Match Preview | Dunfermline Athletic
MORTON versus Dunfermline Athletic
Saturday 22 September 2018
Cappielow Park, Greenock
Kick-off 3pm
Scene Setter
Morton host Dunfermline Athletic at Cappielow this afternoon on matchday six of the Ladbrokes Championship season and a lot has happened since the club’s last appearance on home turf.
Since beating title favourites Ross County 2-1 to go joint top of the table a month ago, a managerial team has departed and a fresh duo installed.
New gaffer Jonatan Johansson took charge of his first game away at Dundee United last weekend and saw his team come within 30 seconds of a fantastic win at Tannadice.
The former Finland international striker now takes his place in the Sinclair Street dugout for the first time when Allan Johnston’s Pars come calling today.
Johansson will be joined on the touchline by assistant Peter Houston, a vastly experienced coach and manager appointed as recently as yesterday.
And the pair will hope to plot a gameplan that will see them collect three points against a Dunfermline side that will be desperate to get their season on track after a frustrating run of results.
Gaffer’s Thoughts
Team News
Forwards Robert Thomson and Connor Bell miss out, but Gary Oliver is expected to come back into contention after he was sidelined by injury at Tannadice seven days ago.
Morton Milestones and Significant Stats
1 – Jonatan Johansson takes charge of his first fixture at Cappielow.
1 – Assistant manager Peter Houston will be in the dugout for his first match with the club.
4 – Morton are unbeaten at Cappielow this season, winning three and drawing one in four competitive fixtures.
5 – Michael Tidser is Ton’s top scorer this term, with six goals in nine starts.
5 – Michael Tidser is also Ton’s top creator this term with five assists.
65 – Derek Gaston could record his 65th clean sheet should he start and keep the Pars out.
Current Connections
Frontman Robert Thomson spent a short time with today’s opponents in the first half of the 2013/14 campaign, scoring one goal in seven starts and one substitute apperarance before joining Brechin City.
Goalkeeper Ryan Scully enjoyed two loan spells with the Pars, in seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15, making a total of 87 appearances and winning a club player of the year award in his time at East End Park.
Defender Gregor Buchanan was a team-mate of Scully’s during the shot-stopper’s second campaign with Dunfermline and made 36 appearances in all competitions.
Between the posts for the Pars is Lee Robinson, and the 32-year-old Englishman will be familiar to Ton fans from the 24 starts he made whilst on loan from Rangers in season 2007/08.
Head to Head
Tue 21 Nov 2017: Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 20 Jan 2018: Dunfermline Athletic 1-2 Morton (William Hill Scottish Cup, fourth round)
Sat 3 Feb 2018: Morton 2-1 Dunfermline Athletic (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 17 Mar 2018: Dunfermline Athletic 0-0 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Round
Morton maintained the promotion play-off status quo by claiming a hard-earned and potentially important point away at Dunfermline Athletic back in March.
The sides sat fourth and fifth in the Ladbrokes Championship table fought out a goalless draw over 90 gruelling minutes at an arctic East End Park.
It was a gutsy display from the Greenock men as they defended stoically as well as surviving a couple of second-half scares, in which the Pars hit the woodwork, to take a share of the spoils.
The stalemate combined with results elsewhere – Livingston, Dundee United, and Queen of the South also failed to win – meant that Ton preserved their four-point lead over the Pars without losing ground on the teams above.
Officials
Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant one: Mark McLean
Assistant two: Colin Drummond
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 11am 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.
Image: Gary Bradley
