Ten-Man Rovers Edge Morton to Keep Pace with League Leaders
Greenock Morton 0-1 Raith Rovers Whilst the top tier remained on ice due to the season’s first international break, the heat was turning up in the Championship, particularly at Cappielow, where unbeaten Greenock Morton hosted second-placed Raith Rovers. Both sides had shown promise in the early stages of the campaign. Morton had drawn all four of their opening fixtures in what has been a tumultuous start, marked by devastating off-field tragedy and mounting on-field frustration. Raith, meanwhile, had taken two wins from their first three after an opening-day draw with Queen’s Park, though they came into this one on the back of a defeat away to Partick Thistle. Dougie Imrie restored Owen Moffat and Aaron Comrie to his starting line-up, while Rovers boss Barry Robson kept faith with the side that had featured at Firhill. That included the experienced former Hibernian duo Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson, each enjoying something of a late-career renaissance in Kirkcaldy. The match began cagily, littered with misplaced passes and early offside calls. The visitors carved out the first clear chance, Dylan Easton picked out inside the area only to fire straight at Ton keeper James Storer. At the other end, Iain Wilson forced Josh Rae into a superb stop from a free kick, the Rovers goalkeeper tipping the effort over the bar. It was otherwise a poor spectacle, with little to separate the sides. The home support bracing themselves for what looked like a fifth consecutive league draw as the teams went in at the interval. Imrie responded at the restart by making a change, withdrawing the struggling Kerr Robertson and introducing captain Grant Gillespie in midfield as he looked to seize control of the contest. Yet it was the visitors who struck first. A long clearance from Rae was misjudged by the Morton defence, allowing Easton to nip in ahead of the onrushing Storer and glance a header into the corner. His finish sparking celebrations among the travelling support packed into the terracing behind the goal. With ten minutes remaining, and Morton quickly running out of ideas, the hosts were handed a lifeline. Josh Mullin was shown a straight red card for a reckless, shin-high challenge on substitute Michael Garrity right on the byline. Gillespie would test Rae with a free header from a corner, and a penalty shout for a tackle on Tomi Adeloye waved away by referee Lloyd Wilson. Despite the numerical advantage, Morton couldn’t find a way through, their attacks breaking down in frustration as Raith dug in to protect their lead with some game management tactics. The visitors saw out the final minutes with composure, grinding out a valuable three points on the road. For Imrie’s side it was another afternoon of exasperation, five games played, four draws, and now their unbeaten run finally broken. For Robson and Raith, however, it was a statement victory that keeps them right on the heels of early pace-setters St Johnstone. Morton Storer 6; Comrie 4 (McKay 4), Moore 6, Longridge 5, Delaney 5; Shaw 5, I. Wilson 7, Robertson 5 (Gillespie 4), Blues 5 (Adeloye 5), Moffat 4 (Garrity, 5); Brophy 4 Subs not used: Murdoch; Ballantyne, Corr, Hart, Murphy Raith Rae 8; Doherty 6, Fordyce 6, Hanlon 6; Mullin 4, Matthews 6, Brown 6, Bryne 6, Stevenson 7; Easton 8 (Vaughan 5), McMullan 6 (Hamilton 5) Subs not used: Glavin; Rowe, E. Wilson, O’Connor, Montagu, Hannah, Raeside Att: 2,004
Scotland Kick Off Qualification Campaign With A Hard Fought Point
Denmark 0 – 0 Scotland Scotland kick of World Cup Qualification with hard fought draw away to Denmark as Steve Clarke’s men stand firm Steve Clarke went bold with his team selection favouring two up top Lyndon Dykes returning to the team on his return from injury partnering Che Adams. Aaron Hickey made his first start for Scotland in nearly two years. Angus Gunn the man chosen between the sticks after his injury against Iceland in June Denmark enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first five minutes winning a corner in the first minute, Anders Dreyer’s delivery failing to meet a Danish head. Pierre- Emile Hojberg picked up the first booking of the game with a crunching tackle on John McGinn, the resulting free-kick failing to trouble the Danish backline The first real chance of the game fell to Lyndon Dykes in the 14th minute seeing a headed effort sail over the bar after a pinpoint delivery from Scotland skipper Andy Robertson Denmark had a sustained period of pressure on the Scotland backline with the Scots being to open at the back leading to two corners.Both corners failed to trouble the backline. 19 minutes in John McGinn put the ball just past the post from Scotland’s first corner of the game as he met the delivery of Lewis Ferguson. Just before the half hour mark Mika Biereth saw his effort deflected out for a corner off John Souttar after he met Ramsus Kristensen’s cross into the box. In the 32nd minute Lewis Ferguson with an aggressive press easily dispossessed Hojberg in the middle of the park before slotting through Ryan Christie who flew an effort well off target . Angus Gunn was quick off his line to collect the ball after neat passing play from Denmark led to Mika Biereth being through on goal. Referee Daniel Sibert was quick to ensure tempers didn’t flair after Kasper Dolberg left a bit on Angus Gunn after a cross into the box was collected by the Scotland number one. 5 minutes before half time John McGinn put a delightful cross into the box after doing well to win the ball back which met the head of Ryan Christie whose effort trickled wide of the target. Ryan Christie was the second Scotland player into the book minutes before half time after he left a high tackle on Denmark’s Pierre-Emile Hojberg with the challenge surviving a VAR check. The resulting free kick was hoisted into the box to no avail. Scotland started the second half with intent John McGinn running onto a ball that bounced his way with Maele deflecting the strikeout for a corner. in the 49th minute after a quiet first half for both goalkeepers, Scott McTominay fired a ball towards the goal with Kasper Schmeichel being called into action a strong leg keeping the ball out. Scotland fans had their heart in their mouths as a neat passage of play by the Danes saw Hojberg’s strong effort deflected just by the post by Grant Hanley out for a corner. The resulting corner was then fired over by Hojberg. After a wave of Denmark attacks Scotland had a glorious chance as Che Adams fed the ball into Lyndon Dykes after excellent play between Hickey and McGinn who was unable to get his shot of quick enough and deflected wide for a corner of Kristensen. Just after the half hour mark Aaron Hickey had to be quick to react as Maele was free at the back post deflecting the ball out for a corner as the Danes cranked up the pressure. Anders Dreyer was next to send a shot towards the Scotland goal rippling the net as his long range effort buried itself in the side netting. With 20 minutes remaining, merely minutes after coming on Max Johnston survived a VAR scare for a red card after he handled the ball with Mika Biereth being through on goal. Entering the final ten minutes and with the Scots visibly tiring Denmark began to crank up the pressure taking charge of proceedings winning a succession of corners. Steve Clarke turned towards his bench with seven minutes remaining on the clock Hirst, Gannon-Doak and McLean entering the fray to bring fresh energy to the Scotland side as they searched for a winner. Almost instantly Gannon-Doak made an impact as he fired an effort towards goals which was deflected out wide for a corner clipping the post on it’s way out. With 3 minutes remaining Angus Gunn was tested for the first time with a quick reaction save from Rasmus Hojlund although the offside flag was quickly raised. With 5 minutes added Denmark hunted for a winner to no avail with their only real chance coming from Hojberg whose header was easily into the hands of Angus Gunn Denmark: Schmeichel 6 Kristensen 7 Andersen 7 Christensen 7 Maehle 7 Dreyer 5 Hojberg 6 Hjulmand 5 Damsgard 7 Dolberg 5 Biereth 6 Substitutes: Grønbæk 5 Højlund 6 Froholdt 6 Scotland: Gunn 7 Hickey 7 Souttar 7 Hanley 7 Robertson 6 McGinn 7 Ferguson 6 McTominay 7 Christie 6 Dykes 7 Adams 6 Substitutes: Johnston 5 Hirst 5 Gannon-Doak 5 McLean 5
