Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Home improvement must wait for Morton

Friday, 9th January, 2009

Published: Monday, 18th August, 2008 12:30

Home improvement must wait for Morton

By Roger Graham

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MORTON 1 LIVINGSTON 2

Image related to story, see caption or article text

CONSOLATION GOAL: Brian Wake, who scored Morton's goal at Cappielow.

Pic by: Petra Boyce

FRANKLY, Morton got what they deserved out of this match at Cappielow on Saturday — nothing.

After the opening two displays of the season — a point at Clyde where all three were merited, and a spirited draw at home to St Johnstone — this was a distinctly disappointing performance.

Two basic defensive errors within a couple of minutes in the opening stages of the game put them firmly on the back foot.

Thereafter, where Livingston were bright, adventurous and secure, Morton were vulnerable, stodgy and lacking in invention for the first hour of the game.

It was summed up by the language of the two managers afterwards. Livi’s Italian boss Roberto Landini’s smattering of English was liberally sprinkled with an almost child-like glee. “We are so happy now.

“They [his players] play very, very good football, believe me.”

One manager’s joy in football invariably comes at the other’s expense, and Davie Irons was talking about having to pick his team up.

It is far too early to draw any meaningful conclusions from this result, but it was just what Morton did not need at a time when they are trying to maximise home attendances. There was an admission pre-season that home form would have to be markedly improved. The task to achieve that goes on.

Morton began brightly enough, Stevie Masterton firing a dipping 30-yard drive narrowly over the crossbar, but it was Rocco Quinn who almost snatched the lead for the visitors in five minutes when he cut in from the left to smack a shot which was deflected onto the right post.

If that was a warning, the real deal was delivered six minutes later. A long MacKay free kick was laid back simply by Griffiths and the unmarked Davidson shot home from the edge of the box.

Hardly had Morton recovered from that when number two came along. In 13 minutes McManus headed a poor clearance straight to Griffiths, again with no marker near him, and the youngster accepted the gift with a crisp shot inside the right post.

There was a stunned silence around Cappielow. This wasn’t in the script.

Morton continued to make unforced errors in a performance which lacked urgency and purpose, where Livingston, buoyed by their goals, flitted about the park neatly and incisively. The home side, however, were handed a definite lifeline in 31 minutes when Brian Wake did well to cut inside McPake from the left before hitting a good strike off the inside of the right post and into the net.

That at least gave reason for hope, but it was again Livingston who looked the better bet in the opening stages of the second half.

Cuthbert did well to save one-handed from McPake’s fierce shot, then the goalkeeper had to dive to his right to deflect a Griffiths effort for a corner.

Morton seemed devoid of creativity and cumbersome in comparison to their lively opponents, but they nevertheless had a great opportunity to level the scores in 61 minutes. Russell did well to supply McGuffie wide right and, with Morton players lining up inside him, he slid a pass into the path of Wake with only the advancing goalkeeper to beat. His shot hit the ice-cool Martini and the chance was gone.

Change was required and, in 64 minutes, Kevin Finlayson came on for Jon Newby in an attempt to add width on the right. Jim McAlister, so much of whose effort is expended in his own half, now began to get forward more on the left and it was from him that the main threat came. A rare mistake by the impressive Innes allowed Russell in on the right, but his angled drive was deflected to the keeper and cleared.

Allan Jenkins replaced Masterton with just over 10 minutes to go, then a McAlister cross from the left came to Finlayson. His drive was miscued and deflected across the goalmouth.

At last Morton were showing much greater urgency and, with a minute remaining on the clock, Iain Russell hit a shot goalwards only for it to strike off a defender, the Ton striker claiming hand ball and a penalty.

The claim was rejected and the final opportunity to equalise, following a Peter Weatherson header inside from a left wing cross, resulted in Paartalu’s effort being comfortably saved.

For the home support it was a disappointing defeat, Morton only really beginning to perform in the final 25 minutes of the match.

Livingston merely confirmed that in this league absolutely nothing can be taken for granted. It is on to Dundee next Saturday where Morton know they will have to perform at a different level if they are to take anything out of the match.

Livingston players wore black armbands in respect of the death of team-mate Raffaele De Vita’s father.

MORTON (3-4-3): Cuthbert 7; Shimmin 7, McManus 5, Harding 6; McGuffie 5 (Weatherson 85 4), Paartalu 5, Masterton 5 (Jenkins 79 4), McAlister 7; Russel 6, Wake 7, Newby 5 (Finlayson 64 5). Subs not used: McGeough, Stewart.

Bookings: Matserton 63.

LIVINGSTON (4-4-2): Martini; MacKay, McPake, Innes, Talbot; McParland, Davidson (Miller 82), Fox, Hamill; Quinn, Griffiths.

Subs not used — Cave, McDonald, Smith, Jamieson.

Bookings: Fox 30.

Referee: Brian Winters 7.

Attendance: 2,502.

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