Match Preview: Brechin City
Brechin City versus MORTON
Saturday 6 January 2018
Glebe Park, Brechin
Kick-off 3pm
Match Preview
Morton travel to Glebe Park tomorrow targeting a hat-trick of league successes over Ladbrokes Championship basement club Brechin City.
Jim Duffy’s side recorded a 1-0 win in Angus back in October and followed that up with a far more emphatic home triumph, easing to a 4-1 victory at Cappielow at the beginning of last month.
Although Brechin are yet to procure all three points on home turf this term, they have picked up three draws there, and the Ton know only too well how difficult an opponent they can be.
For it took until the 81st minute for them to find a way through their well-drilled, five-man rearguard in the clubs’ first clash this season, Andy Murdoch popping up a later winner to claim the win their dominance merited.
And with the tight pitch expected to be particulary heavy and sapping due to recent sustained rainfall, the ingredients are there for another taxing 90 minutes in the north east.
Gaffer Duffy is well known for choosing his team based on the opposition and conditions on the day, and so it could well be the case that there are changes to the team that drew 1-1 with league leaders St Mirren on Tuesday.
But no matter which 11 players are selected, they will look replicate the professional performance that saw them win by a three-goal margin in Greenock on 2 December.
Gary Oliver netted after just five minutes of that fixture and, as he himself identified in his match preview, a repeat of that strong start, particulary another early goal, would be ideal tomorrow.
Manager’s Thoughts
Team News
Lee Kilday and Jamie McGowan, who manager Jim Duffy has revealed requires an operation on a dislocated shoulder, are both sidelined, while Robert Thomson is a fresh doubt due to a groin problem.
Midfielder Ross Forbes was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench in Tuesday’s Renfrewshire derby and could be named as a susbtitute again at Glebe Park.
Celtic loan goalkeeper Ross Doohan has now left the club and this could mean a first senior-team inclusion for Under-20s shot-stopper Daniel Farrell, who recently penned a contract extension.
Jack Iredale and Lewis Strapp are also available for selection following their returns from stints at Queen’s Park and Elgin City respectively, as is Luca Gasparotto after signing a permanent deal until the end of the season.
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 14 Feb 2015: Morton 1-1 Brechin City (League One)
Sat 4 Apr 2015: Morton 0-2 Brechin City (League One)
Sat 14 Oct 2017: Brechin City 0-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 2 Dec 2017: Morton 4-1 Brechin City (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Out
Gary Oliver, Scott Tiffoney, Gary Harkins, and Jai Quitongo all found the net as free-scoring Ton, who racked up seven goals in their last two outings after beating Falkirk 3-0, picked up an important three points.
Officials
Referee: John McKendrick
Assistant one: Frank Connor
Assistant two: David Ingram
Supporters Notes
Entry is pay at the gate and admission prices are:
Adult – £15
Concession (Over 65 and Under 18) – £8
Children Under-12 – Free*
* As part of an SPFL Championship initiative supported by all 10 clubs, under-12s go free to all Ladbrokes Championship matches during the two weekends of the Premiership winter break.
Morton supporters will enter the ground via the main entrance area at the Trinity Road End. Disabled access is also through main entrance.
Stewards will assist with entry into the stadium. Only carers pay. Can car drivers please pass on registration of their vehicle to Brechin prior to their journey.
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.
Attempting to take pyrotechnics into the stadium is a criminal act and the police will take action. There is no segregation at this venue.
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 sharp and pick ups are available en-route. Costs are £13 for adults and £11 for concessions.
To book a seat leave a message on their official Facebook page or by texting: 07517045005
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, Twitter, or by emailing gmsctravel@gmail.com.
The Port Glasgow Morton Travel Club bus to Brechin City for tomorrow’s match at Glebe Park leaves the Sutherland Bar at 11.30am.
Anyone looking for seats should contact Bryan on 07969760291 or leave a message on Facebook.
Image: David Bell
