Reason for some real self-belief

Roger Graham • Published 12 Feb 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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TOP RECORD: Peter Weatherson, pictured in action against Celtic, has scored seven goals in 11 outings against his old team, Queen of the South.

MORTON wend their way down to the Borders tomorrow for a meeting with Queen of the South with good reason for cautious optimism.

Since returning to the First Division in season 2007-8, the teams have met six times at Palmerston, and the Greenock club have yet to be beaten.

It is a remarkable record - four wins and two draws - at one of the harder places to grind out results.

It is all very well to say that every game is a new challenge, but records such as that tend to have a definite psychological effect. Human nature being what it is, if Queens go a goal behind tomorrow there may be some among them who will begin to think 'here we go again.'

By contrast, Morton will have an extra spring to their step.

Doubts concern the fitness of a couple of players, while skipper Stewart Greacen has been suffering from the effects of a virus, but whatever the final line-up, it will be a group of players eager to get back in action after last week's enforced rest due to the Scottish Cup.

In their last outing, Morton took full points from Stark's Park in a match against Raith Rovers. By their own admission, it wasn't the greatest performance, but the result was priceless.

After a win every team wants to get back in action as soon as possible, but at least the enforced rest will have allowed players to recharge batteries ahead of what is going to be a hectic spell of games due to postponements.

On paper, the casual observer would mark down tomorrow's match as a home banker, 15 points separating fourth top Queens from third bottom Morton. But this division isn't like any other. Airdrie and Ayr may be less able to withstand the pressure than others in recent years, but above them there is often precious little between any of the competitiors on any given day.

One man who will be especially keen to get out on the pitch tomorrow is striker Peter Weatherson. The former 'Doonhamer' has struck no fewer than seven times against his old club in 11 meetings, four of these at Palmerston.

Whether or not he will have a new forward partner in time for tomorrow is a matter of doubt. Ton boss James Grady has been trying to fix up someone, ex-Coventry forward Donovan Simmonds, 21, having performed as a trialist in closed door games.

He is to get one more match in which to state his case, but as that will not be until next week it seems likely that Weatherson will be partnered tomorrow by either Brian Graham or Iain Russell.

This season is now all about ensuring survival in the First Division. Beyond that the aim is to overhaul Raith Rovers. Everyone else is, simply, too far ahead for a chase to be realistic.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 12 Feb 10

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