Match Preview | Hearts
MORTON versus HEARTS
Scottish Championship
Saturday 5 December 2020
Cappielow Park
Kick-off 3pm
by Brendan McEleny
Scene Setter
After a few weeks on the road, Morton mark their return to Cappielow Park tomorrow afternoon in a mouth-watering encounter with Hearts in the Scottish Championship.
It has been 32 years since Morton and Hearts last played each other in any competitive action and tomorrow’s clash is a match that the supporters have been eagerly waiting for since the fixtures were announced at the beginning of the season.
Both sides were no stranger to each other throughout the ’80s and faced off one another regularly in the league with their last competitive encounter being played in March 1988. Since then, the Sinclair Street side have welcomed the Jambos to Cappielow for four pre-season friendlies with the last being played in 1999.
A free weekend for the ‘Ton last week allowed the squad to train on Saturday morning as well as affording plenty of time to make preparations for the game. It’s set to be a busy festive period for both the Management team and the players as they will have a total of five matches to play during the month of December with three at home and two away.
The visitors head into tomorrow’s game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Alloa last week in the Betfred Cup. Robbie Neilson’s side however, have still enjoyed a fairly pleasant start to the league season, winning 4 games out of 5 with their sole defeat a reversal at East End Park, Dunfermline in November.
Morton Milestones & Significant Stats
32 – It has been 32 years since Morton and Hearts played each other in a competitive game. The last league fixture between the two sides was a 2-0 defeat for the ‘Ton at Tynecastle on 26 March 1988
355 – Club captain Jim McAlister will be joint 11th with Roy Baines in the all-time Morton appearance table tomorrow should he play against Hearts
Current Connections
Robbie Muirhead penned a move to Hearts in 2016 following a spell at Dundee United. The forward scored 2 goals in 19 appearances during his time at the club before departing for MK Dons in January 2017.
Gary Oliver quickly progressed through the youth ranks at Tynecastle and made his senior debut for the first team in 2013. He spent two years at the club and scored 2 goals in 25 appearances and is currently enjoying his second spell at Cappielow.
Head to Head
Sat 27 Jul 1991: Morton 0-3 Hearts (Friendly)
Sat 4 Aug 1994: Morton 1-3 Hearts (Friendly)
Sat 27 Jul 1998: Morton 4-3 Hearts (Friendly)
Sat 2 Aug 1999: Morton 0-4 Hearts (Friendly)
Last Time Round
The last time Morton welcomed the Jam Tarts to Cappielow in a competitive fixture was on Boxing Day, 1987. An Allan McGraw team included such names as David Wylie, Jim Holmes, Jim Hunter, Tommy Turner, Martin Doak and more whilst the Jambos listed the likes of Henry Smith, Craig Levein, John Colqhoun and John Robertson in their ranks. Both sides played out a festive goal-less draw in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Officials
Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant 1: Graham McNeillie
Assistant 2: Chris Phillips
‘TonTV Streaming Information
Tomorrow’s game will be available to watch live for £16 on ‘TonTV.
Supporters are asked to purchase in advance where possible to avoid any excessive online traffic before the coverage starts at 2.45pm.
Season ticket holders can view the game using the access codes that have been provided to them via e-mail or post.
Once logged onto the shop website, add the match to your basket and use your pass code in the section that says “apply coupon”.
We ask that if you have not received an access code that you get in touch by e-mailing admin@gmfc.net or call the club office on 01475 723571.
In accordance with SFA guidelines and under advisement from Scottish Police, we respectfully ask that no supporter attempts to access a view of games from the car park adjacent to the stadium. To do so would put the Club in a hazardous position and may prompt action detrimental to the interests of the club.
Image: David Bell
