Morton 2 Dunfermline 2

Saturday, 31st Jul 2021

cinch Championship: three changes as Deniz Mehmet, Paul Watson and Graham Dorrans start. Gary Oliver (23 pen.) 1-0: Nikolay Todorov (50) 1-1: Kevin O’Hara (74) 1-2: Lewis McGrattan (81) 2-2:

Dunfermline were hurt from the penalty spot and a speculative late strike after Nikolay Todorov and Kevin O’Hara had clawed the match back for them to lead 2-1.

Here goes for the new Championship season, a trip to Greenock to face Gus Macpherson’s Morton team. The sun came out to welcome in the early arriving fans and the pitch was looking magnificent and really inviting.

For his first league match Peter Grant made three changes starting Deniz Mehmet in goals in preference to Owain Fôn Williams, Paul Watson in for Vytas Gašpuitis and new signing Graham Dorrans started with Reece Cole moved on the bench.

Morton made three changes as well with Michael Ledger, Gary Oliver and Lewis McGregor taking the places of Brian McLean, Lewis McGrattan and Reece Lyon. Former Pars Robbie Muirhead and Gozie Ugwu led the attack for the home side.

It was the Fifers who kicked off through Dom Thomas attacking the goal at the Sinclair Street end and it was the captain who launched a shot narrowly wide right from 25 yards out in just 70 seconds.

There were a few loose passes from the visitors and Morton got in for a fourth minute effort that Kyle Jacobs swept wide left from the edge of the box. Quickly play switched to the other end and Kevin O’Hara deflected his attempt into the sidenetting.

A period of Morton possession earned them a 12th minute corner and it almost heralded a goal. Cameron Blues sent the ball in from the left and Jacobs effort was blocked, the ball was returned across the factor goal from the right and Blues drove his shot off the post and behind.

Dunfermline countered with Todorov sending O’Hara away down the left, he cut back for Josh Edwards and his cross into the six yard box was attacked by Todorov but Lewis Strapp got in first to head behind. Dorrans took the corner short to Thomas and his ball into the danger area was headed away by the home defence.

Dorrans was shown a yellow card by Willie Collum for a tug on Ugwu but the next yellow in 22 minutes for Deniz Mehmet came with a penalty awarded to the home side. Following a ball launched from his own half by Strapp, Ugwu challenged a header back to his keeper from Ross Graham and although Paul Watson cleared off the line the referee was pointing to the spot. Gary OLIVER stepped up to convert low into the left corner. 1-0

Another Dunfermline corner in 29 minutes was sent over from the left by Dorrans, Wighton headed the ball back from the right and Thomas released a good low effort that Jacobs did well to block.

Ugwu and Hynes had efforts blocked before a swift break by McGregor earned the first of two 38th minute corners that led eventually to Jacobs shooting over the bar. Back at the other end an Edwards cross was returned to O’Hara and his delivery looked ideal for Todorov in front of goal but he headed over.

The Pars pressed and forced corners of their own but when called upon Jack Hamilton was up to clutch the ball away from the head of Todorov. Thomas had one more effort but the Fifers would go in one behind having had just 40% possession in the first 45.

Half time: Morton 1 Dunfermline 0

The second half started with the goal that Dunfermline badly needed. In fifth minute of the half Macdonald made ground down the right and crossed a good ball that sat up nicely for Edwards to smash on goal. Jack Hamilton pulled off a great save but could not hold, the ball rebounded off Strapp’s chest and TODOROV snapped up the chance to net. 1-1

Morton’s response was to get into positions for two very good opportunities but firstly Ugwu and then Muirhead sent efforts over the bar. Dunfermline were able to peg back their opponents for a spell and Macdonald had a fierce shot blocked. Reece Cole replaced Dom Thomas in 63 minutes but the home side took the impetus with the injection of some urgency in their play and Mehmet had to hold an Ugwu header.

Then after two corners from the right the Pars eventually converted. The first had good efforts from Graham and Watson blocked after Wighton kept the ball in play when really the defence should have cleared and the second ensued. That one again caused mayhem in the ‘Ton six yard box, and it was O’HARA crashed the ball home for the 74th minute goal. 1-2

Macdonald made Hamilton save and next Strapp belted the ball over the bar from 25 yards out. The home side would equalise however with nine minutes remaining. Sub Lewis McGRATTAN’s cross from the right side of the Pars box sneaked into the far side of the goal of the post but with the assistance of a wicked deflection. 2-2

Morton’s other sub Reece Lyon dispatched a shot high over the bar as the Clydesiders sensed an opportunity. Dan Pybus subbed Nikolay Todorov in 86 minutes but Ugwu forced Comrie into conceding a corner on the left. The corner was over hit and Dorrans broke on the left and sent a sweet ball down the left channel that Kennedy did fantastically well to control and square. Cole was perfectly placed to fire at goal but he scooped the ball over the bar and it was head in hands.

Morton named Gozie Ugwu their Man of the Match and few would have denied him that. For Dunfermline it was yet another disappointing end to a match at Cappielow. The equaliser to make it 2-2 hit the net with a large portion of luck and having fought back to lead from a goal down, Dunfermline players would feel it was like a defeat.

MORTON: Jack Hamilton: Michael Ledger, Darren Hynes (Lewis McGrattan 73), Alan Lithgow, Lewis Strapp: Cameron Blues, Kyle Jacobs (c), Lewis McGregor (Mark Russell 61): Gary Oliver: Robbie Muirhead (Reece Lyon 75), Gozie Ugwu
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Garrity, Alex King, Chris Stafford, Chris Wylie (GK).
SCORERS: Oliver (23 pen.), McGrattan (81),
YELLOW CARD: Oliver (89)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald, Graham Dorrans, Dom Thomas (c)(Reece Cole 63), Josh Edwards: Kevin O’Hara, Nikolay Todorov (Dan Pybus 86), Craig Wighton (Kai Kennedy 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Vytas Gašpuitis, Paul Allan, Owain Fôn Williams: (GK)
SCORERS: Todorov (50), O’Hara (74)
YELLOW CARD: Dorrans (19), Mehmet (22)

REFEREE: Willie Collum
WEATHER: Sunny 18°C
ATTENDANCE 821

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (home) v Partick Thistle, Saturday 7th August 2021, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park

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Preview Morton

Saturday, 31st Jul 2021

Scottish Championship (away) Saturday 31st July 2021, kick off 3.00pm at Cappielow

Dunfermline will open their Championship campaign with an away day in Greenock. Both last season’s visits to Cappielow ended goalless and the Pars have not won in their last eight matches there.

Milestones v Morton (Away)

Last Victory
25/03/17 | 1-0 | Championship
Last Defeat
11/01/20 | 2-3 | Championship
Best Victory
11/12/99 | 3-0 | Division 1
23/08/88 | 3-0 | Premier League
25/11/67 | 3-0 | Division 1
Worst Defeat
16/02/80 | 0-5 | Scottish Cup
Last Goalless Draw
23/03/21 | 0-0 | Scottish Cup
First Meeting
14/08/26 | 0-3 | Division One

Last time at Cappielow
Tuesday 23rd March 2021, Scottish Cup
Morton 0 Dunfermline 0

The long awaited Cup tie between these two Championship sides ended in stalemate after extra time and the Greenock side progressed to the next round on penalties.

This was the sixth meeting of Morton and Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup but the Pars were hoping to make it their first success in the competition against the Greenock side on their home turf. This was a significant obstacle though since the Fifers had won just one of the last eleven meetings at Cappielow and had failed to win there over the previous three seasons.

It was to end 0-0 after Lewis McCann came closest on two occasions to scoring a goal for the Pars and in the third minute of extra time a Thomas cross was headed on to the left goalpost by O’Hara.

It is always a bitter disappointment to go out on penalties but after Euan Murray and Lewis Mayo had their efforts saved that is just what happened.

MORTON: Aidan McAdams: Michael Ledger, Brian McLean, Sean McGinty (c): Craig McGuffie (Gary Oliver 73), Darren Hynes, Kyle Jacobs (Cameron Blues 94), Reece Lyon, Lewis Strapp: Aidan Nesbitt (Robbie Muirhead 104), Kazaiah Sterling (Kalvin Orsi 69).
SUBS NOT USED: Markus Fjørtoft, Luca Colville, Alexander Easdale, Lewis McGrattan, Chris Wylie (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Lewis Mayo, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Matthew Todd (Fraser Murray 58), Steven Whittaker (Dom Thomas 75), Kerr McInroy (Iain Wilson 64), Lewis McCann: Declan McManus (Craig Wighton 101), Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Allan, Scott Banks, Cammy Gill (GK)

Last Twelve Matches v Morton

Morton have proven to be a bit of a bogey team in recent times. Of the last 12 matches the Fifers have won just three, six have been drawn and three lost.

23-03-21 (A) D 0-0 Scottish Cup
13-03-21 (H) W 1-0 Championship
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

Recent Form

Morton are undefeated in their last six matches after securing their Championship status via the Championship play offs with wins over Montrose and Airdrieonians. In the Premier Sports Cup they forfeited the match against Stranraer when they could not fulfil the fixture but defeated Clyde at Cappielow in their last match after draws against both Kilmarnock and East Kilbride

Dunfermline had no joy in their Premiership play offs but qualified from their Premier Sports Cup group with wins over Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir.

DUNFERMLINE
Stenhousemuir (H) W 4-1
Dumbarton (H) W 5-1
St Mirren (A) L 0-1
Partick Thistle (A) W 4-2
Raith Rovers (A) L 0-2
Raith Rovers (H) D 0-0

MORTON
Clyde (H) W 2-1
Kilmarnock (A) D 1-1
East Kilbride (H) D 0-0
Airdrieonians (H) W 3-0
Airdrieonians (A) W 1-0
Montrose (H) W 3-1

2020-2020 League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 4th
League Points: 39
Goal Difference: +4
Away League Record: P13 W1 D6 L6 GF14 GA21
Last Six Match Form: DLWLWW

MORTON
League Position: 9th
League Points: 29
Goal Difference: -11
Home League Record: P14 W4 D5 L5 GF14 GA18
Last Six Match Form: WWWDDW

Last time Out


DUNFERMLINE (v Stenhousemuir): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Vytas Gašpuitis, Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald, Reece Cole (Dan Pybus 64), Dom Thomas (c)(Paul Allan 77), Josh Edwards: Kevin O’Hara (Matty Todd 87), Nikolay Todorov, Craig Wighton (Kai Kennedy HT).
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Deniz Mehmet (GK)

MORTON (v Clyde): Jack Hamilton: Darren Hynes, Alan Lithgow, Brian McLean (Michael Ledger 45), Lewis Strapp: Cameron Blues: Lewis McGrattan (Michael Garrity 63), Kyle Jacobs, Reece Lyon (Gary Oliver 76), Robbie Muirhead (Lewis McGregor 86), Gozie Ugwu
SUBS NOT USED: Mark Russell, Alex King, Chris Wylie (GK).

Referee will be Alan Muir.

Other Championship Fixtures
Arbroath v Inverness Caley Thistle
Partick Thistle v Queen of the South
Raith Rovers v Hamilton Accies
Kilmarnock v Ayr United (Monday 2nd August)

Confirmation - our Premier Sports Cup second round match against Rangers will take place on Friday 13th August at 7.30pm and will be shown live on Premier Sports TV.

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