23rd Aug 2019 Greenock Morton 3 Partick Thistle 2 (SPFL Championship - game 3)

matches:2019-20: ← 07game 0809 →

	David Hopkin	Gary Caldwell	37y, 4m, 11d

		Cammy Palmer; Lewis Mansell
		Shea Gordon; Joe Cardle

Nicky Cadden (2-1, 72 mins); John Sutton (2-2, 77 mins); Brian McLean (2-3, 80 mins)		Kenny Miller (1-0, 25 mins); Raffaele De Vita (2-0, 28 mins)
none (2-1, 72 mins); Bob McHugh (2-2, 77 mins); Lewis Strapp (2-3, 80 mins)		Sean McGinty (1-0, 25 mins); Alex Jones (2-0, 28 mins)
Lewis Strapp		Stuart Bannigan; Ryan Williamson

Reece Lyon (Chris Millar, 4 mins); Cameron Blues (John Sutton, 57 mins); Peter Grant (Luca Colville, 68 mins)		Lewis Mansell (Shea Gordon, 61 mins); Raffaele De Vita (Tommy Robson, 68 mins); Stuart Bannigan (Joe Cardle, 79 mins)

	Danny Rogers	Scott Fox	32y, 1m, 26d
	Brian McLean	Ryan Williamson	23y, 5m, 9d
	Peter Grant	James Penrice	20y, 8m, 1d
	Jim McAlister	Steven Saunders	28y, 4m, 24d
	Lewis Strapp	Sean McGinty	26y, 0m, 12d
	Kyle Jacobs	Stuart Bannigan	26y, 11m, 6d
	former Jag Aidan Nesbitt	Cammy Palmer	19y, 3m, 8d
	Reece Lyon	Raffaele De Vita	31y, 11m, 0d
	Cameron Blues	Kenny Miller	39y, 8m, 0d
	Nicky Cadden	Alex Jones	24y, 10m, 26d
	Bob McHugh	Lewis Mansell	21y, 11m, 3d

			26y, 10m, 4d

	Sam Ramsbottom	Jamie Sneddon	21y, 11m, 17d
	Chris Millar	Tam O'Ware	26y, 5m, 3d
	former Jag Robbie Muirhead	Joe Cardle	32y, 6m, 16d
	Kalvin Orsi	Shea Gordon	21y, 3m, 7d
	Cameron Salkeld	Tommy Robson	23y, 11m, 12d
	John Sutton	Mouhamed Niang	19y, 10m, 15d
	Luca Colville	Evan Galasso	18y, 5m, 2d

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.

TTA report

A scrappy first half saw poor defending by Morton and Miller raced through to score from 18 yards (25) then De Vita finished off a good move from 12 yards (28). 3 goals in 8 minutes (a free-kick off the bar, Fox suspect, 72, and 2 headers 77 and 80) turned the match around. The last 20-minute collapse was unforgivable.

Media report

Kenny Crawford, 23-Aug-2019, bbc.com

Brian McLean's late header capped a brilliant Morton comeback victory against Partick Thistle. The defender rose to meet Lewis Strapp's long throw as Ton scored three times in eight minutes. Morton were trailing at half-time after Kenny Miller and Rafa de Vita put Thistle in control. But Nicky Cadden's fine free-kick and John Sutton's close range finish brought the hosts back into it before McLean's winner. For so long in this match it looked like the Jags' resurgence would continue as they tried to build on the impressive League Cup victory against Ross County. It certainly appeared they were on their way to another win when Miller latched on to Sean McGinty's long ball to slot past Danny Rogers. The visitors' confidence was evident minutes later, with great set up play from Miller, Cammy Palmer and Alex Jones resulting in a nice side-foot cushioned finish by Rafa de Vita. Morton pressured towards the end of the first half and even more so after the introduction of substitute John Sutton up front. Bob McHugh won a set-piece that Cadden curled in off the crossbar from 22 yards, before Sutton bundled in Kyle Jacobs' low centre. Youth academy product Strapp, who worked tirelessly all match, produced the missile of a throw-in to create the chance for McLean to net the winner.

Reaction

Speaking to the BBC, Partick Thistle manager Gary Caldwell said:

We were gifted two goals but playing no where near how we should play. No bravery in possession, no passing. I questioned the players before the game could they do it and the answer was no. It's back to the drawing board. Every player must do what is asked for them.

Morton manager David Hopkin (speaking to the BBC):

In the first half we look heavy legged. It's fantastic. It's a good advertisement. We are still a work in progress but we are delighted with the commitment from the players because they showed they have the heart and bottle. We have a very young squad that are learning the game. We are one or two short but we are working on that. The most important thing for the club is the future, and you saw that tonight.

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