2017–18 Greenock Morton F.C. season

Season 2017–18 sees Greenock Morton compete in the Scottish Championship the second tier of Scottish football, having finished fourth in 2016-17. Morton will also compete in the Challenge Cup, Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Greenock Morton
2017-18 season
ChairmanDouglas Rae
ManagerJim Duffy
StadiumCappielow Park
Championship5th in progress
Challenge Cup1st round (lost v Livingston)
League CupGroup stage (eliminated in 2nd place)
Scottish Cup3rd round (still to play)
Top goalscorerLeague: Michael Tidser (2)
All: Robert McHugh (4)
Highest home attendanceLeague: 4,661 v St Mirren
Cup: 1,220 v Queen's Park
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 1,599 v Livingston
Cup: 1,065 v Edinburgh City
Average home league attendance3,130

Story of the season

May

Andy Millen left his post as development squad manager to take up a position elsewhere.[1] It was announced that the role was at Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.[2]

Development squad captain Ruaridh Langan signed a new six-month contract extension to keep him at the club until January 2018.[3]

Andy Murdoch signed a one-year extension to his contract,[4] as did Ricki Lamie.[5]

June

Morton signed striker Robert McHugh from Falkirk on a two-year deal.[6]

The first friendly of pre-season was announced to be against Turriff United at The Haughs.[7]

Morton were drawn against Motherwell, Edinburgh City (their first meeting competitive meeting), Queen's Park and Berwick Rangers in the group stage of the Scottish League Cup.[8]

Darren Barr was appointed as development squad manager to replace Andy Millen. He will also be registered as a player in case of emergencies.[9]

Local midfielder Gary Harkins signed on a one-year deal from League One side Ayr United.[10]

Michael Tidser signed a two-year extension with the club.[11]

Another friendly was announced; this time playing Stenhousemuir a week before the Turriff match.[12]

Mark Russell signed a new one-year contract,[13] and three of the under-17 squad also signed two-year full-time development contracts.[14]

Michael Doyle signed up for a further year.[15]

Morton were drawn at home to Livingston in the first round of the Irn-Bru Cup.[16]

July

Morton signed Greenock-born Australian defender Jack Iredale on a six-month deal.[17]

August

Young goalkeeper Ross Doohan joined on loan from Celtic.[18]

Lewis Strapp joined Elgin City until January.[19]

Two players were signed for the development squad; left-sided midfielder Cameron Hayes and goalkeeper Daniel Farrell.[20]

Six youngsters were loaned out on development loans until January 2018.[21]

First team transfers
  • From end of 2016-17 season, to last match of season 2017-18

In
Player From League Fee
Robert Thomson Dumbarton Scottish Championship Free
Robert McHugh Falkirk Scottish Championship Free
Darren Barr (player/coach) Dumbarton Scottish Championship Free
Gary Harkins Ayr United Scottish League One Free
Jack Iredale ECU Joondalup National Premier Leagues Western Australia Free
Connor McManus Celtic Scottish Premiership Free
Ross Doohan Celtic Scottish Premiership Loan
Cameron Hayes Dumbarton Scottish Championship Free
Daniel Farrell Rutherglen Glencairn West of Scotland Super League First Division Free

Out
Player To League Fee
Lewis Strapp Elgin City Scottish League Two Loan

Fixtures and results

  Win   Draw   Loss   Upcoming fixture

Friendlies
1 July 2017 FriendlyStenhousemuir0 - 3Greenock MortonStenhousemuir
14:00 report Robert McHugh  39'
Robert Thomson  59'
Ben Armour  70'		 Stadium: Ochilview Park
Referee: Stephen Finnie
8 July 2017 FriendlyTurriff United1 - 6Greenock MortonTurriff
15:00 Scott Miller  81' report Robert Thomson  19'
Robert McHugh  30', 37', 53'
Michael Tidser  67' (pen)
Scott Tiffoney  83'		 Stadium: The Haughs
Referee: Liam Duncan

Scottish Championship
5 August 2017 1Dumbarton0 – 0Greenock MortonDumbarton
15:00 report Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 1,161
Referee: Steven Kirkland
12 August 2017 2Greenock Morton4 – 1St MirrenGreenock
15:00 Michael Tidser  26' (pen), 50' (pen)
Robert McHugh  72'
Andy Murdoch  77'		 Cammy Smith  41' Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 4,661
Referee: Willie Collum
19 August 2017 3Inverness Caledonian Thistle1 – 1Greenock MortonInverness
15:00 Gary Warren  19' report Robert Thomson  51' Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,202
Referee: Stephen Finnie
26 August 2017 4Greenock Morton1 – 0LivingstonGreenock
15:00 report Danny Mullen  60' Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,599
Referee: Euan Anderson
9 September 2017 (2017-09-09) 5Greenock Morton3 – 2Dunfermline AthleticGreenock
15:00 Thomson  46'
Harkins  73'
Quitongo  90+3'		 SPFL report Cardle  9'
Higginbotham  33' (pen.)		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,918
Referee: Kevin Clancy
16 September 2017 (2017-09-16) 6Queen of the South1 – 2Greenock MortonPalmerston Park
15:00 Lyle  21' SPFL Report Forbes  16'
Quitongo  20'		 Attendance: 1,725
Referee: Newlands
Man of the Match: Lyle
23 September 2017 (2017-09-23) 7Dundee United2 – 1Greenock MortonTannadice Park
15:00 Keatings  65'
McDonald  83'		 SPFL Report McHugh  75' Attendance: 5,569
Referee: Alan Muir
30 September 2017 (2017-09-30) 8Greenock Morton0 – 1Dunfermline AthleticGreenock
15:00 Lamie  90' SPFL report McKee  62' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,992
Referee: John McKendrick
14 October 2017 (2017-10-14) 9Brechin City0 – 1Greenock MortonBrechin
15:00 SPFL report Murdoch  81' Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 624
Referee: Colin Steven
21 October 2017 (2017-10-21) 10Greenock Morton1 – 1DumbartonGreenock
15:00 Bob McHugh  50' Report Mark Stewart  5' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1428
Referee: Barry Cook
28 October 2017 11St Mirren2 – 2Greenock MortonSt Mirren Park
15:00 McShane  66' (pen)
Reilly  72',  83'
Buchanan  78'		 BBC Report O'Ware  64'
Doyle  66'
Forbes  66'
Murdoch  68'
Harkins  79' (pen)
Oliver  90+2'		 Attendance: 5,496
Referee: Steven McLean
4 November 2017 12Greenock Morton1 – 2Queen of the SouthGreenock
15:00 Harkins  7' (pen.) Report Dobbie  41',  43'
Fordyce  47'
McFadden  63'
Jacobs  73'		 Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,677
Referee: Mat Northcroft
21 November 2017 13Dunfermline Athletic1 – 1Greenock MortonDunfermline
19:45 Ryan  21'
Murdoch  40'
Williamson  41'		 SPFL report Oliver  34' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 4,816
Referee: Finnie
25 November 2017 14Falkirk0 – 3Greenock MortonFalkirk
15:00 Muirhead  9'
Tumilty  73'		 Report Harkins  9'
Lamie  11'
Forbes  27'
Thomson  42',  61'		 Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 4,361
Referee: Greg Aitken
2 December 2017 15Greenock Morton4 – 1Brechin CityGreenock
15:00 Oliver  4'
Murdoch  12'
Tiffoney  44'
Harkins  72' (pen.)
Quitongo  83'		 Report Layne  41',  78' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,388
Referee: Alan Newlands
9 December 2017 16Greenock Morton0 – 2Dundee UnitedGreenock
15:00 Lamie  90+5' BBC Report Durnan  45+1'
King  61',  90+4'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,021
Referee: Gavin Duncan
23 December 2017 17Greenock Morton1 – 0Inverness Caledonian ThistleGreenock
Harkins  22' (pen.)
Quitongo  75'		 BBC Report Baird  16'
Raven  22'
Vigurs  57'
Polworth  69'
Donaldson  90+3'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,547
Referee: Colin Steven
2 January 2018 18Greenock Morton1 – 1St MirrenGreenock
15:00 Thomson  34'
Harkins  50'
Doyle  69'
O'Ware  80'
Oliver  82'		 BBC Report Morgan  25'
Magennis  68'
McGinn  69'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 4,126
Referee: Kevin Clancy
6 January 2018 19Brechin City1 – 1Greenock MortonBrechin
15:00 McLennan  7' SPFL report McHugh  12' Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 694
Referee: John McKendrick
13 January 2018 20Greenock Morton0 – 1FalkirkGreenock
15:00 Lamie  13'
Harkins  51'		 Report Sibbald  20' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,084
Referee: Andrew Dallas
27 January 2018 21Dundee United0 – 3Greenock MortonDundee
15:00 Quinn  59'
Kadded  69'		 BBC Report O'Ware  35'
Tiffoney  47'
Harkins  49'
Ross  66'
Iredale  80'		 Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 5,730
Referee: Cook
3 February 2018 22Greenock Morton2 – 1Dunfermline AthleticGreenock, Scotland
15:00 Tidser  37'
Harkins  88'
Oliver  90'		 Report Beadling  23'
Craigen  51'
McManus  72'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,588
Referee: Gavin Duncan
17 February 2018 23Queen of the South1 – 1Greenock MortonDumfries
15:00 Dobbie  33'
Dykes  45+1'		 Report Oliver  55',  83'
Gasparotto  57'
Lamie  90+3'		 Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,489
Referee: Kevin Clancy
20 February 2018 24Dumbarton0 – 1Greenock MortonDumbarton
19:45 Wilson  28' Report Gasparotto  39'
O'Ware  74'		 Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 833
Referee: Don Robertson
24 February 2018 25Inverness Caledonian Thistle0 – 2Greenock MortonInverness
15:00 Report Tiffoney  28'
Harkins  70' (pen.)
Purdue  90+1'		 Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,359
Referee: Steven Kirkland
27 February 2018 26Greenock Morton0 – 1LivingstonGreenock
Doyle  80' Report Cadden  47'
De Vita  54'
Halkett  60'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,373
Referee: Euan Anderson
10 March 2018 27Falkirk3 – 1Greenock MortonFalkirk
15:00 Muirhead  4' (pen.)
Nelson  18'
Jakubiak  30'
McGhee  41'
Blair  67'		 Report Murdoch  57'
Harkins  90+1',  90+2'		 Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 4,218
Referee: Euan Anderson
13 March 2018 28Livingston1 – 1Greenock MortonLivingston
Halkett  55'
Lithgow  41'
Byrne  59'  66'
Longridge  90+4'		 Report Harkins  68'
Oliver  88'		 Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 862
Referee: Greg Aitken
17 March 2018 29Dunfermline Athletic0 – 0Greenock MortonDunfermline
15:00 Report O'Ware  11' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 4,613
Referee: Andrew Dallas
24 March 2018 30Greenock Morton2 – 0Brechin CityGreenock
15:00 Baird  50',  72'
Murdoch  68'		 SPFL report Dyer  76' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 1,831
Referee: Mike Roncone
31 March 2018 31Greenock Morton1 – 1Dundee UnitedGreenock
15:00 Harkins  87'
Ross  90+3'		 Report Stanton  37'
Mohsni  59'
Smith  83'		 Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,319
Referee: Don Robertson
7 April 2018 32Livingston3 – 2Greenock MortonLivingston
15:00 Longridge  35'
Lithgow  53',  86'
Cadden  69'		 Report O'Ware  18'
Lamie  59',  69'
Tidser  85'		 Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 1,028
Referee: Steven Kirkland
10 April 2018 33Greenock Morton3 – 2DumbartonGreenock
19:45 Fraser  62'
Baird  69'
Iredale  85',  90+4'		 Report Walsh  44'
Handling  55',  65'
O'Ware  87' (o.g.)
Stirling  90+1'		 Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,134
Referee: Craig Charleston
14 April 2018 34Greenock Morton0 – 1Queen of the SouthGreenock
15:00 Harkins  31' Report Dykes  25',  69'
Jacobs  52'		 Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,514
Referee: Stephen Finnie
21 April 2018 35St Mirren2 – 1Greenock MortonPaisley
15:00 Mullen  10'
Morgan  72',  72'		 BBC Report Doyle  30'
Iredale  66'		 Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 6,422
Referee: Bobby Madden
28 April 2018 36Greenock Morton0 – 3Inverness Caledonian ThistleGreenock
15:00 Harkins  7'
Murdoch  29'		 Report Oakley  20',  37'
Austin  55'
Trafford  59'		 Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,539
Referee: Beaton

Scottish Cup
3rd roundv

Scottish League Cup

Table
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MOT GMO QPA EDC BER
1 Motherwell (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 12 2 +10 12 Qualification for the Second Round — 4–0 — — 1–0
2 Greenock Morton 4 2 1 0 1 8 6 +2 8 — — p2–2 5–0 —
3 Queen's Park 4 2 0 1 1 9 9 0 7 1–5 — — 3–0 —
4 Edinburgh City 4 0 1 0 3 3 12 −9 2 1–2 — — — p2–2
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 1 3 4 7 −3 1 — 0–1 2–3 — —
Source: [22]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[23]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Matches
15 July 2017 Group stageBerwick Rangers0 - 1Greenock MortonBerwick-upon-Tweed
15:00 report Oliver Fleming  33' (O.G.) Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 701
Referee: Grant Irvine
18 July 2017 Group stageGreenock Morton2 - 2
won 4-2 on pens		Queen's ParkGreenock
19:45 Robert McHugh  85'
Darren Barr  90+2'		 report Bryan Wharton  70'
Thomas Orr  81'		 Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,220
Referee: Colin Steven
22 July 2017 Group stageMotherwell4 - 0Greenock MortonMotherwell
15:00 Charles Dunne  3'
Chris Cadden  25'
Richard Tait  67'
Louis Moult  72'		 report Gary Harkins  39' Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 3,113
Referee: Kevin Clancy
29 July 2017 Group stageGreenock Morton5 - 0Edinburgh CityGreenock
15:00 Robert McHugh  14', 90+2'
Jai Quitongo  53'
Robert Thomson  73', 79'		 report Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,065
Referee: Mike Roncone

Scottish Challenge Cup
15 August 2017 1st RoundGreenock Morton0 - 2LivingstonGreenock
19:45 report Nikolay Todorov  25'
Danny Mullen  70'		 Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,036
Referee: Colin Steven

Player statistics
As of 29 August 2017

All competitions
PositionPlayerStartsSubsUnused subsGoals Red cards Yellow cards
FW Ben Armour015000
DF Darren Barr300100
GK Ross Doohan (on loan from Celtic)002000
DF Michael Doyle900001
MF Ross Forbes810001
GK Derek Gaston900000
MF Gary Harkins430010
DF Darren Hynes001000
DF Jack Iredale204000
DF Lee Kilday000000
DF Ricki Lamie601002
MF Ruaridh Langan014000
GK Jamie McGowan007000
FW Robert McHugh810401
MF Connor McManus412001
MF Andy Murdoch900100
DF Thomas O'Ware400000
FW Gary Oliver140000
FW Jai Quitongo720102
DF Mark Russell801001
DF Lewis Strapp123000
FW Robert Thomson710300
MF Michael Tidser900200
FW Scott Tiffoney063000

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 36 16 9 11 53 37 +16 57
6 Queen of the South 36 14 10 12 59 53 +6 52
7 Greenock Morton 36 13 11 12 47 40 +7 50
8 Falkirk 36 12 11 13 45 49 −4 47
9 Dumbarton (R) 36 7 9 20 27 63 −36 30 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in hth matches; 6). Goals scored in hth matches; 7). Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[24]
(R) Relegated.

References
  1. Mitchell, Jonathan (16 May 2017). "Andy Millen leaves development squad post". Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  2. "Andy Millen appointed U20 manager". Kilmarnock F.C. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  3. Mitchell, Jonathan (24 May 2017). "Langan signs six-month contract extension". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  4. Mitchell, Jonathan (25 May 2017). "Murdoch signs one-year contract extension". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  5. Mitchell, Jonathan (26 May 2017). "Ricki Lamie signs new one-year deal". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  6. Mitchell, Jonathan (2 June 2017). "Bob McHugh joins Morton on two-year deal". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  7. Mitchell, Jonathan (2 June 2017). "Turriff United pre-season friendly confirmed". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. "Betfred Cup group stage draw". SPFL. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  9. Mitchell, Jonathan (6 June 2017). "Darren Barr appointed development coach". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  10. Mitchell, Jonathan (7 June 2017). "Gary Harkins joins Morton". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  11. Mitchell, Jonathan (8 June 2017). "Tidser signs two-year contract". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  12. Mitchell, Jonathan (9 June 2017). "Ton to face Stenhousemuir in pre-season friendly". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. Mitchell, Jonathan (14 June 2017). "Mark Russell signs one-year contract extension". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  14. Mitchell, Jonathan (14 June 2017). "Academy trio sign full-time development deals". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  15. Hendry, Mark (21 June 2017). "Doyle delighted to sign new Morton deal". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  16. Mitchell, Jonathan (27 June 2017). "Morton to host Livingston in Irn-Bru Cup first round". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  17. Mitchell, Jonathan (27 July 2017). "Signing News: Jack Iredale joins Morton". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  18. Mitchell, Jonathan (17 August 2017). "Celtic goalkeeper Doohan joins on loan". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  19. Mitchell, Jonathan (18 August 2017). "Strapp joins Elgin City on loan until January". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  20. Mitchell, Jonathan (18 August 2017). "Darren Barr bolsters development squad". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  21. Mitchell, Jonathan (31 August 2017). "Iredale, McGowan, Anderson head out on loan". Greenock Morton F.C. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  22. "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  23. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  24. "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
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