Dunfermline Athletic

Fixtures : 2020-2021 : Morton

Tue, 23rd Mar 2021 Kick Off: 19:45

Morton 0 Dunfermline 0

Tuesday, 23rd Mar 2021

Scottish Cup: Seven changes in Pars starting eleven. Morton won 6-5 on penalties

The long awaited Cup tie between these two Championship sides ended in stalemate after extra time and the Greenock side progressed to the next round on penalties.

This was the sixth meeting of Morton and Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup but the Pars were hoping to make it their first success in the competition against the Greenock side on their home turf. This was a significant obstacle though since the Fifers had won just one of the last eleven meetings at Cappielow and have failed to win there over the last three seasons.

Dunfermline were missing Vytas Gašpuitis, sub against Inverness last time out, away on international duty with Lithuania but still managed to show seven changes to their starting eleven. On to the bench went Iain Wilson, Fraser Murray, Dom Thomas, Craig Wighton and Scott Banks, while Paul Watson (injured) and Kyle Macdonald (cup tied) were missing altogether. Into the side came Josh Edwards, Lewis Mayo, Kevin O’Hara, Declan McManus, Lewis McCann, Kerr McInroy and making his first Pars start of the season, Matthew Todd.

Gus Macpherson made five changes to the Morton starting eleven that defeated Queen of the South on the previous Saturday. Markus Fjørtoft, Luca Colville, Stephen McGinn, Kalvin Orsi and Gary Oliver making way for Michael, Ledger, Kyle Jacobs, Craig McGuffie, Reece Lyon and Kazaiah Sterling.

The home team kicked off attacking the open end but it was the visitors who were on the attack from the start with McManus heading a Whittaker delivery narrowly wide left within two minutes. Morton replied with an early effort of their own when McGuffie slipped a neat pass to Lyon and his shot from 20 yards out cleared Owain Fôn Williams crossbar.

O’Hara had an opportunist’s pop at goal in nine minutes but his sights were too high. It was 22nd minute before McCann, latching on to a chance made by McManus’ tenacity, drilled the next effort at goal. Only a corner resulted as the shot was deflected behind and when Todd delivered into the six yard box, Morton cleared.

Two minutes later Sterling tried a snapshot from 25 yards out but was well wide and at the other end Todd sent his shot straight to Aidan McAdams. Sterling then grabbed another attempt at goal and this time Fôn Williams dived to save.

A 30th minute free kick after Edwards was penalised for his challenge on Nesbitt, allowed Jacobs to lift a dangerous ball into the six yard box but the defence held with Whittaker clearing. McCann latched on to the ball on the break but his final ball to Todd was cut out.

The Greenock side had edged themselves into the game and three minutes later another Morton free kick just six yards out from the byeline on the left was swept over by Nesbitt, Brain McLean met the ball but his across box header was cleared by McManus.

Nesbitt made Fôn Williams hold a shot from 25 yards out. Then a 37th minute Pars corner sent in from the right by McInroy failed to fall for McManus at the far post.

A minute before the break Nesbitt gathered a McGinty sweep from the left and he released a shot that was deflected into the path of Lewis Strapp on the left side but he could not hit his shot on target.

All square at the break and this was the only one of the twelve Scottish Cup ties on the evening to be without a goal in the first half.

Half time: Morton 0 Dunfermline 0

O’Hara got the second half underway and intent was demonstrated with McCann firing a 30 yard shot on target within 19 seconds of the restart. Morton responded with Nesbitt’s nippiness a threat on the left.

When Whittaker fouled Sterling, Nesbitt hit a 49th minute free kick into the Dunfermline wall and Fôn Williams was able to hold as Morton sent the ball at him. McInroy was the next to try and score but his well connected left footed shot went wide left.

Fraser Murray became the first substitute of the cup tie replacing Matty Todd in 58 minutes. Iain Wilson followed six minutes later with Kerr McInroy being withdrawn.

McCann was back to block a Darren Hynes cross before Morton forced another free kick on the right corner of the Fifers box. McGuffie sent a dangerous ball to the far post but McCann rose to clear.

Morton turned up the pressure and Euan Murray made a great block to keep the Clydesiders out. A couple of corners from the left were defended and then McCann headed away an 82nd minute Nesbitt corner from the right. Nesbitt returned the ball and Fon Williams saved from Orsi as the home side showered in efforts.

Dunfermline pushed up with Dom Thomas, a 75th minute sub for Steven Whittaker, making an impact up the left. Strapp on the counterattack forced another save out of Fon Williams but the clock was running down and extra time beckoned.

Wilson smashed an added time shot into the terracing and McCann also did that with the last chance before full time.

Full time: Morton 0 Dunfermline 0

Into extra time and a Thomas cross was headed on to the left goalpost by O’Hara in 93rd minute. The Pars tried hard and began to look the more likely with both McManus and Thomas looking a danger to the ‘Ton defence.

Mayo headed away a long throw from Strapp into the Pars box in 100 minutes just prior to Craig Wighton replacing Declan McManus. McCann headed away another Nesbitt corner before two Thomas corners from the right were kept out by McAdams as the ball swung in on him.

Half time in extra time: Morton 0 Dunfermline 0

The match swung back in Morton’s favour but the Pars defence held firm and penalty kicks would decide who would be travelling to meet East Fife on 3rd April.

Penalty Shoot out, Dunfermline to take first
1. Euan Murray right footed to keepers left, saved
2. Kalvin Orsi scores 0-1
3. Fraser Murray scores left side 1-1
4. Sean McGinty left footed to left side 1-2
5. Dom Thomas nets right side 2-2
6. Reece Lyon right footed shot saved by OFW 2-2
7. Craig Wighton scores bottom right 3-2
8. Brian McLean nets bottom left 3-3
9. Ian Wilson cooly slots away right 4-3
10 Gary Oliver nets 4-4
11. Lewis McCann scores low left 5-4
12. Cameron Blues scores 5-5
13. Lewis Mayo shoots left, keeper turns ball around post 5-5
14. Lewis Strapp belts home winner 5-6

For the second successive cup competition this season, Dunfermline were knocked out on penalties. It was a much improved performance from Stevie Crawford’s team. They were up against a side who made a real contest of it and it is always a bitter disappointment to go out on penalties. The Cappielow hoodoo continues.

MORTON: Aidan McAdams: Michael Ledger, Brian McLean, Sean McGinty (c): Craig McGuffie (Gary Oliver 73), Darren Hynes, Kyle Jacobs (Cameron Blues 94), Reece Lyon, Lewis Strapp: Aidan Nesbitt (Robbie Muirhead 104), Kazaiah Sterling (Kalvin Orsi 69).
SUBS NOT USED: Markus Fjørtoft, Luca Colville, Alexander Easdale, Lewis McGrattan, Chris Wylie (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Lewis Mayo, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Matthew Todd (Fraser Murray 58), Steven Whittaker (Dom Thomas 75), Kerr McInroy (Iain Wilson 64), Lewis McCann: Declan McManus (Craig Wighton 101), Kevin O’Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Allan, Scott Banks, Cammy Gill (GK)

REFEREE: Don Robertson
WEATHER: Rain, then dry 10°C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: Scottish Championship: (away) v Dundee, Saturday 27th March kick off 7.20pm at the Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park. Live on BBC Scotland channel

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Preview Morton

Tuesday, 23rd Mar 2021

Scottish Cup Second Round (away) v Morton, Tuesday 23rd March 2021, kick off 7.45pm at Cappielow behind closed doors

There was some disappointment that was possibly shared by the opposition when Dunfermline were paired with a team from their own league. Over ten weeks after the Scottish Cup was suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions, Dunfermline will travel to meet Morton in the second round of this season’s Scottish Cup. They have faced Morton five times in the Scottish Cup and have won twice and both times that was at East End Park.

Scottish Cup record v Morton

20/01/18 | H | Round 4 | L | 1-2
16/02/80 | A | Round 4 | L | 0-5
02/02/57 | H | Round 5 | W | 3-0
24/01/53 | A | Round 1 | L | 1-3
21/01/39 | H | Round 1 | W | 5-2

The Fifers have won just one of the last eleven meetings at Cappielow and have failed to win there over the last three seasons.

Pars v Morton: The Full Record
P | W | D | L | F | A
60 | 31 | 13 | 16 | 112 | 70 | At East End Park
58 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 69 | 78 | At Cappielow
TOTALS
118 | 49 | 31 | 38 | 181 | 148

Milestones v Morton (Away)

Last Victory
25/03/17 | 1-0 | Championship
Last Defeat
11/01/20 | 2-3 | Championship
Best Victory
11/12/99 | 3-0 | Division 1
23/08/88 | 3-0 | Premier League
25/11/67 | 3-0 | Division 1
Worst Defeat
16/02/80 | 0-5 | Scottish Cup
Last Goalless Draw
15/01/21 | 0-0 | Championship
First Meeting
14/08/26 | 0-3 | Division One

Last time at Cappielow
Morton 0 Dunfermline 0, Championship
Friday 15th January 2021


Despite having the better chances and the lion’s share of the game Dunfermline failed to take the three points their performance merited.


Lewis Mayo post St Johnstone
Tue, 15th Dec 2020

Morton were on the attack from the start and Josh Edwards made two clearances within the opening two minutes and Owain Fôn Williams fisted away a fifth minute corner. Next minute the Fifers had a chance from an Edwards cross into the Morton box that just skimmed off McManus’ head.

The match was played in pouring rain on a soggy pitch that really didn’t allow good football. By half time McAdams had been by far the busier keeper, the Fifers had made seven shots to Morton’s two and again their greatest threat had come from throw ins.

In the second half the away side always looked the more likely to find the net but after the three added minutes it ended 0-0. Not the most exciting of matches, yes a shut out but a feeling of two points dropped.

MORTON: Aidan McAdams: Michael Ledger, Markus Fjørtoft, Sean McGinty c), Lewis Strapp: Cameron Salkeld, Reece Lyon (Kyle Jacobs 82), Rabin Omar (Craig McGuffie 73), Luca Colville: Aidan Nesbitt, Kalvin Orsi (Gary Oliver 59)
SUBS NOT USED: Jim McAlister, Alexander Easdale, Darren Hynes, Lewis McGrattan

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Steven Whittaker: Ryan Dow, Iain Wilson (Kyle Turner 67), Dom Thomas (Fraser Murray 76): Lewis McCann (Kevin O’Hara 82), Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Mayo, Kerr McInroy, Matthew Todd, Cammy Gill (GK)

Last Twelve Matches v Morton

The last dozen meetings have resulted in three Pars wins, four defeats and five draws.

13-03-21: (H) W 1-0 Championship
15-01-21: (A) D 0-0 Championship
12-12-20: (H) L 1-2 Championship
11-01-20: (A) L 2-3 Championship
07-12-19: (H) W 3-1 Championship
05-10-19: (A) D 1-1 Championship
05-04-19: (H) L 0-1 Championship
26-01-19: (A) D 0-0 Championship
01-12-18: (H) W 3-0 Championship
22-09-18: (A) D 1-1 Championship
17-03-18: (H) D 0-0 Championship
03-02-18: (A) L 1-2 Championship

Recent Form

Morton have won two of their last three matches, wins against teams that Dunfermline have lost to in the same timescale. Those wins however have come after a run of ten without a win.

Dunfermline have developed a habit of losing after a win so maybe Tuesday night is time for another win. Their most recent win was over Morton at East End Park on 13th of this month, something that should instil confidence in a team that does not find Cappielow an easy place to get a result.

DUNFERMLINE
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-1
Morton (H) W 1-0
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-1
Arbroath (A) L 0-2
Raith Rovers (H) W 4-1

MORTON
Queen of the South (H) W 2-1
Dunfermline (A) L 0-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) W 1-0
Ayr United (H) L 0-2
Dundee (H) D 2-2
Hearts (A) D 1-1

Current League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 30
Goal Difference: +7
League Record: P19 W8 D6 L5 GF27 GA20
Last Six Match Form: WLWLWL

MORTON
League Position: 8th
League Points: 25
Goal Difference: -7
League Record: P21 W6 D7 L8 GF19 GA26
Last Six Match Form: DDLWLW

Last time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle):
Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson (Vytas Gašpuitis 72), Euan Murray (c), Kyle Macdonald: Scott Banks (Declan McManus 68), Steven Whittaker, Iain Wilson (Lewis Mayo 57), Fraser Murray, Dom Thomas: Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Edwards, Kevin O’Hara, Lewis McCann, Cammy Gill (GK)

MORTON (v Queen of the South): Aidan McAdams: Markus Fjørtoft (Michael Ledger 27), Brian McLean, Sean McGinty: Darren Hynes, Luca Colville, Stephen McGinn, Lewis Strapp, Aidan Nesbitt, Kalvin Orsi (Reece Lyon 89), Gary Oliver (Kazaiah Sterling 83)
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie Muirhead, Cameron Salkeld, Cameron Blues, Craig McGuffie

Dunfermline will be without the services of centre back Vytas Gašpuitis who will be on international duty with Lithuania.

For this season only there are no replays in the Scottish Cup which mean games that end in a draw after 90 minutes will go to extra-time and penalties if required.



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