Match Preview | Dunfermline
DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC versus GREENOCK MORTON
Scottish Championship
Saturday 12 December 2020
East End Park
Kick-off 3pm
by Brendan McEleny
Scene Setter
Morton are back on the road tomorrow afternoon as they travel east to take on Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Championship.
The ‘Ton, currently sitting in seventh place in the league, get set to take on second-placed Pars with Anton McElhone taking the reins as interim manager following the departure of David Hopkin yesterday afternoon. McElhone, supported by the experience of captain Jim McAlister, Chris Millar and Brian McLean, will be determined not to let the events of the last 24 hours serve as a distraction.
Having picked up their first away point of the season at Arbroath a few weeks back, Morton will be looking to add to that when they visit East End Park in an effort to gain momentum going into the critical festive period.
Stevie Crawford’s Dunfermline have enjoyed an undefeated start to league proceedings so far this season and they will be hoping they can continue their battle with Hearts for the top spot in the league.
Morton Milestones & Significant Stats
355 – Club captain Jim McAlister is joint 11th with Roy Baines in the all-time Morton appearance after starting in last weeks game against Hearts
Current Connections
Declan McManus joined Dunfermline for his second spell at the club during the Summer. The forward featured for the ‘Ton over two loan stints, the first from Aberdeen and second from Fleetwood Town scoring 28 goals in 54 appearances. McManus played a crucial part in the squad that lifted the League One trophy in 2015, scoring 20 league goals and was rewarded with his efforts by winning the PFA Player of the Year.
Head to Head
Sat 27 Apr 2019: Dunfermline Athletic 0-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 5 Oct 2019: Morton 1-1 Dunfermline Athletic (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 7 Dec 2019: Dunfermline 3-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 11 Jan 2020: Morton 3-2 Dunfermline (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Round
With their third win in four matches and their second win in a row, Greenock Morton were able to place themselves just four points off of the promotion playoff places in the Ladbrokes Championship after a well earned 3-2 victory against Dunfermline at Cappielow back in January.
Playing under testing conditions, the visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when an effort from just outside the box from Gabby McGill was saved by Danny Rogers but the ‘Ton goalkeeper couldn’t keep a hold of the ball which allowed Euan Murray to pounce and slot it home.
The ‘Ton went on hunting for an equaliser and they drew level 20 minutes later thanks to the head of the enigmatic Kyle Jacobs who was able to guide the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal after an in-swinging cross into the box by Luca Colville.
The Sinclair Street sider took their momentum into the second half as a lovely back heel from left-back Lewis Strapp gave Luca Colville the chance to play an inch-perfect cross to Jim McAlister waiting in the centre of the box to send a diving header into the net to put Morton ahead just four minutes into the half.
With 84 minutes on the clock, the game was near enough put to bed when another fantastic cross in from Nicky Cadden found the waiting Kyle Jacobs who headed the ball into the goal for his second of the game.
Dunfermline would grab a goal back in stoppage time with a magnificent free-kick from Kevin Nisbet that went straight into the top corner but this would be the final effort of the match as the full-time whistle was blown and confirmed the three points for Morton.
Officials
Referee: David Munro
Assistant 1: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant 2: Craig Macrae
Streaming Information
Tomorrow’s game will be available to watch live for £12 on ParsTV
Supporters are asked to create an online account and purchase a one off PPV pass that will allow them to watch the game live or the full replay post match.
Image: David Bell
