Mid Table Ton of Trouble

 

It's the struggle for mid table supremacy once more as Morton head North where they will fancy their chances against a team they have already beaten home and away this season. Saturday at 3:00pm is the scheduled start for this one with George Oakley likely to be in the Morton line-up having scored on his debut last week. We are gradually getting players back but it's not an instant fix with Allardice and Harper getting back up to speed.

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Match/Ticket Info

Scottish Cup Update

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With Queens Park being dumped out of the Scottish Cup, we now face Livingston away next Saturday 11th February 

Venue H2H v Morton

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	20	12	4	4	46	18	+28
Away	18	10	3	5	35	23	+12
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	38	22	7	9	81	41	+40

One to forget: 0 - 4 Morton Madness:  An injury hit Inverness side went to Cappielow with expectations low and they didn't disappoint. Muirhead opened the scoring against the run of play in the fifth minute after Ridgers allowed a shot to go through him. A second soon followed after a soft penalty award when Ambrose went to ground in the box. Gillespie scored from the rebounded penalty. Worse was to follow when David Carson inexplicably headed a corner behind Ridgers under no pressure. Blues added a fourth with twenty minutes left despite Inverness dominating the ball. Defeat by a weakened team against the form team on a run is bearable, what is more difficult to grasp is the substitution of your keeper at half-time and the silence that followed it. More to come over the next week or two methinks. 

Last 10 Competitive Meetings

0 - 4 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

6 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

4 - 1 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

Until fairly recently, we had only ever lost once at home to Morton. How times change, and not for the better. The 4-0 thrashing at Cappielow was one of the low points of this season so far and a sign that all was not right behind closed doors. Add that to the 1-0 loss at the Caledonian Stadium and it's easy to believe that the downward spiral is incoming. Thankfully, we have perked up a bit since 2023 arrived but we are far from the finished article yet.

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts   1. Queens Park 22 12 4 6 44 30 40 2. Ayr United 22 11 6 5 46 29 39 3. Dundee 21 11 5 5 36 25 38 4. Partick Thistle 22 10 3 9 42 37 33 5. Inverness CT 22 8 7 7 32 30 31 6. Morton 21 8 6 7 29 24 30 7. Raith Rovers 23 8 6 9 30 31 30 8. Cove Rangers 22 5 7 10 30 47 22 9. Arbroath 23 4 9 10 22 37 21 10. Hamilton Ac. 22 4 5 13 18 39 17

 

FRIDAY 3RD FEBRUARY

Queens Pk v Ayr United

SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY

Accies v Dundee

Arbroath v Raith Rvrs

Caley Jags v Morton      

Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers  

Last Time Out

Inverness were sort of knocked out of the Scottish Cup by an eager Queens Park on Tuesday night. However they may have been too eager and fielded an ineligible player in the shape of Euan Henderson. If the SFA are consistent, then Inverness will progress to face Livingston in a couple of weeks. That aside, we were poor against Queens who deservedly won the game on the park 2-0 with second half strikes from Thomas and Williamson. Our last League game was a 2-2 draw with a similarly resurgent Raith Rovers. We came from behind twice to earn our point through Jay Henderson and Billy Mckay. Vaughan and Connolly had given Raith the lead twice. We are unbeaten in the league since the turn of the year with two wins and two draws.

Morton have slipped below Inverness in the table thanks to two draws and three defeats on the bounce (four if you include the Cup), the last one coming last Saturday at home to Arbroath but they have a game in hand. George Oakley took only four minutes to open his Morton account but the Smokies hit back with second half goals from Hamilton and long range effort from McKenna to deservedly take the points against a disappointing Greenock side.

Morton have won both League matches against the Caley Jags this season. A 0 - 1 win in the Highlands was followed by an embarrassing 0 - 4 thrashing at Cappielow where the Ridgers Rift started as he was subbed at the interval with Inverness 3-0 down to a rampant Morton. Morton's current winless run goes back seven games to November 26th when they beat Queen of the South 4-1 in the Scottish Cup.

Latest Team News

Scott Allardice and Cammy Harper did get some game time over the last couple of weeks but it's fair to say that both are still feeling their way back to match sharpness. 

 

 

Eric's Morton catch-up.

1st. February 2023 a statement from Greenock Morton FC states that Central defender Alan Lithgow has left the club by mutual consent. Since signing at the start of season 2021/22 the 34-year-old has made a total of 49 appearances for the club. He has since joined East Kilbride. Also having left the club are defender Darren Hynes transferred to Clyde FC and joining Airdrieonians was midfield player Lewis Macgregor. Kyle Jacobs, midfielder (Edinburgh, loan to permanent).

Loan ended: Jaze Kabia, midfielder (Livingston).

Joining Morton is one time product of the Celtic FC youth programme, midfielder Calvin Miller who had been without a club since leaving Chesterfield FC back in October 2022.

On loan from Glentoran is Ally Roy a centre forward. Another centre forward and familiar name in Inverness is George Oakley who transferred on a free during the January transfer window and has already opened his Morton account after 4 minutes in the job.

3 minutes ago, IBM said:

Just what we were saying during the game, I have just warmed up now! 

Yes was a cold wind a blowing 😀

I see our old pal Nouble is back on form for Livi. They gubbed Kilmarnock and are now 4th in the league so it will be a good test next week. 

4 hours ago, STFU said:

I genuinely admire your positivity, Robert...but no way was that a fair result.

We stole a point today!

I didn’t think I was that positive as the first half was woeful. However, until Duffy’s gift, I thought we were going to kick on and win it, whilst our attitude and effort in the second half was chalk and cheese from the first half.

At least we managed to equalise after that howler and well done to young Cairns for being in the right place at the right time.

I thought Shaw made a difference when he came on today as he was happy to run at defenders.

Allardice is getting back up to speed and I’d start Harper at left back ahead of Delaney next week. After a good start with us, Delaney seems to have faded recently and has had a torrid time in the last two league games.

An update on the injury position would be helpful. Sean Welsh was missing, which is a concern. Lewis Nicolson has not been in the squad for the last two games so is presumably injured at present. He should get a run in the team in my opinion. Ben Woods has vanished after being used as a sub just after he signed.

Then we have MacGregor, Samuels, Sutherland, Walsh and Deas: an indication of how they are progressing and likely timescales for returning would be helpful. 

Edited February 4, 20233 yr by Robert

The defence keeps making schoolboy errors which is costing us dear. If that doesn’t get sorted out asap then the season is a goner.

Billy Dodds OUT

Another insipid ponderous passionless performance from our worst ever team. We were so bad that we made Morton look half decent! I really have to think that they practice things in training, but I don't know what it is, the team has no identity. We're definitely not a defensive team, we give goals away in every game. We're definitely not a passing team, we struggle to string a series of passes to feet together, and keep insisting of punting thirty yard diagonal passes into a strong win?????? These are supposed to be professional coaches and players???? Clueless. We're definitely not a counter attacking team, slow ponderous and always on the backfoot, never anticipating anything and second to most balls.

We started the second half the way we should have started the game, but when we managed to get the equaliser, we reverted back to our default position of standing off Morton and letting them back into the game. That was the time to keep pressing them, as they were creaking. 

This is a huge month for our season, but going by the last couple of performances, I feel it's going to be season over by the end of February. 

4 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

Another insipid ponderous passionless performance from our worst ever team. We were so bad that we made Morton look half decent! I really have to think that they practice things in training, but I don't know what it is, the team has no identity. We're definitely not a defensive team, we give goals away in every game. We're definitely not a passing team, we struggle to string a series of passes to feet together, and keep insisting of punting thirty yard diagonal passes into a strong win?????? These are supposed to be professional coaches and players???? Clueless. We're definitely not a counter attacking team, slow ponderous and always on the backfoot, never anticipating anything and second to most balls.

We started the second half the way we should have started the game, but when we managed to get the equaliser, we reverted back to our default position of standing off Morton and letting them back into the game. That was the time to keep pressing them, as they were creaking. 

This is a huge month for our season, but going by the last couple of performances, I feel it's going to be season over by the end of February. 

This...

Yes we got a point but I really don't think I can watch this poor football anymore. Was sitting in my seat frozen thinking what am I doing here? Looking round about me I think a lot of folk have already voted with their feet? Sad times 

1 hour ago, old caley girl said:

This...

Yes we got a point but I really don't think I can watch this poor football anymore. Was sitting in my seat frozen thinking what am I doing here? Looking round about me I think a lot of folk have already voted with their feet? Sad times 

Spot on, we were saying the same thing. We must be mad to sit in those conditions and watch this utter rubbish. It's supposed to be entertainment, but there is absolutely nothing entertaining about going to the stadium at the moment. There are more and more empty spaces starting to appear around us as well, which will get worse and worse if there isn't some kind of improvement over the next few games. We have been beaten and dropped points in previous seasons, but you could always say that we gave it a go, or we were unlucky, but more often than not, I'm coming away from games saying the other team was better than us, or we didn't deserve anything out of the game. I agree, the only plus points were it wasn't a loss, small comfort, and young Cairns got his first goal for the club, and it was an important one.

10 hours ago, Kind of Blue said:

The defence keeps making schoolboy errors which is costing us dear. If that doesn’t get sorted out asap then the season is a goner.

I think it's a goner already. A gubbing is very much on the cards at Livingston next Sat and if that is the case it will do nothing for confidence in the team. 

I was wondering why did Dodds not play Shaw from the off as he makes a big difference running down the wing and with Jay Henderson on the opposite wing they can put good crosses in for Billy ie feed our main striker with good balls.

We don't seem to have a plan.Nearly all free kicks in our own half go backwards instead of looking for a forward opportunity. We seem to lack any attacking savy.

Our passing is shocking and for some reason some in the team lack real fight and desire.Realistically we are a poor Championship team and don't look at all like promotion hopefuls. 

Like others I don't know how long I can sit in these freezing conditions watching utter garbage.

 

The club’s report:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-2-2-morton

We were terrible in the first half then came out flying at the start of the second. The tempo was up and there looked a real desire to get back into the game. We deservedly got an equaliser then all the positive play we saw dissaperaed. We started to sit off and stop attacking. Why we didn't continue playing the way we started the half I've no idea. We do this a lot. When we're in the ascendancy and score we stop playing. I don't understand it.

Also Wallace Duffy having to go off the pitch because he didn't have shin guards on was a joke. Does he not know the rules.

We need one of these Duhan's.

One of the all time great Calcutta Cup tries from Duhan ⚡️#AsOne pic.twitter.com/2qQSAScwI2

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 4, 2023

Hearts have found one...

🎙️@HumphrysStevie complete with Hearts TV commentary 😘 pic.twitter.com/PkMJMXkWLJ

— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) February 5, 2023

We'll have to settle for this...

 

Hard to tell, but was Duffy clipped by Muirhead as he came in behind him???

It is hard to see. He looked to be claiming as he fell but there were no protests after the goal was scored so I suspect any touch was minimal and not enough to be classed as a foul. 

1 hour ago, tm4tj said:

Hard to tell, but was Duffy clipped by Muirhead as he came in behind him???

I don't think there was any foul. I think it's just really poor defending. You would think Duffy would of protested more if there was a foul.

14 minutes ago, SteveA said:

I don't think there was any foul. I think it's just really poor defending. You would think Duffy would of protested more if there was a foul.

I agree. Looks like straw clutching to me. Duffy was firmly put in the bin sadly....

No foul , Duffy sold himself to easily and the guy just strolled through. Compare that to when Doran was through with just the keeper to beat and that sums up where we are just now.

When the going gets tough the tough get going...or they don't and just have a cup of tea 😂

6 hours ago, Gringo said:

I think it's a goner already. A gubbing is very much on the cards at Livingston next Sat and if that is the case it will do nothing for confidence in the team. 

Agreed.

At best we are in a four team contest for fourth place with Partick, Raith and Morton. Queens Park look out of our sights as we will not claw back 11 points and 14 goals in 13 games, whilst I can’t see us clawing back 7 points on Ayr and Dundee either.

It is so frustrating as if we played every minute the way we played the first 20 of the second half yesterday we would be in a much better place. We can do it but it seems we choose not to. 

To be brutally honest, you have to win this league to get out of it, playoffs are just a sham in their current format.

Aiming to reach the playoffs is just what most of the championship managers aspire to at the start if the season, which gives them some breathing space when they don't finish first.

As it has even pointed out several times, the quality of this division has fallen over the last few years - teams are so closely matched and only the best resourced ones can strengthen when & where they need. At the same time the gulf between this division and the Premier has widened quite considerably, in my opinion.

 

^ thanks. Saves me writing that this wk as I've been saying the same all season. Next year if DUtd, Motherwell or County come down then it'll be everyone else fighting play-off places, really doubt there will be another season where all teams are as equally bad as each other like this and last where we've failed to capitalise. Best hope Killie come back down again.

Think we just have to accept we will be lucky if we make the playoffs and if we do we will not go far.This is not being negative its being realistic. 

Then the excuses will come starting with injuries,followed by we were unlucky in some games and probably will include we had to play young boys.

Then we will be told next season will be different and we are going for it,because we are going to do exactly what we have done for the last few seasons.

We will roll up and watch more of hoof the high ball to the small strikers,get ourselves frustrated,sit in the freezing cold on dark days and night and moan on here.

Oh well seems the timeline for being an ICT fan is much of 'more of the same' and so it will continue until the club grasps the nettle and makes changes across the club until the whole mineset and outlook is changed for the better.

Realistically we are a championship team.Is there any player fit for the Premier other than Ridgers and Deas.

Edited February 5, 20233 yr by Douglas Mackenzie