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Craig and Darren discuss the end of Morton's 16 match unbeaten run with defeats to Inverness Caledonian Thistle & Dundee United.

Morton v Dundee United – Match Preview by Russell Gordon All good things must come to an end, and with Morton’s magnificent run of sixteen matches without defeat being halted by relegation-threatened Inverness on Saturday, league leaders Dundee United visit Cappielow Park Supported by Dalrada Technology hoping to keep their faltering chase to the finish line on track. With injuries building up, Dougie Imrie will be looking for an improved performance as his side attempt to get back on the saddle with a positive result against the title favourites. Match tickets are available at the below link: Fanbase | Select Ticket (fanbaseclub.com) Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News As we enter a crucial stage of the season, Imrie doesn’t have his problems to seek. Jamie MacDonald, not fully fit himself, is likely to continue in deputising between the sticks for Ryan Mullen, while long term casualty Iain Wilson will again sit out, after Imrie intimated prior to the Inverness match that his season could be over. Jai Quitongo again missed out the Inverness defeat only four games since he returned from his last injury setback. One can only hope that he’s not broken down again in his attempts to reach full fitness, as his injury-ravaged season takes another blow. Also likely to sit out is George Oakley, whose return can’t come soon enough, with Morton looking a completely different team without their talisman, after his rib injury sustained against Airdrie just over a week ago. Jack Bearne will hope for a starting berth after an encouraging cameo on Saturday, with Michael Garrity and Lewis McGrattan not making the best of their opportunities. Current Connections There are two Morton players who have represented the Terrors, both briefly. Robbie Muirhead signed on at Tannadice on transfer deadline day at the end of January 2015, for a £150,000 fee from Kilmarnock, only making fifteen appearances and scoring twice, against Aberdeen and Inverness towards the end of that season. He went on to sign on loan for Partick on the next transfer deadline day, before returning to Tayside in January 2016. He was released in April, signing for Hearts a couple of months later. Grant Gillespie had an even shorter spell in the City of Discovery, joining from Hamilton in January 2018 and making only six appearances as United missed out on the Championship title to St. Mirren and lost to Livingston in the play-off semi-final. That summer he moved to League of Ireland side, Derry City. United right back Liam Grimshaw spent last season at Cappielow following his release from Motherwell in the summer of 2022. After a slow start to his Morton career, he became a firm favourite with the ‘Ton support, eventually being awarded the club’s Player of the Year following an excellent campaign that saw Morton just miss out on a place in the promotion play-offs, before signing up at Tannadice in the summer. A familiar face in the United backroom staff is Andy Bryan, a lifelong Morton fan who spent most of his working life at Cappielow, fulfilling a multitude of roles from ballboy to kitman in over forty years serving the club before being relieved of his duties in the dark old days of Dave MacKinnon and David Hopkin. Tale of the Tape With this evening’s game being re-arranged from December, Morton have twice visited Tannadice this season without yet reciprocating United’s hospitality. The two visits have of course proven fruitful for our own favourites, garnering four points from six. In September, with Morton suffering a stuttering start to the campaign, they fell behind to an early Louis Moult header, but in a game marred by yet another horrific refereeing performance from Scotland’s most appalling Grade One official David Munro, Robbie Muirhead latched onto a mix-up between former St. Mirren defender Declan Gallagher and United’s on-loan goalkeeper Jack Walton to claim a point in unlikely circumstances. United could point to a penalty appeal that wasn’t spotted by the hapless official and weren’t happy with the ordering off of Matthew Cudjoe for an elbow on Calum Waters, but when footage was released, the referee’s assistant was proven correct in alerting Munro. No, I’m not giving him any credit for coming to the right decision for a change. Morton’s visit in January was one of those afternoons that will live long in the memory of many of those who travelled to Tannadice from the west, and George Oakley in particular. After the suspended Robbie Muirhead had bagged a perfect hat-trick the previous midweek against Ayr United, Oakley was not to be outdone, rising majestically to nod Michael Garrity’s pinpoint cross into the net to give Morton a 25th minute lead. His right-footed effort nine minutes later doubled the visitors’ advantage, before the hosts came roaring back, with headed goals from Kai Fotheringham and Louis Moult sending the teams in level at the break. With both teams looking for a winner in the second half, things reached boiling point in the 88th minute when Craig Sibbald, formerly of League One minnows Falkirk, was ordered off for a second booking. A minute later, Oakley completed his hat-trick, outmuscling Kevin Holt before lashing a howitzer into Walton’s net via the post to send the visiting support into raptures. Morton held on to record a fine victory, leaving the hosts to lick their wounds and under-pressure United boss Jim Goodwin to scramble for excuses for his own failings by blaming every party but himself for Morton’s shock victory. More of the same would be nice this evening! Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis Despite their lofty position in the table, all in not well on Tayside. The cups haven’t been kind to Goodwin, who followed up his Scottish Cup defeat to Darvel that pushed him towards the Pittodrie exit door by going out of the League Cup in the group stages after a headline-grabbing defeat to Spartans, before going out the other two cup competitions to League One minnows Falkirk and Queen of the South. The league hasn’t been straightforward, either. With big-spending Raith Rovers on their coattails, and a late defeat to the moneybags Fifers last month, United have failed to exert their authority on the title race with only one win in four leaving them only a point clear, despite Murray’s Moneymen’s not-at-all-funny defeat by bottom of the table Arbroath on Friday night. I spoke to Gary Manson of the Shed 57 Dundee United Supporters’ Club (@Shed_57), who gave me his thoughts going into the game. “They say the league table doesn’t lie- but someone forgot to tell the United fans that. Despite being top, a point clear of Raith, whose stunning capitulation at Gayfield last Friday night allowed United to carve out the narrowest of breathing spaces with a turgid draw at Firhill on Saturday- the Arabs are far from happy. United conceded early on Saturday- an Aidan Fitzpatrick corner headed home by long term nemesis Brian Graham had Partick ahead after only three minutes and the remainder of the first half was pretty dire from the men in green. Jim Goodwin was on the receiving end of torrents of abuse from the visiting fans occupying the main stand at half time. A decent finish from Louis Moult in the second half restored parity, earned a point that looked unlikely at half time and took some of the mounting pressure off Goodwin’s shoulders. There are probably more questions than answers for Goodwin- a season that looked really positive before Christmas until a 0-1 home defeat to title challengers Raith caused United to unravel. Grim home defeats to Morton and most recently to a very ordinary Airdrie side, and another poor result in Kirkcaldy, have caused anger amongst the Tannadice faithful- mostly directed at Goodwin, and have left the United fans looking over their shoulders. This is United’s first trip of the season to the Tail o’ the Bank, with the fixture falling foul of the weather in December. Goodwin has made a series of changes to his starting eleven in recent games as he searches for a winning formula. Young Miller Thomson has been thrown in at right back in place of ex-Morton man Liam Grimshaw, Interestingly, Goodwin’s other option at right back, Kieran Freeman has moved onto St. Patrick’s Athletic, having seen few opportunities during the Tannadice boss’s year in charge. Thomson was one of the few players to get pass marks against Airdrie last midweek, but he struggled in the first half against Aidan Fitzpatrick’s physicality at Firhill but looked more comfortable when moved into midfield following Kai Fotheringham’s replacement with Grimshaw. Dougie Imrie will have an eye on United’s right back selection On Tuesday night as a chance to exploit a potential weakness. Kevin Holt and Declan Gallagher are pretty sound centre halves but in contrast to earlier this season, United are losing goals and George Oakley will have fond memories of his Tannadice hat-trick, though Gallagher sat out that particular game through injury. The return of Ross Docherty against his former club at the weekend added much-needed dig to the midfield. The captain lasted 70 minutes before being replaced and the United fans will hope he remains injury free as we head into the business end of the season. Kai Fotheringham, who was scoring regularly earlier in the season, hasn’t hit the net since that defeat to Morton at Tannadice in early January and looks a player short on confidence. Craig Sibbald has been dependable in the middle of the park and has good energy and a high work rate. United’s lack of depth was cruelly exposed last Tuesday though, when Goodwin opted for a 4-3-3 and handed starting berths to Chris Mochrie and Archie Meekison. Neither repaid Goodwin’s faith, with both turning in poor performances as United failed to dominate and deservedly lost the match. St. Mirren loanee Alex Grieve has had several opportunities since his arrival in January but is yet to find the scoresheet and has failed to impress thus far. He does cover a lot of ground but looks to lack a footballing brain and missed a sitter at Firhill on Saturday, which is unlikely to boost his confidence. Another player who is struggling with confidence is Glenn Middleton. Often in space out wide, a combination of frequent inside passes and stray crosses have marginalised his contribution. Former Steelman Louis Moult leads the United line and added to his goal tally for the season on Saturday, but injuries have prevented him featuring as prominently as he, and the United fans would have liked. The Terrors looked much better on Saturday when Tony Watt was introduced for the second half. Watt has been frustrating this season. He often falls out of games, but if United are to get over the title line, and return to the top division, they could come to rely on the experienced striker’s contribution. Overall, the situation at Tannadice is a strange one- league leaders, but unconvincingly so. A win at Cappielow would put clear daylight between United and Raith, and would ease the pressure a little on the embattled Goodwin- defeat, and the critics and detractors will simply become louder.” Photo - GBR Photographs. What’s Happening Elsewhere? There’s one other re-arranged fixture this evening, with Airdrie visiting East End Park for a twice-postponed fixture that coincidentally was called off as Dunfermline were enduring an injury crisis and a poor run of form. Thankfully for the Pars, with things beginning to look up, the game can go ahead, and if the teams could draw to cancel each other out that would be just lovely. With nothing else going on in the Championship, we’ll venture down to League One, though not for as long as Falkirk have, as the Bairns continue their quest to make it fifth time lucky against Cove Rengers in Aberdeen. In League Two, the league’s two newest clubs meet at New Dundas Park, as Bonnyrigg Rose host Spartans, while Stranraer, in danger of being sucked into a battle with Clyde to avoid the relegation play-off place, host Dumbarton. On Thursday, Scotland’s last remaining European representatives Rangers, visit the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon to face Portuguese big-hitters Benfica. I’m sure we all wish them well. Or perhaps not. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 4th March 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. United go into the match as overwhelming favourites at 10/11, with Morton priced at 14/5 and the draw at 23/10. Robbie Muirhead is 9/1 to score the first goal, and Morton to get back to their miserly best at the back with a clean sheet is 3/1. Match Officials Referee- Lloyd Wilson takes charge of his second Morton match of the season, having previously taken charge of the re-arranged 2-1 victory over Inverness at Cappielow in December. AR 1- Graham McNeillie AR 2- Michael MacDermid

Morton v Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Match Preview by Russell Gordon Off the back of Morton’s draw in Kirkcaldy against the league’s second top side, Dougie Imrie’s Morton welcome the league’s second bottom team to Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology with the visit of an Inverness Caledonian Thistle side who have struggled to drag themselves from danger despite some encouraging signs when the ex-Scotland striker took the reins in September. Having picked up four points from six this week, another three would see the ‘Ton extend their unbeaten run to an incredible seventeen matches! Match tickets are available at the below link: Fanbase | Select Ticket (fanbaseclub.com) Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News After enjoying a relatively lengthy period without too many injuries, they’re beginning to stack up again for Imrie’s team. Ryan Mullen sat out of Tuesday night’s draw and was replaced by Jamie MacDonald, who himself wasn’t fully fit, but turned in a solid performance in the kingdom, though he was well protected by his backline. Likewise, George Oakley was forced onto the sidelines after Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s appalling foul last Saturday. Robbie Muirhead returned to the team, although he didn’t look his usual self, and Jai Quitongo up top through the middle didn’t really work, whether due to Quitongo’s own lack of fitness or how uncomfortable he was in the role is up for debate. Iain Wilson’s withdrawal on Tuesday was another massive blow, and the sight of him limping from the pitch wasn’t a pleasant one, although Grant Gillespie filled in admirably on his introduction. With Imrie needing to manage minutes with Morton’s hectic schedule, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michael Garrity or Lewis McGrattan getting a starting berth, depending on the health and fitness of Muirhead and Quitongo. Current Connections After the recent departure of Steven Boyd, there are two former Thistle players in the Morton squad. Kirk Broadfoot enjoyed a season in the Highlands, playing his part in helping them to the Premiership play-off final, where they lost 6-2 on aggregate to St. Johnstone, before moving closer to home by signing for Lowland League Open Goal Broomhill and moving back up the pyramid to Morton as the plug was pulled on the fifth-tier side by their backers. George Oakley spent the first half of last season at Inverness, though an alleged difficult relationship with Billy Dodds soured his time in the north, and Dougie Imrie took his former Hamilton teammate to Cappielow in a move that has certainly suited Oakley and Morton. Dougie Imrie of course, had a two-year spell at the Caledonian Stadium from 2010-12, before moving to St. Mirren and then Morton in 2013. Inverness defender Wallace Duffy briefly joined Morton on loan from St. Johnstone in 2020, but left without playing a match after he was offered a permanent deal up north which suited Duffy and the Saints better than a temporary move to Cappielow. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape The teams have met twice this season, with Morton collecting four points so far. Off the back of the victory over Arbroath at Gayfield in December that kicked off Morton’s terrific unbeaten run, they dragged themselves off the foot of the Championship with a 2-1 midweek victory at Cappielow, in a match that was re-arranged from October. George Oakley pounced on a horrific error from Thistle defender Nikola Udjur to caress the ball into Mark Ridgers’ net. Jack Baird doubled the ‘Ton’s advantage by getting on the end of a mammoth Lewis Strapp throw in to lash home. A late Adam Brooks header made for a nervy ending, but Morton held on to kick start their season at long last. Later that month, while other clubs (including Inverness, whose game at Cappielow was postponed due to non-existent travel difficulties) weren’t asked to travel up and down the A9 in supposedly treacherous weather conditions, Morton and their fans weren’t extended such a courtesy, but secured a 0-0 draw from a fairly turgid affair in pretty foul conditions to maintain an unbeaten run which by that point had reached five games. Opposition Analysis Inverness are having a miserable time of it this season. After a slow start to the season, Billy Dodds, who had been given an extended contract off the back of their somewhat fortunate run to last season’s Scottish Cup final, was emptied to make way for Duncan Ferguson. That appointment saw an immediate reaction, with a 3-2 win at Gayfield taking them off the foot of the table at the expense of Morton and propelling them to a run of six unbeaten in the league before a narrow late defeat by big-spending Raith Rovers. Ferguson brought in free agents David Wotherspoon and Cillian Sheridan, with differing levels of success, resulting in both moving on- Wotherspoon to Dundee United, while Sheridan was released after a disappointing spell in the Highlands, eventually signing for Queen’s Park. They’ve also had their struggles off the pitch. After plans for a proposed battery farm on land owned by the club were approved earlier this month by Highland Council, the plans are now under review, which with massive losses year on year, was seen as a solution to addressing their financial woes, but has now left them in limbo until a decision is reached. Results since Christmas have been underwhelming, and coupled with the improved form of Ayr, Queen’s Park and Dunfermline in recent weeks, they’ve been left in the play-off place at the foot of the table, albeit seven points clear of Arbroath. A Scottish Cup exit to Hibernian has halted any chance of a repeat of last year’s cup run, and left only one Championship club in the competition at this late stage of the season. And since then, three draws haven’t done much to lift them up the table, although a last gasp Cameron Harper equaliser at Gayfield last weekend struck a hammer blow to the Red Lichties’ survival hopes, keeping their relegation rivals at arm’s length Photo - GBR Photographs. What’s Happening Elsewhere? Speaking of Arbroath, the BBC cameras visit Angus for the visit of big-spending Raith Rovers, an evening that the hosts will be looking forward to with a massive sense of trepidation after shipping six appalling goals to Queen’s Park in a midweek Hampden rout. On Saturday, the Spiders visit Airdrie in a game that any of a Morton persuasion would accept a draw from, although those with a more direct interest will be looking for a result to provide a cushion from the drop rather than catch the ‘Ton in the play-off places. It’s a similar scenario at East End Park, where Dunfermline host Ayr United. After collecting four points from their last two games, a win for the Pars would prove an excellent week’s work, while also damaging our nearest challengers’ hopes of catching Morton. The division’s match of the day takes place at Firhill, where a wounded Dundee United will hope to recover from their shock midweek defeat by Airdrie by maintaining their fine league record against Partick this season. With big-spending Raith likely to be topping the table going into the match, the pressure will be on the Terrors, and one can only hope they stand up to it, allowing Morton to take advantage with a win to move into third. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 29th February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Morton are clear favourites at 4/5, with Inverness priced at 31/10 and the draw at 12/5. Grant Gillespie to score the final goal of the game is 8/1 and Morton to win without conceding is 2/1. Match Officials Referee- Graham Grainger takes charge of his second Morton match of the season, having been in the middle of our 1-2 defeat by Dunfermline at Cappielow in November. AR 1- Craig Ferguson AR 2- Scott Bunting

Hal’s Heroes- Morton’s Greatest Ever Season By Russell Gordon As we’re all aware by now, 2024 is a year of celebration of all things Morton, as the club celebrates its 150th anniversary. But with so many ups and downs to look back on over those years, it would be remiss of me not to wax lyrical about what was perhaps the greatest individual campaign in Morton’s 150 years of unbroken history. After the relative highs of the 1940s, which peaked with a narrow Scottish Cup final replay defeat to Rangers in 1948, Morton dropped to Division Two the following season, before claiming the first of their ten league titles the following year. Their stay in the top tier wouldn’t last long however, as relegation soon followed in 1952, and so, more than a decade of discontent would follow, with Morton on the outside of Scotland’s top eighteen clubs, looking enviously in. The nadir of that era was to come in season 1960-61, as the Greenock side finished below such minnows as Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath, Forfar Athletic and Falkirk- unthinkable these days! But 1961 saw the arrival of Dundonian, Haldane Stewart to Cappielow- a tobacco salesman who used the skills honed in his trade of choice in his new environment of Scottish football. A man well ahead of his time, Stewart understood that everything had its price, and was a master at his craft. He took the unusual step of taking over as both Director and Manager of the club, and improvement over the next two years was incredible, with two consecutive third placed finishes, which resulted in Morton missing out of promotion firstly by nine points to Queen of the South, who were a point short of champions Clyde, and then by a single point to East Stirling, who finished six adrift of champions St. Johnstone in those days of two points for a win. But there were reasons for optimism. Three consecutive defeats late in the season, two of them at the homes of the two promoted teams, had cost Morton their place in the top tier, but were off the back of eight consecutive victories. There was little reason to believe that this Morton team couldn’t challenge in 1963-64. Having won their final two games of the 1962-63 season, little did anyone at the time know that the club had built the foundations of a winning run of league games that will unlikely never be broken. But among the many highlights of the first half of the season, Morton’s League Cup campaign provided a glamour that had eluded the fans in the previous twelve years as their side came up against sides who were no longer regular foes, given the club’s lengthy sabbatical from Scotland’s top table. Morton bludgeoned through their group, collecting maximum points from their six matches against Ayr United, Stranraer and Clyde and scoring twenty goals in the process to set up a two-legged quarter final with Motherwell. A framed, and signed photo of Allan McGraw being held aloft by his jubilant teammates adorns the Cappielow boardroom to this day. With Morton taking up where they left off in the league, by taking care of League Cup opponents Stranraer and Ayr, as well as Dumbarton, they headed into the first leg at Fir Park with a 100% record for the season. There couldn’t have been too many disappointed Morton fans to see that record go when they emerged with a 0-0 draw to take into the second leg in Greenock, despite the ordering off of Bobby Adamson for retaliation, on what was incredibly, his wedding day! While I certainly hope he was comforted by his new bride later that evening, he didn’t have too long to wait to cheer his mood on the park. In front of a crowd in the region of 20,000 at Cappielow for the second leg, Alex Byrne gave the hosts an early lead before a second half Adamson goal sparked wild celebrations amongst the Morton faithful as they secured a semi-final meeting with Hibernian at Ibrox the following month. In the meantime, the league campaign was going along splendidly, with Morton bagging 23 goals across only four games, keeping their impeccable league record intact before their showdown with the Edinburgh side. It was Adamson who was again on the scoresheet for Morton in the 3rd minute, but Hibs’ Neil Martin levelled the affair after 20 minutes and the teams had to settle for a replay back at Ibrox the following week. And Morton were to prevail in the replay, thanks to a 64th minute penalty from the talismanic Allan McGraw, to the delight of the majority of the crowd, which saw them through to their first ever League Cup Final, and their first national final of any kind in just over fifteen years. What we’d give for that success rate now. A 7-1 win over Berwick was excellent preparation for the final meeting with favourites Rangers, but on a day that the burglars of Greenock must only have dreamed of, with all roads leading to Hampden, Morton succumbed in the second half, having missed two gilt-edged chances to open the scoring in the first. In front of a crowd of 105,907, Jim Forrest helped himself to four and Alex Willoughby one as Rangers ran out 5-0 winners- a result that most observers felt was extremely harsh on a Morton side who continued to attack after falling behind, allowing Rangers to pick them off as they threw caution to the wind. Any fears that the heavy defeat could derail Morton’s promotion charge were to prove unfounded though, as they followed up their final defeat with a 6-4 win over Forfar and an 8-0 rout of Hamilton Accies, eventually going on a run of twelve wins in a row before kicking off their Scottish Cup campaign with a disappointing draw with Cowdenbeath at Cappielow, before comfortably disposing of the Fifers in the Central Park replay. The Scottish Cup campaign however, was to be brief, as Morton fell to the other side of the Old Firm- Celtic recording a 3-1 second round victory at Cappielow to leave Morton to concentrate on their promotion charge. But the following week, on 1st February, it all came to an end. Morton travelled to Bayview for their 24th league game of the season, finally failing to win as East Fife ran out 3-1 winners against the champions elect. A winning run of 23 matches was remarkable, but an accumulative run of 25 has never been beaten in the history of Scottish football, and was only matched by a Celtic team consisting of a prime Henrik Larsson in 2003-04. But in that season, Larsson “only” managed to notch a paltry 41 goals in all competitions for the Glasgow giants, not a patch on the 58 goals scored by Morton legend Allan McGraw across the memorable campaign. Although the modest McGraw was quick to credit the contribution of his teammates, commenting in Graeme Ross’s Morton Greats in 2004, “Joe Caven made a lot of goals for me, and Bobby Adamson. Morris Stevenson and Jimmy Wilson take a lot of credit as well. It was a team full of characters. Jimmy Reilly, Jimmy Mallan, Bobby Adamson, Jimmy Wilson. Great Characters.” But Morton had to get back on track- there was a league to win. The juggernaut continued apace after that blip with three further wins before the visit of Forfar to Cappielow on 29th February, with Morton needing a win to secure promotion to the top flight. The match programme from Morton's momentous victory that secured promotion on this day sixty years ago. Things didn’t go according to plan from the off, though. After Jimmy Wilson and Ian Henderson had both gone close in the opening minutes, it was The Loons who took a shock lead through Ewen only six minutes in. Forfar almost made it two before Henderson and McGraw let chances pass them by and Joe Caven was denied by Forfar keeper, Henderson. Morton’s pressure paid off just before the half hour mark though, with Hugh Strachan’s strike leaving the stricken Forfar keeper as a mere spectator. The teams went in level at the break, but the second half couldn’t have been more contrasting, as Morton turned the screw to secure the two points the needed and send the 10,000 crowd celebrating into the Greenock night. But it took until the 69th minute for the ‘Ton to finally get the breakthrough, through Wilson. McGraw added to his impressive tally for the season a minute later. And a minute after that, McGraw doubled his account for the day from the spot to make it 4-1. Not to be outdone by Morton’s star man, Wilson collected his second of the afternoon, before Henderson put the cherry on the cake by adding a sixth. Morton were promoted and the champagne could be uncorked! Given the nature of the date, there can’t be many clubs that can see it as a landmark date in their club’s history, but this was the date that Morton secured Division One football for the first time since relegation in 1952 and the celebrations could begin. This was to be the eighth time in the league campaign that they notched at least six goals in a game, and to my knowledge the only time a team has ever secured promotion at such an early stage in the history of football in the United Kingdom at least. By a sad coincidence, as we mark the 60th anniversary of Morton’s incredible feat of 1963-64, we’re also approaching the first anniversary of the sad passing of Allan McGraw, whose death, along with that of Joe Caven, who passed later last year and was a great friend of many a Morton fan who enjoyed their trips to the Highlands in more recent times, was greatly mourned by all connected with Morton. I hope and trust that as their families have looked back on their lives, they’ll take comfort in reminiscing on their incredible achievements that season and appreciate how lauded they are by the Morton support some sixty years on. Morton's players enjoy a very well deserved lap of honour after securing promotion to the top flight. After a couple more wins against Stirling and Queen’s Park, which saw the title secured, a run of three consecutive draws against Arbroath, Alloa and Albion Rovers were the only further points that Morton dropped before bringing down the curtain with wins over Cowdenbeath and Raith Rovers. Morton were knocked out of the end of season Summer Cup in the group stages by Partick Thistle on goal average, as was used to separate teams back in the sixties, but in no way could it have put a dampener on a terrific season. Their record-breaking campaign saw them collect 67 points in the league, dropping only five across the whole campaign, reach the League Cup Final, win promotion in record breaking time, provide British football’s top goal scorer thanks to Allan McGraw’s 58 strikes and embark on a run of 23 league wins in a row to add to their two from the tail end of the previous season. To think that with the gulf in resources between the rich and poor in Scottish football since those days, only Celtic have managed to equal such a feat, and nobody has managed to beat it is testament to the achievements of the Morton team of the era. Those of us who have enjoyed title wins in the modern era will undoubtedly have fond memories of those successes, perhaps particularly the 2003 Third Division title, but no Morton side will ever win a title in such emphatic fashion. On writing my obituary for Allan McGraw just under a year ago, I concluded by saying that we will never see his like again. The same applies to his teammates. Bibliography Greenock Morton 1874-1999, Vincent P Gillen, 1998 Images of Sport- Greenock Morton 1874-1999, Jim Jeffrey, 1999 Morton Greats, Graeme Ross, 2004 Thanks to Leon Mooney for his help in fact checking, and to Chris McNulty for supplying photos.

Raith Rovers v Morton – Match Preview by Russell Gordon Following a hard-fought victory over Airdrie on Saturday, which took Morton to fifteen games without defeat, it’s straight back into action for Dougie Imrie’s men as they hit the winding little backroad to deepest, darkest Kirkcaldy to face a big-spending Raith Rovers side that have resurrected their title challenge after a couple of recent wins in the last fortnight. With Imrie having to assess a number of war wounds after Saturday’s bruising encounter against an Airdrie team we were led to believe were the Scottish Championship’s purveyors for beautiful football, the midweek visit to Fife promises to be anything but easy. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News With Iain Wilson and Robbie Muirhead sitting out of Saturday’s victory, one can only hope that any injuries they were carrying were fairly minor, and we’ll see their returns to the squad for Tuesday. Particularly after George Oakley was forced off on Saturday having taken a dull one on the back from Airdrie defender Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, whose appalling challenge also very nearly saw an early end to Robbie Crawford’s afternoon, and should have seen the Airdrie defender soaking in an early bath before being given the opportunity to target the Morton hitman. Jai Quitongo and Michael Garrity’s introductions to the team proved positive ones, with Quitongo’s exquisite cross providing Oakley’s opener and Garrity’s fantastic cushioned volley doubling Morton’s early lead. Both will look to continue in the starting line-up, but I expect Imrie will at least manage Quitongo’s minutes, given his injury record this season. Lewis Strapp was withdrawn after he also took a sore one from Airdrie full back Kanayo Megwa, but his substitution, like Darragh O’Connor’s could be down to being on a booking in an increasingly bad-tempered match. Current Connections There are two former Raith players in the Morton squad. Club captain Grant Gillespie spent the 2018-19 season in League One at Stark’s Park, as Raith made the promotion play-offs, losing out to Queen of the South. Jamie MacDonald had a three-year spell in the kingdom following their promotion in 2020, leaving on a free this summer before signing for Morton following Ryan Mullen’s early season injury. After an encouraging start to his Morton career, including a fine performance at Ibrox in the Viaplay Cup, he lost his place to Mullen and hasn’t been seen in the squad for quite some time. Raith defender Ross Millen is the son of Morton Assistant Manager Andy, who can count the Fifers among his litany of former clubs. Tale of the Tape It’s been a while, and a lot has changed in terms of Morton’s fortunes since the clubs last met, but Raith are the only club in the division who boast a 100% record against the ‘Ton, something Dougie Imrie will be desperate to put right. The first meeting at Stark’s Park on the second day of the season was an eventful affair, with referee David Munro starting the season as he meant to go on with perhaps the worst refereeing performance this observer has ever seen in over thirty years of watching football. A Morton side struggling for numbers fell behind to Jack Hamilton’s early goal, but it was in the fourteenth minute that Munro decided to take centre stage, awarding Raith a penalty for the most blatant Lewis Vaughan dive (and there’s been a few of them) that you’re ever likely to see. Such was Morton’s luck at the time, Vaughan dispatched the resultant penalty and goaded the furious visiting support as he celebrated extending Raith’s lead. Three minutes later, Robbie Muirhead reduced the arrears with a bullet header from Lewis McGrattan’s cross from the right, before the hapless referee failed to produce a second booking for Hamilton with Morton going in behind at the break. Morton took control of the second half and finally got their reward when Robbie Crawford stabbed home an equaliser with twenty minutes remaining, after Munro had again failed to produce a red card, this time for a flying Ross Millen elbow. He did of course, find the time to book eight Morton players. This was a game that Morton were doomed never to get a result from, though, and Kirk Broadfoot was caught in possession on the halfway line by Callum Smith, who ran on to dispatch the winner, much to the delight of the home crowd. MacDonald saved an injury time Josh Mullin penalty, but it was to prove no consolation on an afternoon that still leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Raith’s visit to Greenock on Halloween wasn’t quite the same horror show as Munro’s August howler, but proved relatively straightforward for Raith, as a Morton side struggling at the foot of the table fell to two first half headers from Aidan Connolly, the smallest man on the park. Iain Wilson got one back for Morton early in the second half, but while playing what was to that date his best game in a Morton jersey since his return to the club, he was surprisingly replaced just after the hour and Morton fell to defeat. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis The big-spending Fifers have enjoyed a terrific season. With new ownership arriving in the summer, they’ve taken the club by the scruff of the neck since then, splashing out on infrastructure and their playing squad, and have been rewarded with buy-in from the Kirkcaldy locals, who have turned out in increased numbers to back the new regime. Stark’s Park is now unrecognisable from January and February 2022 when John McGlynn signed rapist ex-Clyde striker David Goodwillie and the club was vilified across Scottish football. After a blistering start to the season, they’ve clung onto league leaders Dundee United’s coattails thanks in no small part to a plethora of late winners, in home games against Queen’s Park, Inverness and Dunfermline, while also bagging late winners on the road against Inverness and Queen’s Park, as well as at Gayfield. Remarkably, Raith are yet to win a league game by more than a single goal. But after a difficult month of January, none of those late goals would have felt as good for the Raith fans as Scott Brown’s spectacular strike which secured a late win over the Tannadice club earlier this month. They’ve been helped by a positive relationship with Dundee, who have done their best to help the Kirkcaldy side in their attempts to deny United the title with the loans of Shaun Byrne, Zak Rudden and now Lee Ashcroft, and a title race that has thus far had its twists and turns can expect a few more yet. Hopefully the latest twist is a Morton win, leaving Raith boss Ian Murray, whose comments on Morton this season have been somewhat disparaging, with a bit of egg on his face, but regardless, of Tuesday’s result, I suspect our own promotion ambitions may depend on beating the big-spending Fifers at some point later in the season. What’s Happening Elsewhere? Theres’ a full midweek card in the Championship, with Ayr and Partick, both smarting from home defeats to the Fife clubs, meeting at Somerset Park. With Morton sitting between both in the table, few would complain if the Honest Men were to get back on track with a win, allowing Morton to go into third by winning in Kirkcaldy, but Ayr failing to collect anything would provide a cushion in our play-off quest. League leaders Dundee United host Airdrie at Tannadice, and a home win would be just fantastic, while there are a couple of games that could have a massive impact at the bottom of the table. After conceding an agonisingly late equaliser to Inverness on Saturday, Arbroath really must pick up something against a Queen’s Park side who, despite their recent improvement, certainly aren’t clear of danger just yet. Inverness meanwhile, host a Dunfermline side that will be buoyed by their surprise, and not-at-all-funny victory over Partick at Firhill. Wins for Dunfermline and Queen’s Park could see a gap being created at the bottom, with Inverness and Arbroath struggling to make up the points to prevent the relegation battle becoming a fight for the right to lose to Montrose in the play-offs, rather than go down automatically. Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 26th February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. The big-spending Fifers are favourites at even money, with Morton priced at a generous 23/10 and the draw at 12/5. The draw at half time and Morton at full time is 13/2 and Robbie Crawford to score the first goal is 12/1. Match Officials Referee- Steven Kirkland is in the middle of his second Morton match of the season, having taken charge of the 4-1 SPFL Trust Trophy win over Kelty Hearts in October. AR 1- Paul O’Neill AR 2- Ian Hart

(Photo- Greenock Morton FC) The Greatest Showman- A Tribute to Andy Ritchie By Russell Gordon Being a Morton fan younger than 45 has been a hard shift- 36 years without top-flight football, Hugh Scott and administration, dropping to the Third Division, the 2004 collapse, 10-2 at Hamilton, getting knocked out the Scottish Cup by non-league Spartans and losing a League Cup Group Stage game on penalties to League One minnows Falkirk have been among the lowlights in that time. But what has emphasised Morton’s struggles in that time most has been the tales regaled to us by a generation that were only slightly older than my own about Morton’s adventures in the late seventies and early eighties. For so many barren years to follow such a fantastic period in the club’s history is galling in the extreme. And while Benny Rooney’s swashbuckling side, which enjoyed five years in the Premier Division, topping the table in late 1979, contained a litany of stars, one of those stars shone brighter than all the rest. No prizes to anyone who’s ever spent a Saturday afternoon on the steps of the Cowshed for guessing that that man was none other than the mercurial Andy Ritchie, arguably Morton’s greatest ever player, and without doubt, their most gifted. The young Andy hailed from Glasgow before moving to Bellshill at an early age, and finding himself following his fathers’ favourites, Motherwell in his youth, before joining up on the ground staff at Celtic in 1971 at the age of 15. As was often the case with Celtic’s young talents at the time, he was farmed out to the juniors, enjoying a fruitful spell at Kirkintilloch Rob Roy before signing professional terms at Celtic Park after a couple of years. But his time at Celtic had more downs than it did ups as, by his own admission, he didn’t live up to expectations in his time on Glasgow’s east end. With Jock Stein not around for a long time after a car crash, Celtic Park perhaps wasn’t what it normally was, and Andy didn’t keep his eye on the prize throughout his time there. With first team appearances limited, his relationship with Stein becoming strained on the legendary manager’s return and his frustrations reaching boiling point, Benny Rooney used his powers of persuasion to lure the 20-year-old to Cappielow, despite the offer of a four-year deal from Celtic being on the table. To make things better for Morton, Celtic were interested in goalkeeper Roy Baines, and the clubs came to an agreement that Baines would make his way to Parkhead in a deal that saw Andy and £10,000 head west. While those of us of a slightly younger vintage like to allude to the swap deal between Morton and Dunfermline in 2015 that saw Jim Duffy bring in Ross Forbes in exchange for the hapless Andy Barrowman as one of the greatest swap deals in history, even that doesn’t come close when we consider that Baines returned to Morton on a free in 1979. Andy debuted in a goalless draw against Clydebank at Cappielow in October 1976, and after scoring in a 1-5 derby defeat at Love Street, scored his first two home goals against Montrose ten days later, including a terrific free kick that was to prove a hallmark of his spell in Greenock. Unfortunately though, while Morton enjoyed a strong season in the First Division, the title went to Paisley, as a St. Mirren side led by a young(ish) Alex Ferguson took the division by storm, claiming the title in style, with a 6-3 win at Cappielow in the ne’er day derby proving a real highlight for the Buddies. Morton however, gained a modicum of revenge in the final derby of the season, beating the Saints 3-0 towards the end of the campaign thanks in no small part to a strike from Morton’s star man. But while many Morton fans’ eyes may have been looking towards their local rivals with envy, they didn’t have to wait too long to enjoy success of their own. With Hearts and Dundee slumming it in the First Division, the two big city clubs were installed as favourites for the two promotion berths, but Morton had other ideas, with the ‘Ton’s 5-3 victory over the Edinburgh side (a scoreline we’d all happily see a repeat of next month) proving a real highlight. Although Andy didn’t score on the day, his performance in putting the Jambos to the sword was, by all accounts, imperious. The title was eventually secured on a memorable evening in Greenock when Airdrie were dispatched 3-1 and Morton took their place in Scotland’s Premier Division for the first time. Morton raised the First Division Champions’ flag with the visit on Celtic in August 1978, a match which ended in a 1-2 defeat, but should be remembered for what I believe was Andy Ritchie’s greatest goal for Morton. I’ll caveat by saying that it was before I was born, and that I’ve not seen all of his goals as many weren’t caught on camera, but while there were more celebrated goals, this is a hill I’m prepared to die on. Just some of Andy's collection of goals for Morton, including his wonderful goal against celtic on the opening day of the 1978-79 season. (Video- Leon Mooney) Morton would finish seventh in that first season, comfortably clear of relegated Hearts and Motherwell, and boasting Scotland’s top goal scorer and the Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year in Andy Ritchie, with 29 goals from 45 appearances. Andy collects yet another accolade from Morton boss Benny Rooney. (Photo- SNS) Under normal circumstances, a Scotland call up should have been on the horizon. But alas, international honours were to elude Morton’s talisman. Whether the stigma of being a part-time player, the fact that he represented an unfashionable club, or his supposed tempestuous relationship with the Scotland manager, his former boss at Celtic, Jock Stein, were valid reasons for his omission from the international squad at a time when Scotland were not short of quality in forward positions, what isn’t in doubt is that he should at least have been given his opportunity. How frustrated he must’ve felt seeing some of the players who represented Scotland some twenty years or so later under Berti Vogts in particular, who didn’t have an ounce of his talent. It can’t be much of a consolation to be regarded as Scotland’s greatest ever uncapped player. Morton’s peak came the following season however, as, with Roy Baines back at the club, they reached the top of the Premier League in November 1979, before two controversial defeats over the Christmas period saw them unjustly beaten by two Glasgow clubs who, if you believe their supporters, aren’t often the on the right side of refereeing decisions. The words “Sandy Jardine” are still words best not spoken in front of a certain generation of ‘Ton fans. And, I suspect, Andy’s teammate, Bobby Thomson. While Morton fell down the table on the back of those two defeats, it was small consolation that Aberdeen, led by former St. Mirren boss Alex Ferguson, denied the two beneficiaries of Morton’s festive misfortune, the flag. But Aberdeen, arguably one of the best teams in Europe at the time, had an Achilles heel. To quote the great man: “We won three Scottish Premier Division titles. We won three Scottish Cups in a row. We won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the European Super Cup. We played three up, four up and two out wide but we couldn’t beat f*****g Morton.” While the Dons did enjoy some success over Morton, ten wins for the good guys over that golden era took quite some doing. And none were more glorious than in a spectacular double header in February 1981. Having already beaten the champions 1-0 at Cappielow a couple of months earlier, Morton travelled to Pittodrie on February 7th and returned with another 1-0 win thanks to a terrific Drew Busby header to shock their hosts. But it was the following week, on Valentine’s Day that Andy scored his most fondly remembered goal for Morton, as Cappielow enjoyed perhaps its greatest ever day. With the Dons visiting for a fourth round Scottish Cup tie, it was he who stole the show twenty minutes in, as he collected a driven John Marr pass on his chest, turned Iain Considine and left him on his backside before being faced up with the imposing sight of Willie Miller, Alex McLeish and Jim Leighton, who he managed to curl the ball beyond, and into the bottom corner with the outside of his right foot. Morton would record a third successive 1-0 victory over Ferguson’s side, emptying them from the cup in the process. Andy's magnificent goal against Aberdeen in the 1981 Scottish Cup fourth round is fondly remembered by Morton fans of his era. (Video- Leon Mooney) Morton would reach the semi-finals that year, where they would fall to a 1-2 defeat to Rangers in controversial circumstances. Andy had been left out of the starting XI, much to the regret of Benny Rooney, but his late penalty, following Jim Holmes ordering off for an innocuous tackle that had reduced Morton to ten men reduced the arrears to 1-2. To top off a bad day, Bobby Thomson was again ordered off, admittedly for a scything tackle for which a red card was referee Brian McGinlay’s only option. Thomson reportedly apologised to his teammates at full time, telling them he “had to do it”. After that season, Morton’s team began to break-up, but Andy was to stick around until their relegation in 1982-83. He was very much a victim of football’s policy on players’ contracts in his era, with the clubs holding all the power and able to command a fee for players even if they were out of contract, which restricted his opportunities. Celtic had tried to buy him back early in his time at Morton, while Hearts and Sheffield Wednesday also had offers rebuffed, and when he eventually moved on it was to Motherwell. His time at Fir Park was brief though, as were subsequent spells at Clydebank, East Stirling and Albion Rovers, the latter as a player coach. Another goal is notched, this time against Kilmarnock at Cappielow. (Photo- SNS) Sadly though, his playing career was over by the age of 28. Other jobs in the game followed, at Hamilton, St. Mirren and Celtic, with what must’ve been an attractive gig scouring the continent for talent as the Bhoys emerged from the doldrums in the mid-nineties. Life wasn’t plain sailing though, as Andy had his vices. Bookmakers weren’t his friends, and at his lowest point he would find himself asking old pals for a couch for the night as he tried to get himself back on his feet. But latterly, his working life took him back to Cappielow in an ambassadorial role, although he was often a familiar figure on Sinclair Street before taking up employment from the club again. The COVID pandemic unleashed Andy to the world as an unexpectedly magnificent co-commentator. Who can forget the line about a drunk man chasing a balloon??? Since then, he’s been a regular host in hospitality, always quick to entertain and introduce his fellow ex-Morton heroes to the hospitality guests, enhancing the experience for all. I’ve only ever been fortunate enough to meet him on a couple of occasions, and despite never having seen him play, I’ve always felt that I gave off the impression of being like a schoolboy in awe of his hero, such is his legend around these parts. Everyone at The Morton Forum wishes Andy Ritchie a long and enjoyable retirement and would like to thank him for everything he contributed to our club and to Scottish football, on and off the park. I hope and trust that he won’t be a stranger in the years to come. Bibliography Greenock Morton 1874-1999, Vincent P Gillen, 1998 Morton Greats, Graeme Ross, 2004 The Price of Vice, Andy Ritchie, 2012 The battle of Celtic Park: Rangers, Morton, Andy Ritchie and a hideous crime count, Graeme Ross, The Scotsman, 11th April 2021 Sir Alex Ferguson: We won league titles, three cups in a row and dumped Real to gain European trophy.. but we still couldn’t beat f*****g Morton, Anthony Haggerty, Daily Record, 12th December 2015 Thanks to Leon Mooney for his help in fact checking.

Morton v Airdrieonians – Match Preview by Russell Gordon With Morton now pushing for the promotion play-offs on the back of what is now a fourteen-match unbeaten run, they face what is arguably their most important match of the season to date, with the visit of one of their nearest challengers for the coveted final place in the top four of the table. With Rhys McCabe’s Airdrie sitting five points behind Dougie Imrie’s men with a game in hand, three points for the hosts at Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology could go a long way to securing their place at the end of season showdown for promotion. Match tickets are available at the below link: Fanbase | Select Ticket (fanbaseclub.com) Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News It must be a long time since any Morton manager selected an unchanged starting XI for four consecutive matches, but this is the fortunate position Imrie finds himself in after such woes in the early period of the season. However, with Morton entering one of their busier periods of the campaign, and a midweek trip to big-spending Raith Rovers coming up, he may look to mix things up a bit and keep everyone fresh with a few changes. While there will undoubtedly be in-game changes, the most obvious move could be to bring in club captain Grant Gillespie for Alan Power, while Jai Quitongo and Kirk Broadfoot wil hope to start pushing for starting berths. Quitongo’s late cameo at Hampden last Saturday was encouraging, and one can only hope that he’ll catch a break with injuries between now and the end of the season to allow him to contribute as much as he’d like as we head into the business end of the campaign. Steven Boyd and Jamie MacDonald will be hoping for a return to the squad, but will understand that their opportunities of getting on the pitch on their returns are likely to be limited. Current Connections There are a few familiar faces in the visitors’ camp. Former Morton youngster Lewis McGregor was snapped up by Airdrie last January and contributed to their promotion push last term, before coming back to Cappielow and notching the winner for his current charges in September. Another ex-Morton man who will be looking to get one over his former employers is Charlie Telfer, who enjoyed a controversial year in Greenock under Raymond McKinnon and Jonatan Johansson. The highlight of his time at Morton was when he scored the second goal in their memorable 2-0 win over Falkirk, which effectively secured the ‘Ton’s Championship place for another year, and condemned the Grangemouth club to 5 (five) years in League One. Telfer was then inadvertently involved in Johansson’s resignation, after the Finn was advised not to pick him for the final game of the season in the event that his selection triggered an extension to Telfer’s one-year deal at Morton. Caretaker boss Jim McAlister brought Telfer off the bench anyway, and left Cappielow for League One minnows Falkirk. Telfer spent four seasons in League One, but it was only when he left The Falkirk Stadium that he managed to escape the purgatory of the third tier, helping Airdrie up via the play-offs, with victories over yes, you guessed it- Falkirk and then Hamilton. Airdrie reserve keeper David Hutton spent the 2012-13 season as Derek Gaston’s deputy, and the Diamonds’ Hibs loanee Josh O’Connor’s dad Garry spent the second half of the following campaign with Morton. The less said about his time on the tail o’ the bank the better. There are no former Waysiders in the home dressing room, but Jai Quitongo’s bother Rico had a very unhappy time at Airdrie, and there’s no love lost between the Quitongo clan and our friends from Monklands. Photo - GBR Photographs. Tale of the Tape This is the third meeting of the clubs this season, and goals have been at a premium in the previous encounters. As I’ve already alluded to, Lewis McGregor’s first half goal was enough to separate the Diamonds from an injury-ravaged Morton at Cappielow in late September, leaving the hosts rooted to the bottom of the table. In November, a Morton side who were beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel hosted Airdrie in the quarter finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy and the sides played out one of the more entertaining goalless draws you’re likely to see, with Morton missing chance after chance during a dominant second half before Lewis McGrattan was the only man to fail from the spot as Airdrie progressed on penalties. The Diamonds went on to beat big-spending Raith in their semi final and meet Welsh champions The New Saints in Grangemouth in next month’s final. The ‘Ton’s visit to North Lanarkshire a couple of days before Christmas was of the more turgid variety of goalless draws, as Morton, without the suspended George Oakley’s presence up front, held the hosts in a game that won’t live long in the memory. Opposition Analysis There won’t be too many Airdrie fans who aren’t satisfied with their progress in their first season back in Scotland’s second tier in over a decade. While League One Champions Dunfermline were perhaps more fancied going into the season, the Diamonds have been one of the surprise packages of this season, usurping the Pars to go into fourth place before only recently losing that berth as a result of Morton’s terrific run of form. They’ve had a more difficult couple of weeks since reaching the SPFL Trust Trophy final- losing comprehensively to Hearts to bow out the Scottish Cup, a match that must have provided food for thought for all those of a Morton persuasion, before suffering a 2-3 reverse to an Anton Dowds hat-trick for Ayr United at New Broomfield last weekend. I spoke to Airdrie fan Emma Quigley (@emmaq1983), who gave me her thoughts going into the match: “When we last caught up, Airdrie had been on a bumpy run of form, suffering three straight defeats while Morton had been picking up some great results. So, what promised to be a great tie between the two clubs of course ended up being a very uninspiring 0-0 draw at our place. We meet again this weekend, with both teams picking up some great results and enjoying some exciting cup success. We’ve the final of the SPFL Trust Trophy against TNS to look forward to after beating Raith in Kirkcaldy, and while we exited the Scottish Cup at the hands of Hearts, it was good to see how our style of play and young players stood up to that challenge. Sadly, on the day we were beaten by the better side, and it will be interesting to see how Morton get on against them in the quarter finals. Of course, those cup games have distracted from league business, and we come into this following (another) defeat to Ayr in what was an unusual display of defensive by the Diamonds. A missing Callum Fordyce may have contributed to that, with an unusual pairing of Rhys McCabe and Craig Watson at the heart of the defence. I’ve chalked it up to a bad day at the office, as our record at the back is second only to Dundee United. Prior to that defeat, we’d picked up wins against Queen’s Park, Inverness and another win over Raith Rovers before a home draw with Partick- and we still have two games in hand against Dunfermline and Arbroath. While we generally don’t concede many, we do still struggle from a lack of firepower up front. I am frequently very jealous watching George Oakley bang in goals for you guys. However, we are competing well in the Championship and the squad is coping well with the step up. The games between the sides are always tight, and I don’t think this will be any different, but we have already chalked up two wins over Morton this season- granted, one came down to penalties. So of course, I’m going to back the guys to collect a 1-0 or a 2-1 win and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for no rainfall over the Wee Dublin End.” Photo - GBR Photographs. What’s Happening Elsewhere? The BBC Scotland cameras visit Firhill on Saturday as Partick host a Dunfermline team that are looking to be in more serious bother with every passing week. While a Pars win would be the desired return, I wouldn’t be holding your breath for one. Dunfermline’s fellow strugglers Arbroath and Inverness meet at Gayfield- a fixture that Jim McIntyre’s side will look to as a must win with games running out, and winnable fixtures at even more of a premium, such is their horrid run of results. As for the top two, big-spending Raith will be hoping to carry on from last weekend’s win over Dundee United with a victory down at Somerset Park against Ayr, while the Terrors host a Queen’s Park side who Morton failed to break down last weekend. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 22nd February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Morton are the favourites going into the match at 20/21 money, with Airdrie priced at 13/5 and the draw at 23/10. With Airdrie yet to concede to Morton this season, Morton to record a 1-0 win is 6/1 and Morton to win at half time and full time is 23/10. Match Officials Referee- Euan Anderson takes charge of his second Morton match of the season, having taken charge of Airdrie’s previous league visit in September, with Morton losing 0-1. AR 1- Graeme Stewart AR 2- Will Pare

Queen’s Park v Morton – Match Preview by Russell Gordon Dougie Imrie’s Scottish Cup shock troops make what hopefully won’t be their last trip of the season to Scotland’s National Stadium as they look to extend their unbeaten run to an incredible fourteen games, after having disposed of Premiership Motherwell in last Friday’s televised Cappielow thriller. With opponents Queen’s Park having recently seen a resurgence under the watchful eye of new manager Callum Davidson however, Imrie’s side won’t be taking anything for granted against a team who are also looking a far different proposition to what they were earlier in the campaign. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News Imrie should have a few pleasant selection problems, with the returns of Kirk Broadfoot and Jai Quitongo from the bench last Friday, as Imrie introduced both in the dying minutes as the clock ticked down. The likelihood of either starting is slim, given Morton’s almost impregnable defensive efforts in recent weeks and Imrie’s policy of nursing his returning stars in lightly to competitive action, along with Quitongo’s misfortune on his many aborted returns thus far demanding a softly, softly approach in his case in particular. Steven Boyd and Jamie MacDonald will also be looking to return to action sooner rather than later, but with those who have stepped in stepping up, will also likely have to click their heels on their returns to full fitness. Current Connections There are three former Queen’s Park players in the Morton squad- ‘Ton captain Grant Gillespie and Jai Quitongo both spent a couple of seasons with the Spiders from 2020-22, winning the League Two title in the abbreviated 2020-21 season under everyone’s favourite former Morton boss, and expert in taking teams into League One Raymond McKinnon, and following that success up by winning promotion through the League One play-offs under Owen Coyle, after McKinnon’s successor, Laurie Ellis completed the main body of work from the dugout. Ryan Mullen made one loan appearance for Queens in 2021 while on loan for Celtic, and there’s another former Morton boss who has been helping out in the background at Hampden. David Hopkin has been a regular visitor to Hampden and had been leaning in offering the benefit of his wisdom to caretaker boss Paul Nuijten. Hopkin’s successor, and all-round good guy Anton McElhone is the Head of Academy Coaching, and former Morton centre back Thomas O’Ware (not an all-round good guy) is the coach of the Spiders’ B Team. Tale of the Tape With last season being the first that the clubs shared a division since 2002-03, Morton of course picked up ten points from the available twelve against Queen’s Park. They’re on course to do the same this season all going well, having played out a goalless draw on a bizarre afternoon at a rain-soaked Hampden in October, when most of the travelling Morton support were stuck in a flooded Greenock, along with winger Jack Bearne, who couldn’t join his teammates to take part on the afternoon. In December, Morton hosted Queens in Nuijten’s first game in caretaker-charge as they made it nine points from nine in a week to kick-start their season. A magnificent passing move, belying the image of “big, bad, physical Morton” was finished off by Robbie Muirhead in the eighth minute to seal the points. That of course, didn’t tell the whole tale of the afternoon though, as hapless referee Grant Irvine made it all about himself, producing a straight red card for George Oakley for a foul on the halfway line that merited a booking and nothing more five minutes before the break. Irvine then surpassed himself by awarding the visitors a penalty on the cusp of half time for a nothing challenge, but Ruari Paton’s tame spot kick was comfortably smothered by Ryan Mullen. The ten men had to soak up a lot of second half pressure, but Queens didn’t really produce any clear-cut chances against a Morton side who had to roll their sleeves up and defend doggedly to keep the three points in Greenock. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis Queen’s Park have had a funny season- after a disappointing League Cup group stage campaign, they started the league season with three successive wins, before hitting the skids and going fourteen league games without success and exiting the SPFL Trust Trophy to League One minnows Falkirk and the Scottish Cup to Partick. The appointment of former Ajax and Anderlecht youth coach Robin Veldman as Head Coach smacked of a club investing in establishing a philosophy without considering that in order to succeed in Scotland’s second tier, you actually need to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty now and again. After such a horrific run, which only saw a Trust Trophy victory over Bala Town of Wales, Veldman fell by the sword in December, with a resounding 1-4 Hampden defeat by Inverness proving to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. While Paul Nuijten steadied the ship somewhat, collecting three points in his final game stepping into the dugout with a 2-1 home success against Dunfermline, the permanent appointment of Callum Davidson, a man who is no stranger to winning at a near-empty Hampden, has seen a terrific turnaround in Queens’ fortunes, starting with a 2-1 win at big-spending Raith Rovers and falling 1-2 at home to Ayr United, before two more away wins, 1-0 in a real six-pointer at Inverness and a resounding 3-0 victory over a beleaguered Dunfermline side who were still smarting from their even heavier drubbing from Morton a week previous. The signing of former Scotland, Hearts and Liverpool centre back Danny Wilson has raised eyebrows, but perhaps the best signing the Spiders have made since going professional is that of their new manager, who should drag them clear of any danger with relative comfort. What’s Happening Elsewhere? The league season’s biggest game takes place under the gaze of the BBC Scotland cameras on Friday as big-spending Raith Rovers, on the back of a horror run of five defeats in a row across three competitions, try to hang onto the coattails of league leaders Dundee United who, with a four point cushion and a vastly superior goal difference could land a near-fatal blow to the Fifers’ faltering title challenge. Airdrie and Ayr are more than welcome to cancel each other out in the Bill Barr Derby at New Broomfield, and with Morton now chasing down Partick, there’ll be no complaints if they drop points in the Highlands against Inverness. There’s another match of significant importance, this time at the bottom of the table as a Dunfermline side in freefall host Arbroath, who will be desperate to take advantage of the Pars’ woes by winning to reduce the gap at the foot to three points. One would really fear for whoever loses, but the Red Lichties need to at worst avoid defeat is massive. Photo - GBR Photographs Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 15th February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Despite home advantage, Queen’s Park are second favourites at 17/10, with Morton priced at 5/4 and the draw at 5/2. The draw at half time and Morton at full time is 19/4 and Morton to win to nil is 10/3. Match Officials Referee- Steven McLean is the man in the middle, his second Morton game of the season, having taken charge of the 3-0 League Cup Group Stage win over Stranraer in July. AR 1- Graham McNeillie AR 2- Jamie Andrews

Craig, Darren and Alan discuss Morton's 2-1 win over Motherwell and the quarter-final draw giving us a home tie against Hearts.

Morton v Motherwell – Match Preview by Russell Gordon Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology hosts the BBC Scotland cameras along with its biggest crowd in at least six years as Premiership strugglers Motherwell come to town to face a five-star Morton team who are on fire for a Fifth Round Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie that is really whetting the appetite of the Greenock faithful. Glen’s Vodka Scottish Championship Manager of the Month for January, Dougie Imrie’s side will be smelling blood against a side that has been familiar opponents in recent years, and have more often than not proved a thorn in Morton’s side. With the prospect of extra time and penalties to be factored into the TV schedule, the game kicks off at the earlier than usual time of 7.30pm, and with the match not available on the season ticket, individual match tickets are available at the below link: Fanbase | Select Ticket (fanbaseclub.com) Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News While Tyler French sat out of the previous two rounds at the behest of parent club Dundee, with the transfer window now closed, and the Dark Blues’ interest in the competition ended by Kilmarnock last month, there’s no reason for the right back not to be available for the match. Jai Quitongo will likely still be unavailable, though Steven Boyd and Jamie MacDonald should be getting closer to returning and one or both may make the bench. Experienced centre back Kirk Broadfoot has missed the last couple of games through injury, so the prolific defensive duo of Jack Baird and Darragh O’Connor will likely continue at the back. Imrie will have his usual dilemma between club captain Grant Gillespie and Alan Power, imperious on Saturday, with both likely to play a part at some point in the proceedings. It should be noted that Jack Baird, Cammy Blues and Lewis Strapp are walking a suspension tightrope, having been booked in the previous rounds and will sit out of a potential quarter final should they collect another booking and Morton progress. Current Connections There aren’t too many connections in the two playing squads with only Robbie Crawford and Darragh O’Connor having represented the Steelmen, and no ex-Morton players in the visiting squad. Crawford initially joined Motherwell on loan from Livingston in 2020, before signing a permanent deal in January 2021, making 29 appearances for the ‘Well before moving to Partick a year later and eventually wound up at Cappielow in August 2022, where he has become a firm favourite with the Morton support. O’Connor joined up at Fir Park in the summer of 2021 from the youth set-up at then English Premier League side, Leicester City, having previously served Waterford in his native Ireland. He made only one appearance in claret and amber, and enjoyed a loan spell at Queen of the South in the second half of the 2021-22 season, scoring once in fifteen appearances before signing up with Morton that summer. Tale of the Tape Those of a nervous disposition look away now. Of course, Motherwell have enjoyed a loftier status than Morton in the Scottish game for a considerable time now, but while the clubs have been frequent foes in cup competitions in recent years, upsets have been few and far between. The clubs met at this stage in 2007 after Second Division Morton’s demolition of Kilmarnock in the previous round, but a 4500-strong travelling support were left disappointed as their favourites failed to follow up that success, falling to goals from Brian Kerr and Scott McDonald. Morton’s next visit to Fir Park was a chastening 0-6 Scottish Cup mauling in 2012 that I don’t really want to elaborate on, similarly the two 0-4 League Cup Group stage defeats at Fir Park in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Our most recent Scottish Cup visits have been far less embarrassing, but no less devastating. In the dark old days of COVID in 2021, Morton held the ‘Well until Stephen O’Donnell looked to have won the tie in extra time with a last-minute strike from range, before Markus Fjortoft forced penalties in the nick of time, only for Motherwell to progress in the shoot-out. The following season, under new manager Imrie, Morton again took Motherwell to extra time in Lanarkshire, and took the lead thanks to a fine Robbie Muirhead strike, before being pegged back late on by a Kevin Van Veen penalty and falling to a last-minute howitzer from Liam Donnelly which again sent the ‘Ton fans home cursing their luck. Morton’s last win over the Steelmen was in a League Cup tie in 2015, when an Alex Samuel double and a Michael Tidser strike saw the Greenock side prevail 3-2 in extra time, a result that flattered the visitors, and resulted in crowd trouble in the Wee Dublin End and Motherwell boss Ian Baraclough losing his job. Fans of both sides looking for positive omens may wish to point towards the last time their favourites won the cup. In 1922, Morton triumphed 2-1 at Fir Park en route to Hampden glory, while in 1991, Motherwell progressed on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate at Fir Park and a 1-1 draw at Cappielow before going on to lift the trophy in one of the tournament’s greatest ever finals against Dundee United. A defeat that will give many Morton fans of a certain vintage a cold shiver! Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis Motherwell haven’t enjoyed the best of seasons, with Tuesday’s mauling of Ross County being only their second win in their last twenty league games. A crucial, and morale boosting win it was though, providing them with a considerable buffer from the Highlanders, who are very much cut adrift in second bottom now, with a relegation battle an unlikely prospect in Scotland’s top-flight. It could be said that Motherwell, and a few others such as Aberdeen and St. Johnstone, are fortunate that Livingston and Ross County have been so poor, but Tuesday’s win was their sixth match without defeat, although their only successes came against the Staggies and the Lions, as well as League One Alloa in the last round of the cup. With Tuesday’s win providing a bit of breathing space, and a push up the table towards the European places unlikely, their main focus for the season will surely be the Scottish Cup. I picked the brains of Motherwell fan Scott Philip ahead of the match, who is feeling a bit happier about life after Tuesday’s victory: “When I heard Dougie Imrie saying in his post-match interview on Saturday that Morton couldn’t be in a better position going into Friday’s tie, I thought to myself that for Motherwell it couldn’t be much worse. A run of just two wins in twenty games (home wins against lowly Livingston and League One Alloa) had left us again with the main objective of staying in the league. A seemingly underwhelming transfer window followed, losing key striker Mika Bireth, then losing out on a deadline day deal for Kevin Van Veen to Kilmarnock over wage demands, leaving us extremely short of attacking options, and adding to the air of negativity surrounding Fir Park. There was no downing of tools throughout that period despite the lack of wins, and that’s probably why Stuart Kettlewell didn’t feel too much pressure on his job. The players stuck with him and performances since Christmas have vastly improved. Unlucky not to take three points at Hibs and St. Johnstone in recent weeks, then again after a strong second half against Kilmarnock on Saturday, our inability to turn draws into wins has been a real Achilles heel this season. But it was on Tuesday night when things finally seemed to click and ‘Well recorded a 5-0 win of their own. Albeit against a struggling Ross County, the result didn’t flatter Motherwell in the slightest, and I’m sure even Derek Adams wouldn’t have had anything negative to say about the quality of football on show from Motherwell. It was clear to see we had found our rhythm and there’s no doubt that we head to Cappielow on the back of a much-needed lift. Theo Bair scored from the spot on Tuesday to make it six in six as he continues to prove wrong those who ridiculed his signing in the summer. Bair has stepped up to fill the striker void and shown in recent weeks that he offers much more than just a physical presence, thriving with confidence and scoring a variety of goals. Blair Spittal helped himself to a brace on Tuesday, including a goal of the season contender. He’s normally at the heart of anything Motherwell do at the top end of the park, regularly chipping in with goals and assists, playing alongside Harry Paton in an advanced midfield role. The ever-reliable Paul McGinn has been another standout this season, showing his versatility as he’s slotted seamlessly into the left hand side of a back three. Andy Halliday may miss out after coming off early in the second half on Tuesday. If so, then 17-year-old Lennon Miller may return to the starting XI after a few months out with a knee injury. All the evidence would suggest that this probably won’t be straightforward for Motherwell. Having failed to win on the road in five months, I don’t think the word “shock” could be used in the event of a cup exit. We needed 120th minute goals to rescue the last two meetings in recent years at Fir Park, and I’d happily take more of the same on Friday night at Cappielow.” What’s Happening Elsewhere? Most of the Scottish Cup action takes place on Saturday, with Aberdeen, led by Morton-daft Neil Warnock hosting a Bonnyrigg side who have cantered to this stage by disposing of minnows Fraserburgh, Albion Rovers and Falkirk thus far. Hibernian take the long trip to face Inverness, while Kilmarnock host League One Cove Rangers. Glasgow hosts two match ups between Premiership and Championship clubs as relegation threatened Livingston travel to Firhill to face Partick, while Viaplay Sports unsurprisingly plumped for Ayr United’s visit to Rangers, a tie that will have its own little sub-plot if you’re that way inclined. On Sunday, the satellite broadcaster will be in Paisley as our good pals St. Mirren welcome, wait for it… Celtic! The BBC’s other game sees Hearts visit Airdrie for what should be a terrific tie, which will bring back some memories of some titanic Scottish Cup tussles between Hearts and the old Airdrie from the ‘90s. In the Championship, a rejuvenated Queen’s Park, fresh from victory in the Highlands last week, visit a Dunfermline side that was battered by Morton last weekend and with every passing week are getting dragged closer and closer to a relegation battle. Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 8th February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. As the Premiership side, Motherwell are unsurprisingly favourites to win the match at 10/11, while a Morton win comes in at 5/2 and the draw also at 5/2. Cinch Scottish Championship Player of the Month, George Oakley to score the first goal is 6/1, while Morton to continue their fine defensive record with a clean sheet (in 90 minutes) is 7/2. Match Officials Referee- John Beaton takes charge of his first Morton game of the season, his last being the 2-1 victory over Queen’s Park on the penultimate day of last term. AR 1- Jonathan Bell AR 2- Alan Mulvanny Fourth Official- Ross Hardie

Dean and Dodds react to the 5-0 thumping of Dunfermline and look forward to Friday night's visit of Motherwell in the Scottish Cup.

Dunfermline Athletic v Morton – Match Preview by Russell Gordon Morton hit the road this weekend, seeking to create a landmark twelfth game unbeaten for the first time since they embarked on a magnificent run of fifteen unbeaten in 1979. While such an achievement would be a tremendous one, and testament to the good work that Dougie Imrie and his squad have done in recent months, those looking for omens may not want to consider that in March 2017, as Morton approached the landmark of a full year unbeaten at home, their bubble was burst by none other than Saturday’s hosts, Dunfermline Athletic. Having now reached the top four though, Imrie’s charges will be determined to carry on the momentum from their terrific run of form. Photo - GBR Photographs. Squad News With Jack Baird returning to the team last Saturday, the only certain absentee is winger Jai Quitongo, whose season I’ve described several times as “stop-start”, but realistically can only be described as “injury ravaged” at this stage, as he suffers setback after setback. Imrie intimated that the winger would likely be out for 3-4 weeks this time around, but given his fortunes this season, there can’t be too many that are optimistic for Quitongo. Kirk Broadfoot also sat out of Saturday’s comprehensive victory over the division’s bottom side, but there’s no indication as to why, with the boss keeping his cards close to his chest, as is often the case. Current Connections There are only two players in the Morton squad who have represented the Pars- Robbie Muirhead endured an extremely disappointing season in Fife in 2018-19. Having signed on deadline day in August, he failed to find the net in only twelve appearances that season before moving onto Cappielow, where he has of course enjoyed a much more fruitful period of his career, albeit with it’s ups and downs, particularly in his early days. Iain Wilson is another who made the move from Fife to Inverclyde, becoming Imrie’s second signing in the January window of 2022, having spent a year and a half at Dunfermline. He did of course move onto Queen of the South before returning to Morton this season, but managed to score a somewhat unconventional 25 yard “strike” on his return to East End Park shortly after joining Morton, as Dunfermline sunk towards a season slumming it in League One with minnows such as Clyde, Peterhead and Falkirk. Pars’ gaffer James McPake had a brief and unremarkable loan spell at Morton in 2006, scoring twice in ten appearances. Tale of the Tape Over the last 10-12 years or so, Morton have had the upper hand over Dunfermline, but the tables have turned this season, with our friends from the Kingdom taking six points from six this season, albeit at periods of the campaign where Morton were really suffering for form. Their previous visit to East End Park couldn’t have gone much worse. 2-0 down at the break thanks to goals from Craig Wighton and Lewis McCann, they lost Tyler French to injury early in the second half, and his replacement Darragh O’Connor, who lasted a whole seven minutes before he too had to be replaced, eventually sitting out for around six weeks. A late Robbie Crawford strike gave Morton hope of sneaking a draw, but Michael O’Halloran’s goal in the final minute sent the ‘Ton home pointless and licking their considerable wounds. In early November, the BBC Scotland cameras made their first visit of the season to Cappielow, and only had to wait a matter of seconds to see Dunfermline break the deadlock through Celtic loanee Owen Moffat. Moffat doubled his account in only the seventh minute on an evening that the Cappielow atmosphere was at perhaps its most poisonous in a long time. The cameras caught Wilson storming off after his early substitution, and Broadfoot was to face the ire of the Cowshed, with the BBC’s microphones picking up a cacophony of boos as Morton hit perhaps their lowest point of the season. Whatever was said at half time though, while it may not have achieved a result, saw Morton produce a far improved performance, with a Steven Boyd penalty 12 minutes from time putting a bit more respectability on the final result. While we may not have felt it at the time, it was arguably the watershed moment in Morton’s season when things began to turn. Photo - GBR Photographs. Opposition Analysis With Morton enjoying a fine run of form, which has coincided with the return of a number of key players, Dunfermline’s fortunes have been almost the exact opposite of our favourites. Injuries have piled up for the Fifers, with the likes of Kyle Benedictus, Aaron Comrie, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Alex Jakubiak amongst the absentees in recent weeks. With that, results have fallen off a cliff, with no wins in six, their last being at Airdrie in early December as we were breaking our Arbroath duck. Add to that an early Scottish Cup exit to their local rivals Raith Rovers, and three league defeats to their big-spending neighbours, it’s not been the perfect return to the Championship. Last weekend’s goalless draw at Tannadice was perhaps a step in the right direction, but by all accounts owed a lot to a fine defensive display, with the Pars offering very little going forward. With the injury list being what it has been, I’m sure it’s only a coincidence that their last two home matches fell victim of the weather, the match against Airdrie succumbing to a frozen pitch and against Queen’s Park to a waterlogged one. That poor run of form, coupled with the two postponements has seen Dunfermline fall out of the play-off places to seventh in the table, albeit with games in hand over everyone else in the division. But sitting only four points clear of the ninth placed Spiders, who recorded their first league win since August recently against Dunfermline, there must be a point that McPake’s men begin to look over their shoulders. Though they won’t be as stretched as Arbroath were last weekend, one can only hope that Morton offer as little sympathy as they did to the Red Lichties. What’s Happening Elsewhere? There’s an abridged Championship card due to the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-finals. The two Championship clubs remaining in the competition- Morton’s conquerors Airdrie, and big-spending Raith Rovers for the right to beat either League One minnows Falkirk, or Welsh champions The New Saints, who meet in Grangemouth on Saturday evening. In the Championship, Arbroath and Partick are inactive, and Dundee United will look to take advantage of big-spending Raith Rovers being otherwise occupied by disposing of an Ayr United side who started the Scott Brown era with a win at Hampden last week.. There’s a six-pointer at the bottom of the table in the Highlands, as Callum Davidson’s Queen’s Park visit Inverness. With four points separating the teams, the Spiders will see this as a massive opportunity to make ground on Thistle in eighth. Photo - GBR Photographs. Betting Guide All odds are supplied by McBookie. All odds correct as of 7pm on 1st February 2024 and are subject to change. Please only bet within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling. Dunfermline are slight favourites at 29/20, with Morton priced at 13/8 and the draw at 9/4. Morton to win to nil comes in at 7/2 and Grant Gillespie to score anytime is 3/1. Match Officials Referee- Kevin Clancy takes charge of his first Morton match in just over a year, his last being the 0-5 Scottish Cup defeat at Celtic Park in which he awarded Celtic a ludicrous VAR-assisted penalty against Efe Ambrose for a non-existent handball. AR 1- John McCrossan AR 2- Barry Reid