Match Preview | Dundee United
MORTON versus Dundee United
Saturday 4 May 2019
Cappielow Park, Greenock
Kick-off 3pm
Scene Setter
Morton bring down the curtain on the 2018/19 Ladbrokes Championship season with a home match against Dundee United tomorrow as they aim to finish the campaign in fifth position.
As well as climbing away from trouble and cementing our place in the division with back-to-back away wins at Falkirk and Dunfermline Athletic, Jonatan Johansson’s side have also managed to climb the table.
Despite the fact safety is secured and a Premiership play-off spot has long since been out of reach, the Ton boss says his side are desperate to finish in as high a position as possible.
A win over tomorrow’s opponents would guarantee fifth place and a cash boost to the club with each addition placing rewarded with extra prize money.
Dundee United, on the other hand, have already tied up the runners-up berth and a place in the promotion play-offs, and so travel to Greenock with nothing more than pride and starting positions at stake.
Gaffer Johansson believes the circumstances should add up to an open and exciting game of football – one that he and his squad are dead set on taking three points from to send everyone into the summer break on a high.
Gaffer’s Thoughts
He said: “For the club it’s important to finish as high as possible. For me and the team personally, we want to finish fifth. That’s our ambition and that’s enough motivation for the team.
“On top of that, it’s the last home game of the season and it’s a chance for the players to give the fans a great send off for the summer.
“Also, everybody is playing for personal pride as well as future contracts, and Dundee United are playing to see who will start in their play-off matches.
“Listening to Robbie Neilson’s press conference, I don’t think they are going to make massive changes, so it’s going to be a good game.
“And with no pressure on the teams as such, with no relegation or play-off places at stake, I think it is going to be an open game and an attacking game, so it’s going to be a fun game to watch.
“But Housty and I had a discussion on Monday that [we have to make sure] complacency and a sense of achievement doesn’t seep in early, because it’s easy to do that.
“However, I have rarely seen training as competitive as it has been this week. The players were angry at losing, shouting, and tackling … there was a real buzz about the place. They all want to play and they all want to win.”
Read the full interview here 👉 https://gmfc.net/2019/05/03/johansson-finishing-fifth-is-huge-incentive/
Team News
Long-term absentees Denny Johnstone , Robert Thomson, who underwent an operation today, and Kerr Waddell remain sidelined, as does left-back Rory McKeown.
Forward Gary Oliver had hoped to be available again following a shoulder injury suffered at Falkirk, but the game has come too early for him.
Morton Milestones and Significant Stats
1 – Morton have lost just once in their last six fixtures, picking up three draws and two wins.
3 – Morton are unbeaten in three matches following a draw with Inverness and wins at Falkirk and Dunfermline.
3 – Greg Kiltie has successfully coverted three penalties out of three in his time at Morton.
4 – Kiltie has scored four goals in four consecutive matches.
5 – Kiltie has scored five goals in his last six outings
6 – Kiltie has scored six goals in 12 starts and one substitute appearance since joining on loan from Kilmarnock.
10 – Striker Bob McHugh is Morton’s top scorer this term with 10 goals in 27 starts and eight sub appearances.
12 – Midfielder Michael Tidser is Morton’s top creator with 12 direct assists in 32 starts and four sub appearances.
50 – Jack Iredale will make his 50th appearance for the club should he start or come off the bench tomorrow.
250 – Chris Millar made his 250th appearance for the club at Dunfermline Athletic last weekend.
Current Connections
Frontman Robert Thomson is a product of the Dundee United youth academy and made two first-team appearances, coming off the bench in matches against St Mirren and Dundee in season 2012/13.
Summer signing Charlie Telfer spent three seasons at Tannadice, between 2014 and 2017, in which time he made 71 appearances – 28 in the Premiership – and scored five goals.
Dundee United can call upon wingers Paul McMullan and Aidan Nesbitt, both of whom spent time on loan with us from Celtic, McMullan in season 2015/16 and Nesbitt the following year.
Head to Head
Sat 31 Mar 2018: Morton 1-1 Dundee United (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 15 Sep 2018: Dundee United 1-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 08 Dec 2018: Morton 1-1 Dundee United (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 2 Feb 2019: Dundee United 2-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Round
An impressive first-half performance was enough to give Dundee United all three points back in February as Morton suffered a 2-1 defeat at Tannadice.
A second-half turnaround saw Bob McHugh give the Ton a glimmer of hope 18 minutes from time after netting his 10th goal of the season.
But Jonatan Johansson’s side could not find the equaliser needed to salvage a share of the spoils and suffered their first defeat to the Tangerines this term.
Officials
Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant one: Kylie Cockburn
Assistant two: Scott Robert Anderson
Fan File
Admission prices are:
Adult | Fan Card: £18, Ticket: £20
Concession (Over 65, Student, and Under 21s) | Fan Card: £13, Ticket: £15
Child (12 – 17)^ | Fan Card: £5, Ticket: £5
Child (Under-12)* | Fan Card: £0, Ticket: £1
^Proof of entitlement must be provided for concessionary tickets, while proof of age is required for children between 12 and 17 and those between 18 and 20.
*Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Please note, prices apply irrespective of the day or time of purchase.
Supporters are asked to purchase in advance where possible in order to avoid excessive queues at the ticket office on a matchday.
Briefs can still be bought from the following outlets:
Smiths of Greenock – During opening hours, 9am – 5.30pm
Sinclair Street ticket office – Saturday matchdays from 12noon to 3pm
Tickets can also be purchased in advance online at www.gmfctickets.co.uk or by calling the club on 01475 723571. These can be collected at the ticket office on matchday.
All home fixtures are also available to be pre-loaded onto fan cards via Interstadia’s dedicated club website, www.gmfctickets.co.uk.
Children Under-12 Go Free With Season Card and Fan Card
Children Under-12 in possession of a season card or fan card attend all home league fixtures free of charge, and parents are encouraged to sign their kids up for the campaign if they have not already done so.
Those children without a season card or fan card will be required to purchase a physical match ticket with scannable barcode at a cost of £1.
Supporter Notes
A minute’s applause will be held in memory of former Morton player Stevie Chalmers, who sadly passed away through the week.
Image: David Bell
