Match Preview: Brechin City
Brechin City versus MORTON
Saturday 14 October 2017
Glebe Park, Brechin
Kick-off 3pm
Match Preview
Morton complete the first quarter of the 2017/18 Ladbrokes Championship campaign with an away fixture against Brechin City on matchday nine tomorrow.
Darren Dods’ side currently prop up the table and find themselves without a win in their first eight fixtures, but as a Falkirk side in a similar position proved in Ton’s last outing, the margins for error in this division are small.
And while the Angus outfit might not be in the best run of results, they are a tough nut to crack on home turf having picked up both points with draws, against Falkirk and Livingston, at Glebe Park.
Although time has passed and teams have changed since then, Morton have often found Brechin City to be challenging opponents in recent years.
The clubs last met in the 2014/15 season and despite lifiting the League One title, Jim Duffy’s team did not manage to win any of the four meetings, losing twice and drawing twice.
Derek Gaston, Lee Kilday, Mark Russell, Thomas O’Ware, Ricki Lamie, Ross Forbes, Michael Tidser and the management team all still remain from that campaign and so will be fully aware of the challenge ahead.
Manager’s Thoughts
Jim Duffy told gmfc.net: “Brechin is a very compact pitch and they are a team that’s fighting very hard for each other. They haven’t had the best results so far this season, but the performances have been a bit better.
“I know Darren Dods feels that his team aren’t too far away from competing in this league, and we need to make sure we’re up for a really competitive game because I’m sure that will be the case.
“The psychology of football can sometimes depend on the environment. Players go up to places like Brechin with the tight pitch, the small dressing rooms, high expectations – your fans expect you to win these types of games.
“So sometimes these games are the most difficult because of that. From our point of view, all we do is prepare properly, make sure that we’re focused and there’s a determination. If we do that we’re capable of winning.
“I had a great time as manager at Brechin. The people up there were very good to me and very supportive. The chairman was a joy to work for and it’s a superbly run club who’ve given some good managers a platform.
“Obvioulsy you’ve had guys like Ray McKinnon and Michael O’Neill, who has done an unbelievable job with Northern Ireland. It’s a good place for young managers to learn their trade.
“So, yeah, I’ve got a lot of time for them, but obviously what we want to do is go up there at the weekend and make sure they have a disappointing weekend and we get a really good result.”
Team News
Long-term absentee Lee Kilday has suffered a setback on his road to recovery from a long-term injury and the club captain is no closer to a return to action.
Midfielder Connor McManus picked up a calf injury in last weekend’s closed-doors game against Rangers and is doubtful for the fixture at Glebe Park.
However, striker Jai Quitongo has been able to join in training this week after missing out against Falkirk due to a tight hamstring and could be in contention for tomorrow.
Current Connections
Frontman Robert Thomson was on Brechin’s books between 2014 and 2016 and featured in all four meetings against the Ton in season 2014/15, scoring twice.
Brechin have three former Ton players in their squad. Centre-half Sean Crighton, a local lad who still works as a youth coach with our academy, was a regular in our League One title-winning team in 2014/15.
Left-back Willie Dyer (2012/13) and striker Andy Jackson (2011/12) both had solitary seasons on Sinclair Street during Allan Moore’s tenure as manager.
Recent Meetings
Sat 4 Oct 2014: Brechin City 3-1 Morton (League One)
Sat 13 Dec 2014: Morton 2-2 Brechin City (League One)
Sat 14 Feb 2015: Morton 1-1 Brechin City (League One)
Sat 4 Apr 2015: Morton 0-2 Brechin City (League One)
Last Time Out
Brechin City ripped Morton’s League One title hopes out of their own hands with a 2-0 win at Cappielow in April 2015, causing Jim Duffy to admit the damaging defeat made it ‘extremely difficult’ for his team to win the league.
Glebe Park midfielders Bobby Barr, who would make the switch to Greenock just weeks later, and Jamie Masson both netted in the closing stages to inflict Ton’s 11th loss of the campaign.
The result left the Ton four points off leaders Stranraer and three behind Forfar Athletic, who moved above them into second spot.
Duffy confessed there was no margin for error in the final four games if his side are to defy the odds and finish on top of the pile, which they duly did by winning each of their remaining fixtures.
Officials
Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant one: Kylie Cockburn
Assistant two: Derek Crothers
Supporters Notes
Entry is pay at the gate and admission prices are:
Adult – £15
Concession (Over 65 and Under 18) – £8
Parent and Child – £18
Morton supporters will enter the ground via the main entrance area at the Trinity Road End. Disabled access is also through main entrance, where stewards will assist with entry into the stadium. Only carers pay.
Fans under the influence of alcohol will not be admitted and all bags will be searched with random searches undertaken. Surfing flags are not permitted and any other flags will be checked to ensure they are not offensive.
Travel
Travel by Road: Brechin City, Glebe Park, Smithbank Road, Brechin, DD9 7NY.
A8/M8 – M80 – M9 – A9 – M90 and continue to A90 following signs for Dundee. Continue on A90 through Dundee towards Aberdeen/Forfar. Take the A935 exit for Brechin and then the B966.
Smithbank Road and stadium is on the right. The journey time is approximately two hours 45 minutes. There are no planned roadworks on the route but check the trafficscotland.org website prior to leaving.
Travel by Rail: Greenock – Montrose via two or three changeovers at Glasgow and Edinburgh. Ttravel time is three hours 30 minutes to four hours. There is an eight mile bus journey to Brechin thereafter.
Parking
Car parking and coach parking – Main carpark at Trinity Road End.
Travel Club Info
The Gourock Morton Supporters’ bus have limited seats left for tomorrow’s match. The bus leaves the Royalle Club in Gourock at 11am and pick ups are available en-route. Costs are £13 for adults and £11 for concessions.
Both buses are now fully booked.
The Greenock Morton Supporters Club bus to Brechin for tomorrow’s match leaves the club at 11.30am with pick ups en-route. Visitors costs are £14 for adults and £12 for concessions.
If you would like a seat on the bus, please phone Martin on 07958080010. Alternatively, you can book seats through Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GMSCTravel or Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/GMSCTravel.
The Port Glasgow Morton Travel Club bus to Dundee for tomorrow’s match leaves the Sutherland Bar at 11.30am.
Anyone looking for seats should contact Bryan on 07969760291 or leave a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortGlasgowMTC/
Image: David Bell
