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Morton vs Wigan Athletic

We started the game playing a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Scott Bannerman defensive midfielder and John Maisano attackive. Wigan had the better of the early play but failed to convert their chances. On the 24th minute Alex Williams gave Morton the lead with a superb volley past Wigan keeper John Filan against the run of play. On the half hour mark, Steve McGlinchie ran on to a great through ball from Alex Williams and there was just no catching him before he finished coolly. Gary Teale pulled one back for Wigan before Morton substitute Kieran McGuire rounded the keeper and slotted home with just 18 minutes left on the clock. All in all, it was a great victory and looked as though the diamond formation had been a success but if truth be told, we would have been hammered in that game if it hadn't been for Wigan's awful finishing.
Final Score : Morton 3-1 Wigan Athletic

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Chesterfield vs Morton

We chose to go with a 4-5-1 for this game with 2 attacking wingers. We took the lead after 23 minutes with a goal from Alex Williams. Just 6 minutes later we managed to score again through Kieran McGuire. Wayne Allison pulled 1 back for the home side just after half time before Alex Bailey equalised soon after. Jim McAllister headed Morton in front after 67 minutes but James Woodhall equalised just 2 minutes later. Substitute John Maisano struck the winner in injury time to make it 4-3 to Morton.
Final Score : Chesterfield 3-4 Morton

Yeovil vs Morton

For this game we went for a 4-3-3 which meant leaving out 2 of our best players, Jay Stein and Paul Walker, but it was only a friendly. I'm amazed that this game remained goalless because there was plenty of chances for either team. It must have been the inspired performances of the 2 goalkeepers, Chris Weale (Yeovil) and Craig Coyle (Morton). 1 outfield player also shone. Kevin McKinley rightly deserved his man of the match for a brilliant display.
Final Score : Yeovil 0-0 Morton

Morton vs Bolton

I was pleased with the performance of the 4-3-3 against Yeovil so decided to try it out against superior opposition in Bolton. The deadlock was broken in the 13th minute as Stelios Giannakopoulos shot past Craig Coyle to put the Wanderers 1-0 up. Ricardo Vaz Te made it 2-0 4 minutes later. At half time, I reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation. Second half passed without much incidence and Bolton held on for a 2-0 win.
Final Score : Morton 0-2 Bolton

Pre - Season thoughts

Overall, I was quite pleased with our pre-season, although we lost 2, they were against English Premiership opposition in Birmingham and Bolton and we managed to beat a premiership side in Wigan. I was impressed with our 2 new strikers, Steve McGlinchie and Kevin McKinley and they could be key parts in the coming season.

We have also managed to sign Partick Thistle winger Adam Strachan on loan for the season as back-up for Jay Stein.

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See if this screenshot works and please post if it does or doesn't :

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Morton vs Berwick

The Challenge Cup first round tie kicked off in warm weather (26degrees) but it was raining also. I had decided to go back to the trusted 4-4-2 formation. We dominated opening proceedings and were rewarded after 24 minutes with a strike from the edge of the area from Steve McGlinchie on his debut. We had chances to increase our lead but failed to do so so we led 1-0 at the break. Mark McCormick equalised after 74 minutes after a Darren Smith cross. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes so it was on to extra time. Finally, in the 108th minute there was a goal, but not for Morton as Berwick broke and scored through Darren Smith after good work from Danny Noon.

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I didn't mean to post that message. In the final minute of extra time, substitute and debutant Adam Strachan skinned a defender and shot past the Berwick keeper to send the Morton fans into jubilation! The dreaded penalty shoot-out awaited:
Williams (Morton) Scored
McCormick (Berwick) Scored
Walker (Morton) Scored
Seaton (Berwick) Scored
Maisano (Morton) Scored
Gill (Berwick) Scored
Bannerman (Morton) Scored
McNicoll (Berwick) Missed
McCulloch (Morton) Missed
Murie (Berwick) Missed

So a tough game which saw us prove our penalty taking skills by scoring 4 out of 5 to win 4-3.
Final Score : Morton p2-2 Berwick

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Williams signs for Busan

Morton's star striker Alex Williams has left for Korean outfit Busan for £300,000. The transfer leaves us desperately short of quality up front. A couple of days later, Ryan Jordan, a centre-back joined on loan from Livingston and we also signed centr-back Chris Scotland joined from Stirling for £6,000. There was more bad news to come as I received an e-mail informing me that Jay Stein had accepted a contract from Hibs and Paul Walker from Livingston, both for £130,000, and I realised that my squad was being torn apart. However, Paul Walker did not sign because Livingston couldn't afford the transfer fee.

Livingston vs Morton

This game was sure to be tough but we did have Jay Stein playing because his transfer isn't quite completed yet. We took an unexpected lead after 4 minutes after a great cross from Jay Stein set up Stewart Greacen for a good near post header past goalkeeper Colin Meldrum. However, the lead didn't last too long as Livingston equalised through Marc Libbra. We took the lead again through Steve McGlinchie who rounded the keeper to make it 2-1 before Kevin McKinley hit a screamer from just outside the area after 58 minutes for his 1st goal for Morton. Livingston pulled one back through Marc Libbra but it wasn't enough and Morton went on to a famous victory. 40-1! You're 'avin a larf!
Final Score : Livingston 2-3 Morton

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Jay Stein has now completed his move to Hibs for £130,000 which means we made a profit in just 1 year of £124,000. I will be disappointed to see Jay go but I understand his career is important to him.

Morton vs Queen of the South

An injury to Paul Walker meant that Jim McAllister got a rare start on right midfield. An absolutely blistering start by Morton saw ex-Chelsea striker Kevin McKinley shoot past the goalkeeper to put Morton up inside the 1st minute. Steve McGlinchie added a 2nd 6 minutes later with a good finish. However, QOS pulled 2 quick goals back through captain Steve Bowey and a superb free-kick from Greg Henslee to leave me feeling slightly disappointed at the break. It looked as if QOS would go on to win it as they spurned chance after chance and finally they were punished for those missed chances in the 92nd minute Chris Millar floated in a free-kick, Jason Walker flicked it on to McGlinchie who tried to round the keeper, he was tackled and the ball broke for Jason Walker to tap in the winner from about a yard out. We are now 3rd in the league with Brechin top!
Final Score : Morton 3-2 Queen of the South

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In the week that followed we managed to secure the signing of 21 year-old striker James McPake from Raith to add to our amazing number of Mc's in the squad. McPake has signed a 3 year deal on £900 per week making him the best paid player at the club.
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Morton vs Falkirk

This was expected to be a tough game but we did have home advantage and Paul Walker and Scott Bannerman returned from injuries while James McPake made his debut alongside Steve McGlinchie. We went 1-0 up after just 11 minutes when Adam Strachan's corner was headed in at the far post my James McPake to score on his debut. Strachan himself added a 2nd just 3 minutes later with a good finish from 6 yards. Paul Tosh pulled 1 back for Falkirk before James McPake slid the ball past Allan Ferguson just 5 minutes before half time. This goal seemed to make our players complacent as they conceded 2 late goals in the 1st half with Darryl Duffy and Paul Tosh the scorers. I told the players at half time that if they were to score again they must keep full concentration and not get complacent. It seemed to work as Chris Scotland headed in from a corner for a goal on his full debut before Steve McGlinchie made it 5 with a good effort from the edge of the box and then Scott Bannerman sealed the victory by heading in a superb cross from Kieran McGuire who is looking like an excellent signing (albeit on loan).
Final Score : Morton 6-3 Falkirk
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Airdrie Utd vs Morton

We were at full strength for this game which was sure to be a tough one. I expected it to be a difficult game so it game as no surprise when Alan McManus opened the scoring for Airdrie. We started to attack a little more and got our reward when Adam Strachan headed home Paul Walker cross. 2 minutes later and in stoppage time at the end of the first half we took a deserved lead when a superb through ball from Kieran McGuire found James McPake who curled it brilliantly around the goalkeeper who had no chance. McPake netted his 2nd on 56 minutes when he rounded keeper Craig Samson and slotted home to give Morton a surprising 3-1 lead. 6 minutes later a great ball by Scott Bannerman was fed into Steve McGlinchie who beat a defender before thumping it past the keeper at his near post. Morton could have scored more failed to so and the game finished 4-1. I am absolutely thrilled with this result and the start to the season and it sees us stay top of the league. SPL 'HERE WE COME'
Final Score : Airdrie Utd 1-4 Morton
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The few days before our Peterhead cup tie were very eventful as we managed to sign 19 year-old striker Billy Sharp from Sheffield Utd for £7,000. We also managed to persuade Willie Gibson, who was on loan here last season, to sign permanently from Queen of the South for £8,000. We signed left-back Clark Kay on loan for Dunfermline as well. However, 1 player did leave and that was Stewart Greacen who joined Hearts for £95,000 plus a 25% next sale clause.

Peterhead vs Morton

The 2nd round of the Scottish Challenge Cup. Injuries to Derek Collins and Scott Bannerman meant that Chris Scotland and Chris Millar got starts. An unbelievable start saw Kieran McGuire score from 20 yards after just 19 seconds! Keith Gibson equalised for Peterhead after 19 minutes before Scott Mitchie gave them the lead just 3 minutes after half time. However, James McPake equalised for Morton just 9 seconds from the kick-off. Steve McGlinchie gave us the lead after 51 minutes when McPake did great work down the left and crossed for McGlinchie to head home at the near post. Mitchie then made it 3-3 as he beat Craig Coyle from the edge of the area. But the best goal was still to come. In the 90th minute, Peterhead midfielder played a 1-2 with Craig Tully before beating Paul Walker, Chris Millar and Chris Scotland and slotting home to dump Morton out of the cup with an absolute wonder goal. I am disappointed with this because I hoped to win this because there are no SPL teams in this cup.
Final Score : Peterhead 4-3 Morton
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