Match Preview: Dumbarton
MORTON versus Dumbarton
Saturday 21 October 2017
Cappielow Park, Greenock
Kick-off 3pm
Match Preview
Jim Duffy leads his men into the second quarter of the Ladbrokes Championship season tomorrow with a home fixture against Clydeside rivals Dumbarton.
Morton kicked off the league campaign against Stevie Aitken’s Sons back at the beginning of August – a match that endeded in a goalless stalemate on a sunny day at the YourRadio Stadium.
Last weekend’s narrow 1-0 win away at Brechin City was a similarly tight affair, and, athough Ton controlled the 90 minutes, it required a late Andy Murdoch goal to make the breakthrough and claim maximum points.
Reflecting on this and other games, Cappielow gaffer Duffy picked out the need to add flair in the final third and a ruthless streak in front of goal as a key area for improvement in the second round of fixtures.
Just one of Dumbarton’s last seven fixtures, meanwhile, has ended with either side winning by a margin of two or more goals, that being their recent 2-0 reverse against league leaders St Mirren.
Therefore, if the season thus far can be taken as a gauge for tomorrow’s encounter, then we can expect another absorbing and nailbiting tussle on Sinclair Street.
Manager’s Thoughts
Jim Duffy told gmfc.net: “Last week at Brechin was a tough game, as it always is up there. Although Dunfermline and Inverness won comprehensively, everyone else has found it difficult against them.
“I feel it was a game we fully deserved to win because we controlled the 90 minutes. I was really pleased with the victory and the clean sheet.
“It was a terrific three points and gives us a platform for today’s game against Dumbarton, who played very well against St Mirren last week and created a good number of chances.
“They were perhaps a bit unfortunate not to take something from that game, so we know we need to be a little bit sharper in the final third.
“I’m a huge admirer of the job Stevie Aitken has done. I’m really surprised, and I say this with no disrespect to Dumbarton, that a full-time job hasn’t come up. But I think it’s only a matter of time.
“Stevie recruits very well and, if you look at his squad, there are some really good players with a good balance between youth and experience.
“However, we have to make sure we make it as uncomfortable a day as we possibly can for them, and to do that we need to be on the front foot.
“We can’t sit off, we can’t slow the game down, we need to play at a good tempo – and if we do those things I think we have the quality to get the points.”
Team News
Long-term absentee Lee Kilday has suffered a setback on his road to recovery from a long-term ankle injury and the skipper is no closer to a return to action.
Midfielder Connor McManus picked up a calf injury in a closed-doors game against Rangers and missed out against Brechin City. The former Celtic kid is still struggling ahead of the Sons. visit.
Playmaker Michael Tidser is also a doubt after experiencing a groin problem at Glebe Park, one that will require a scan to determine the extent of the issue.
Current Connections
Striker Robert Thomson and player/under-20s coach Darren Barr made a direct move between the clubs in the summer transfer window.
Midfielder Ross Forbes spent time on loan with the Sons as a teenager during the second half of the 2008/09 season, helping them lift the Third Division title.
Dumbarton boss Stevie Aitken, meanwhile, enjoyed eight seasons as a player at Cappielow, making 97 starts, 34 substitute appearances and scoring five goals.
Recent Meetings
Sat 12 Nov 2016: Dumbarton 0-2 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 7 Jan 2017: Morton 2-1 Dumbarton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 1 April 2017: Dumbarton 1-0 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 5 August 2017: Dumbarton 0-0 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Out
Morton had to settle for a share of the spoils on the opening day of the Ladbrokes Championship campaign after they were held to a goalless stalemate by Dumbarton at the Your Radio Stadium.
Despite dominating for much of the 90 minutes, Jim Duffy’s side could not find a way past Scott Gallacher in the Sons goal and started the 2017/18 season with a point.
The Sons keeper’s key stop arrived in stoppage time, whereupon he acrobatically flipped a thunderous Ross Forbes drive over the top after he’d create the chance with a sublime nutmeg.
It preserved his shutout and both ensured that Stevie Aitken’s side would take a point from the match and frustrated a Morton team that felt they deserved to walk away with all three rather than a draw.
Officials
Referee: Barry Cook
Assistant one: David Roome
Assistant two: David Dunne
Supporters Notes
It is expected that the entry system will operate without any issues, but until we are fully satisfied this has proven to be the case, adult ticket prices will be frozen at £18 irrespective of when they are purchased.
Tomorrow’s admission prices are:
Adults – £18
Concessions – £15
Children aged 12-16 – £5
Children Under 12 – £0*
* Children under 12 who do not have a season card or fan card will be required to collect a match ticket with a scannable barcode from our ticket office on the day of the game and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
The fixture against Stevie Aitken’s Sons can also be pre-loaded to fan cards on Interstadia’s dedicated club website, www.gmfctickets.co.uk.
Fans are asked to please purchase tickets in advance where possible in order to avoid queues on matchday and assist in the speedy entry of supporters to the stadium.
Image: David Bell
