Dunfermline 1 Morton 0

Saturday, 13th Mar 2021

Scottish Championship: Euan Murray returns as Pars starting eleven shows four changes. Craig Wighton penalty saved (21), Craig Wighton (44) 1-0:

A headed goal from Craig Wighton was enough the lift the three points and move the Pars back into second place in the Championship.

Dunfermline, back in action after 14 days without a match, faced a Morton side under the new management of former Par, Gus Macpherson.

Stevie Crawford was without the services of Lewis Mayo who was red carded at Palmerston Park last time out. Also missing were Kerr McInroy and Josh Edwards and Declan McManus was on the bench. Euan Murray returned after missing the match at Queen of the South along with Aaron Comrie, Scott Banks and Iain Wilson

Morton handed a debut to former St Mirren man, Stephen McGinn who arrived on loan from Hibs this week. He took the place of Kyle Jacobs in an otherwise unchanged team from the one to win at Inverness in midweek.

Fraser Murray kicked off for the Pars and it was him that sent the ball left for Dom Thomas to test keeper Aidan McAdams after only 90 seconds. When the corner was sent in from the left Murray arrived to meet the ball 20 yards out but Brian McLean made a stinging block. Wilson returned the ball but McAdams held.

The next chance came in nine minutes when Thomas turned in his own half and released a ball for Murray to run on to but McLean won possession on the edge of the Morton box and the chance was lost.

The next Dunfermline chance came much closer. On the quarter hour Craig Wighton won possession on the right and cut back for Banks whose shot from just outside the box slipped narrowly wide left. Then a Murray pass took Banks into the left side of the Morton box and as the Crystal Palace loanee tried to round Aidan McAdams he was taken down and referee Steven Kirkland pointed to the penalty spot.

Wighton took responsibility for the 21st minute spot kick but McAdams went to his right to block the shot. Wighton followed up and looped a shot on to the crossbar before McLean headed off the goal line. The second penalty miss in consecutive matches.

Luca Colville forced a corner off Comrie in 26 minutes, Craig McGuffie delivered from the left and after defended out McGinn returned an effort that landed half way up the McCathie Stand.

It was five minutes from the break before the goals were next threatened and it was Morton captain Sean McGinty whose header on a Thomas free kick that narrowly avoided going into his own goal. A Murray corner from the left was followed by a Thomas corner from the right but Reece Lyon eventually cleared for Morton.

Morton won a corner at the other end but Owain Fôn Williams was fouled by Fjørtoft. When play switched back to the other end, Banks surged in field and laid off for Thomas on the left to pick out WIGHTON. As he drifted in between Fjørtoft and McGinty, his glancing header found the ‘Ton net, 1-0

Despite the half time stats showing only 38% home possession they had four shots to Morton’s one and crucially the lead.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Morton 0

Morton’s striker Kazaiah Sterling gave Paul Watson the runaround to break through into the Pars box in the third minute of the second half but Steven Whittaker made a tremendous blocking tackle. A corner was conceded on the right side but Comrie cleared the danger.

A 59th minute Fraser Murray free kick created some danger in the Morton six yard box but when Wighton got in a shot it was off target. Murray had a glorious chance in 66 minutes but pulled his shot wide right. Banks had done well to find Whittaker on the right and his pass up the wing was caught by Wighton and cut back for his unmarked teammate but alas no goal.

Thomas forced a corner on the left that Fraser Murray sent towards the near post but Euan Murray just couldn’t get the contact. Morton then introduced former Hearts man, Gary Oliver, in place of Reece Lyon and they immediately pressed and won two corners that Dunfermline cleared effectively.

Nesbitt ran on to a good opportunity in 72 minutes but blasted his shot wide right. Whittaker supplied a nicely weighted pass for Comrie to break with pace but his final pass went behind Wighton. Thomas returned the ball and Comrie and then Banks had efforts blocked. Play continued with a corner from the right and Watson headed a cross on to the roof of the net.

Kyle Turner and then Declan McManus came on for Dom Thomas and Craig Wighton as the match entered its final ten minutes. Morton too made a double substitution and it was sub Kalvin Orsi who next made Fôn Williams hold a header.

In 89th minute Scott Banks was withdrawn for Vytas Gašpuitis to come on for his Dunfermline debut. That gave the Pars an extra player in defence and they saw out the time added on to secure the three points.

Dunfermline’s strong home form continued therefore unbeaten in their six home games since losing to Morton on 12th December.

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Kyle Macdonald: Steven Whittaker, Iain Wilson: Dom Thomas (Kyle Turner 80), Scott Banks (Vytas Gašpuitis 89), Fraser Murray: Craig Wighton (Declan McManus 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Kevin O’Hara, Lewis McCann, Matthew Todd, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Wighton (44)
YELLOW CARD: Macdonald (56)

MORTON: Aidan McAdams: Michael Ledger, Brian McLean, Sean McGinty (c), Markus Fjørtoft: Stephen McGinn: Aidan Nesbitt, Reece Lyon (Gary Oliver 69), Luca Colville, Craig McGuffie (Cameron Salkeld 80), Kazaiah Sterling (Kalvin Orsi 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Robin Omar, Cameron Blues, Robbie Muirhead
YELLOW CARD: Fjørtoft (30)

REFEREE: Steven Kirkland
WEATHER: Changeable 7°C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: Scottish Championship: (home) v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Saturday 20th March 2021, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park behind closed doors.

Number: 100013366 won £292


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Preview Morton

Saturday, 13th Mar 2021

Scottish Championship (home) v Morton, Saturday 13th March 2021, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park, behind closed doors

Two weeks after losing by the only goal of the match to Queen of the South, Stevie Crawford’s team’s next match is at home to Morton. The Pars record of two wins in the last fourteen meetings against Morton suggests the Greenock side have become a bit of a bogey team.

Morton’s interim manager Anton McElhone said that Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Ayr United was “massively disappointing” and showed his frustration at the lack of chances created. On Tuesday night however they righted that with a 1-0 at Inverness courtesy of an Aidan Nesbitt goal early in the second half.

Milestones v Morton (Home)

Last League Victory: 07/12/19 | 3-1 | Championship
Last League Defeat: 12/12/20 | 1-2 | Championship
Best League Victory: 29/01/66 | 6-0 | Division One*
Worst League Defeat: 28/03/15 | 0-4 | League One
Last Goalless Draw: 17/03/18 | 0-0 | Championship
First League Meeting: 25/12/26: | 1-1 | Division One*
*Pre league reconstruction

This is the 107th league meeting between these teams and Dunfermline hold the better record 46 wins to Morton’s 33, 27 have been drawn.

The last dozen meetings have resulted in three Pars wins, four defeats and five draws but the record is improving with only one defeat to Morton in the last eight meetings.

Last Meeting at East End Park
Scottish Championship, Saturday 12th December 2020
Dunfermline 1 Morton 2

Second placed Pars, unbeaten in their eleven matches this season took on seventh placed Morton who arrived in Fife having failed to win in their last five matches and having lost their manager David Hopkin who resigned on the Thursday prior to this game.

Morton would go ahead from a 24th minute Lewis Strapp throw in. A long throw from close to the left corner flag targeted Brian McLean at the near post but it was Watson who headed the ball, Kerr McInroy’s attempt then to clear set up Jim McALISTER poised 15 yards out to volley home with the possible help of a deflection. 0-1

When the ball broke off Nesbitt’s hand in his penalty box, the Pars were awarded a 74th minute penalty. Declan McMANUS drove the spot kick down the middle past McAdams, his fifth goal of the season made it 1-1.

Morton regained their lead five minutes later. From halfway McLean launched the ball into the Dunfermline penalty box, Murray headed clear but it was gathered by Strapp and Fôn Williams pulled off a great save from the 21 year old’s fierce left footed shot but sub Craig McGUFFIE, on only three minutes, was well placed to bury the loose ball. 1-2

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Ryan Dow, Kyle Turner, Kerr McInroy (Lewis McCann 83) Dom Thomas: Kevin O’Hara (Fraser Murray 62), Declan McManus
SUBS NOT USED: Iain Wilson, Lewis Mayo, Matty Bowman, Miller Fenton, Cammy Gill (GK)

MORTON: Aidan McAdams: Kyle Jacobs (Robin Omar HT), Brian McLean, Sean McGinty, Lewis Strapp: Jim McAlister (c), Reece Lyon, Josh McPake (Aidan Nesbitt 60), Robbie Muirhead (Craig McGuffie 76): Kalvin Orsi, Cameron Salkeld.
SUBS NOT USED: Ross McIver, Markus Fjørtoft, Gary Oliver, Chris Millar.

Five of the last twelve matches between the sides have been drawn, three of them with no goals. Five of the twelve were lost and two were Dunfermline wins.

Last Twelve Matches v Morton

15-01-21 (A) D 0-0 Championship
12-12-20 (H) L 1-2 Championship
11-01-20 (A) L 2-3 Championship
07-12-19 (H) W 3-1 Championship
05-10-19: (A) D 1-1 Championship
05-04-19: (H) L 0-1 Championship
26-01-19: (A) D 0-0 Championship
01-12-18: (H) W 3-0 Championship
22-09-18: (A) D 1-1 Championship
17-03-18: (H) D 0-0 Championship
03-02-18: (A) L 1-2 Championship
20-01-18: (H) L 1-2 Scottish Cup

Recent Form

Dunfermline have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six matches. They are unbeaten in their five home games since losing to Morton on 12th December.

Morton’s win on Tuesday night was their first since 19th December. Their win at Inverness was their second away win of the season. They have now lost three, drawn two and won one of their last six matches.

DUNFERMLINE
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-1
Arbroath (A) L 0-2
Raith Rovers (H) W 4-1
Hearts (A) L 0-1
Ayr United (H) D 0-0

MORTON
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) W 1-0
Ayr United (H) L 0-2
Dundee (H) D 2-2
Hearts (A) D 1-1
Raith Rovers (H) L 0-1
Arbroath (H) L 0-1

Current League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 27
Goal Difference: +7
League Record: P17 W7 D6 L4 GF26 GA19
Last Six Match Form: DLWLWL

MORTON
League Position: 6th
League Points: 22
Goal Difference: -7
League Record: P19 W5 D7 L7 GF17 GA24
Last Six Match Form: LLDDLW

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Queen of the South): Owain Fôn Williams: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Watson (c), Lewis Mayo, Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas (Scott Banks 73), Steven Whittaker (Iain Wilson 68), Kerr McInroy, Fraser Murray: Craig Wighton, Declan McManus (Kevin O’Hara 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Turner, Lewis McCann, Vytas Gašpuitis, Cammy Gill (GK)

MORTON (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Aidan McAdams: Michael Ledger, Brian McLean, Sean McGinty, Markus Fjørtoft: Kyle Jacobs: Aidan Nesbitt (Cameron Salkeld 89), Reece Lyon (Cameron Blues 84), Luca Colville (Robin Omar 89), Craig McGuffie: Kazaiah Sterling
SUBS NOT USED: Gary Oliver, Chris Millar, Darren Hynes, Justin Johnson

Other Championship Fixtures

Inverness Caley Thistle v Raith Rovers (Friday)
Dundee v Arbroath
Hearts v Ayr United
Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

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