travelled up to Angus to see Morton scrape past Montrose on penalties to book a quarter-final tie against Queen of the South. We were to clock up a fair few miles in October, with trips to Inverness for an insipid 0-2 defeat in which Lewis Strapp, who had spent most of the campaign playing in an unfamiliar left centre back role, reportedly felt the wrath of a furious MacPherson; and another uninspiring 0-0 draw, this time at Palmerston, the only highlight of which being Robbie Muirhead’s effort which was unfortunate to hit the bar. An improved performance at home to on-form Partick garnered yet another 0-0 draw which could’ve been more but was probably seen as a point gained rather than two dropped, before Hamilton came calling. An appalling Morton performance incredibly only saw the hosts a goal down deep into injury time when a high and hopeful Jaako Oksanen free kick was headed into his own net by Accies defender Reegan Mimnaugh to prevent a Halloween horror show for the ‘Ton faithful. Gary Oliver nets a last minute penalty against his favourite opponents to give Morton a 3-1 win at East End Park (Photo- Gary Bradley) But bad news was just around the corner- Dunfermline had finally decided to wield the axe and relieve the hapless Peter Grant of his duties ahead of a relegation six-pointer against Morton at East End Park. It seemed we needn’t have worried at this point however, as Gozie Ugwu’s goal was sandwiched by two from Gary Oliver (who else?) and Morton eased to three vital points against the Pars. They were to appoint John Hughes as Grant’s successor after that Morton defeat though and immediately got a new manager bounce, with a win at Inverness and a home to Ayr, whilst Morton were losing 0-2 at home to promotion-chasing Kilmarnock and 1-2 at Raith Rovers. The defeat in Kirkcaldy was to prove especially chastening, having led early on through Michael Ledger and meekly surrendered their advantage. A bad day was rounded off by the sending off of Alan Lithgow as tensions boiled over in the away stand, with Lithgow being the target of some fans’ frustrations, and squabbles breaking out in the away end. Alan Lithgow's two yellow cards at Stark's Park were to prove one of the season's lowlights. (Photo- Gary Bradley) With Morton celebrating the 100th anniversary of their Scottish Cup win this season, a cup run would’ve been nice- so a draw away to promotion-chasing Inverness was a most unwelcome development. The manager was under pressure, the board were meeting criticisms with a wall of silence, the fans were at each others’ throats, the relationship between players and fans appeared irreparable. If the winter of 2020 was a winter of discontent, we were bracing ourselves for what the winter of 2021 was about to bring…

Happy retirement to Eddie McPhee! Eddie has held a season ticket at Cappielow for over 40 years and is an avid reader of the Forum. Enjoy your retirement!

Dean, Alan and Louise (very, very briefly) reflect on Friday night's game and chat about the play-offs at both ends of the Championship. The panel also give their verdicts on which players they would keep and who they would release.

Dean, Alan and Louise (very, very briefly) reflect on Friday night's game and chat about the play-offs at both ends of the Championship. The panel also give their verdicts on which players they would keep and who they would release.

Arbroath vs Morton – Match Preview by Dean McKinnon. Morton head north to take on high-flying Arbroath as the curtain falls on the 2021/22 season. Dougie Imrie’s nineteenth game in charge will mark the end of a season in which the former Morton player’s impact cannot be understated. Imrie has hauled a Ton side seemingly doomed to relegation under the tutelage of Gus MacPherson to Championship survival with room to spare. The man who scored the Greenock side’s most famous goal of this millennia has had a rejuvenating effect on Greenock Morton that stretches far beyond the pitch, and will now begin planning next season’s assault on Scotland’s second tier. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Question marks remain over Alan Lithgow’s fitness heading into the season’s encore. The veteran defender pulled up in the warmup before the 1-0 defeat to Hamilton and was absent in last week's defeat to Inverness. Lewis Strapp’s recovery from the knock sustained at Raith was a welcome addition to last week’s side. Dougie Imrie has suggested that there may be some experimentation in his squad for this fixture, so we may see the likes of McGrattan, McGregor, King and Hynes given a significant amount of game time. Current Connections Whilst nobody in the current Cappielow ranks has plied their trade in Arbroath, there are a few former Morton representatives in the Gayfield contingent. Our very own Jack Hamilton is the brother of Arbroath full back, Chris Hamilton. Luke Donnelly had an undistinguished loan spell at Cappielow whilst a young player at Celtic. Nicky Low is a well kent face in the Cowshed as a Morton fan himself. Both Bobby Linn and Derek Gaston’s spells in Greenock resulted in a third tier title win. Linn penned a two-and-a-half-year deal for Jim McInally’s side in January 2007. Despite featuring regularly in the title winning side, he struggled to hit the net and found himself on the periphery of the squad the following season in the First Division. He would be loaned out to East Fife before being moved on. Gaston’s stay in Inverclyde is slightly more memorable. He joined the Greenock side in the summer of 2012 and was a mainstay in Allan Moore’s title challenging season, followed by featuring less regularly the following season as The Ton plunged into League One. Gaston was to prove instrumental to the title win with a number of monumental saves as Jim Duffy led his side back to the Championship at the first time of asking. Gaston joined part time Arbroath in 2019, making forty-six appearances to date for Dick Campbell’s side. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape Goals have been notoriously hard to come by in tussles between Morton and Arbroath in recent times. This trend was bucked earlier in the season as the sides shared the spoils following a 2-2 draw at Cappielow. Gary Oliver and Cammy Blues looked to have claimed a vital three points for the home side before some questionable officiating gave the Red Lichties a penalty in the 87th minute to claim a point. Colin Hamilton scored his second goal of the season past brother Jack shortly after half-time in the second meeting of the sides in December. This match was marred by fog, to the point that supporters in the away end could not see Gary Oliver’s equaliser at the other side of the ground. Parity was, however, short lived as Anton Dowds’ goal in the 80th minute was to prove the winner as all three points stayed in Angus. More normal service was resumed in February as both sides shared a point a piece at Cappielow following a 0-0 draw in which both teams could only muster a single shot on target. Opposition Analysis It’s safe to say that Arbroath are currently riding on the crest of a wave. Despite falling to two late Kilmarnock goals in their title decider a week ago, the part-time side have secured a second-placed finish and will lock horns with a Championship counterpart for the right to take on a Premiership side for a place in the top flight next season. With the club on a sound financial footing, investment being made in the facilities in Gayfield, and a winning team on the park, it seems like Arbroath are going from strength-to-strength at present. I spoke to former Arbroath TV commentator Ewan Smith (@ewansmithpr) ahead of Friday night’s curtain call, who underlined the home side’s ambitions despite losing out on automatic promotion – “Gayfield would have been packed to the gunnels for a title decider against Morton - had they held on for a famous win at Kilmarnock last week. But while the home crowd will still back Arbroath in significant numbers, the focus will now shift to the play-offs. Arbroath will be determined to use this game as a springboard for their play-off semi-final against either Inverness, Partick or Raith. A win will give them momentum going into that game but they could also choose to give fringe players some valuable game time. The likes of Sam Ford - who hasn’t played since the 3-0 loss to Inverness in March - and Lichties legends Bobby Linn and Gavin Swankie could come into contention. Arbroath may also choose to rest ex-Morton keeper Derek Gaston after he picked up an injury in the heart-breaking defeat to Killie. Dale Hilson is also likely to miss out after breaking his wrist but no matter who plays, Arbroath will still provide a stern task for Ton. They have had an outstanding season and have a host of new admirers after their stunning run to second place. Jack Hamilton has netted five goals in six games and Greenock-based Nicky Low has been pulling the strings from midfield. Tam O’Brien and Michael McKenna have both earned PFA Player of the Year nominations and Arbroath have lost just five of their 35 league matches. A morale-boosting win over Morton would set Arbroath up nicely for their second shot at reaching the cinch Premiership and I’m backing them to win 2-1.” Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All match odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 6am on 28th April 2022 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The hosts head into this match with the advantage, priced at 20/21 to best their Inverclyde counterparts, with the away side ranked at 14/5 to claim all three points, and 23/10 on the draw. Given the two sides propensity for goalless affairs, 7/1 for a goalless stalemate looks to be an incredibly generous price. Gavin Reilly is a notable absence at the top of the goalscorer odds market. The Livi loanee is an impressive 10/1 to score first or 7/2 to score anytime. Match Officials Referee – Matthew MacDermid AR1 – Andy Milne AR2 – Colin Drummond

Away Day Guide - Arbroath (29th April) Photo - Arbroath FC Website Tickets – Click here to buy matchday tickets. Prices are as follows – Adults - £19, Concession (U18s, Students, Over 65s and Disabled Fans) - £12, Parent and U12 child - £22, Parent and 2xU12 children - £24. 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 are running two buses, both of which are currently FULL. Buses will depart from Gourock station at 4pm with pick-ups en route. The cost will be decided on the day, message their page on Facebook or contact Mark on 07847847357 to enquire about availability. The Port Glasgow Morton Travel Club are NOT running a bus. 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, there are direct services to Arbroath on the Glasgow-Aberdeen line. There is also the option of travelling to Edinburgh Waverly and transferring onto Aberdeen bound trains from there. To reduce ticketing costs, split your journey as a return from Glasgow Queen Street to Perth, then a return from Perth to Arbroath. 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.