Scottish Championship Archives - Page 3 of 3

Jackson Longridge Targets First Morton Win at Queen’s Park

Morton’s search for a first league win of the season continues after last weekend’s narrow 1-0 home defeat to Raith Rovers. Vice-captain Jackson Longridge saw a late equaliser controversially ruled out, but insists the squad remains confident despite a five-game winless run to start the season. Longridge pointed to the number of new signings and young players in the squad, stressing that the group has “clicked really quickly” and only needs time to gel fully. He believes the first victory will act as a springboard, he said: “As soon as we get the win, it’ll put us in a good position for going forward and I think we’ll kick on as a group.” Frustration with refereeing decisions aside, Morton’s performances have generally been competitive, with four draws before last week’s defeat. Longridge emphasised the importance of staying calm when behind and using the experience in the squad to help younger players through tight games. The defender also underlined his faith in manager Dougie Imrie, having worked with him previously at Livingston: “He’s on us every day, so we’re not allowed to take a foot off the gas. “It’s down to us on the pitch to go and perform and work hard for him.” With Queen’s Park up next, also without a league win, Morton will be eager to turn solid performances into three points. The Greenock side has the depth to improve once all the new faces get up to speed, but the priority now is simple, get that first win on the board to release the pressure and kickstart their campaign and playoff push.

September 13, 2025

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

September 6, 2025

Partick Thistle Avoid Scare to Defeat Raith Rovers

Partick Thistle halted a Raith Rovers comeback as they defeated a side that came back from two goals down 3-2 at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill. This result inflicts Raith with their first league defeat of the campaign, with Thistle now unbeaten since their opening day 5-1 thrashing to St. Johnstone and find themselves level on points with today’s travelling side. The hosts raced in front with a blistering performance in the opening quarter of an hour of the game, with journeyman talisman Tony Watt giving the Jags the lead in the 7th minute of the game, when he slid onto the end of a low cross courtesy of Thistle academy graduate Aidan Fitzpatrick who’s work down the left wing made it all happen. Fitzpatrick would score one of his own just six minutes later, cutting onto his right foot with the use of a couple of stopovers, and putting his laces through the ball to bury it passed Josh Rae in the away goal. Thistle remained on top of the visitors up until the 20th minute which is when the momentum began to shift in favour of the Kirkcaldy side, when Partick Thistle captain Lee Ashcroft brought down Raith forward Paul McMullan inside the box and was booked for his troubles. Dylan Easton took the spot kick, and sent goalkeeper Josh Clarke the wrong way as he tucked the ball into the bottom left corner the goal. Raith found inspiration from this avenue back into the match and really began to take the game to Mark Wilson’s side, eventually finding an equaliser after being two behind so early on in the 36th minute. McMullan chased an aerial long ball and chested it down to put himself through one on one with Clarke. He took it round the Thistle goalkeeper but the angle was unkind to him, leaving him with no option but to square it back across for midfielder Ross Matthews to hammer home and level the scoring. Many of the Thistle faithful had their hearts in their mouths on the 65th minute when Raith striker Lewis Vaughan went down inside the box, with many fearing the home side had conceded another penalty. Alas, the referee brandished his yellow card to Vaughan for simulation. Thistle reclaimed their lead 16 minutes from time, as both of their wingers combined to give them the advantage. Aidan Fitzpatrick again with some stunning play down that left flank to beat his man, before his left footed cross zipped across the box for Logan Chalmers to run onto the end of at the back post to smash it goal wards to net his 5th goal of the season in all competitions. There was a couple of late scares of an equaliser for Raith in the dying minutes of the game. Jack Hamilton had a chance to level the scoring around 10 minutes from time, but couldn’t sort his feet out and the ball hit his leg and sailed over the bar from close distance. Merely just a couple minute after this, a cross from wide right nearly floated into Josh Clarke’s goal, but his palm to divert it only led to another chance for Paul McMullan, with the attacker seeing his effort cannon off of the crossbar. Raith piled on further pressure, with the ball falling to Jordan Doherty in acres of space in the final minute of regulation time, but his half volley hit the side netting and Raith’s hopes of a point on the road evaporated. Partick Thistle: Clarke 5, Reading 6, Ashcroft 5, Chalmers 8 (Lawless 3), Crawford 6 (Turner 4), O’Reilly 6, Fitzpatrick 9 , McPherson 6, Stanway, Watt 8 (Samuel 4), Lets’osa 7 (McBeth 2) Raith Rovers: Rae 5, Hanlon 5, Fordyce 5, Matthews 6 , Mullin 6 (Vaughan 3), McMullan 8, Brown 6 (Hamilton 3), Byrne 5, Doherty 7, Easton 7 (Chin 3), Stevenson 5

August 30, 2025

Imrie’s men salvage late draw at emotional Cappielow

Morton 2-2 Ayr United Greenock Morton welcomed Ayr United on a sombre afternoon at Cappielow Park where Morton manager Dougie Imrie took his place in the dugout despite the heart breaking loss of his infant daughter earlier in the week. Prior to the game, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed by both sets of supporters before kick-off as Imrie made two changes from their Premier Sports Cup defeat to Aberdeen while Scott Brown and his Ayr United side were still on the hunt for their first league win as he made five alternations. But the match poignantly began with the home support rallying behind their manager, with the Cowshed section chanting his name loudly in the opening stages and throughout the match. United carved out the first real chance when Marco Rus broke free down the left and whipped in a front-post cross for Curtis Main, but the ex-St Mirren striker’s flick was well blocked by James Storer. Morton were handed a penalty midway through the first half. A perfectly weighted through ball from Cammy Ballantyne released Michael O’Halloran, whose cutback struck the hand of a United defender. Eamonn Brophy took responsibility from the spot and calmly slotted the ball low into the bottom-left corner. 📺 WATCH NOW: Morton manager Dougie Imrie speaks post game David Mitchell dived the right way, but even at full stretch he could not prevent the former Kilmarnock man’s precise strike. Despite a flurry of chances for Main, Morton held firm and went into the interval a goal to the good. Brown’s Ayr side left still searching desperately for a breakthrough going into the second period. United found it within minutes of the restart, Main rising at the back post to meet a free-kick and hooking the ball across goal for Kevin Holt to tuck away, bringing the sides level. The visitors then turned the game on its head from another set piece. A superbly delivered corner from Ethan Walker was met at the near post by Nick McAllister. 📺 WATCH NOW: Ayr United boss Scott Brown gives his post game thoughts The Honest Men skipper glanced his header home to give Ayr the lead inside the opening quarter of the second half. Storer kept Morton alive late on, producing a brilliant reflex stop to deny George Oakley’s thunderous header from inside the six-yard box. That save proved pivotal. With the clock running down, Nathan Shaw whipped in a curling cross to the back post, where Brophy rose to glance a simple header past Mitchell, sparking relief and jubilation among the home support. Zach McKay would test Mitchell late on but the scores would remain level. Both sides continue to search for their first league win. After a traumatic week Morton will be the happier of the two sides, the players turning up for their manager with the type of grit and destination that will surely see them move up the table this season. PLAYER RATINGS: Morton: Storer 6; Ballantyne 7, Moore 5, Longridge 6, Delaney 5 (Corr 4); Blues 6, Robertson 6 (Garrity 5), Shaw 8; O’Halloran 5 (McKay 4), Moffat 6 (Wilson 4), Brophy 9* Goals: Brophy (23) Ayr United: Mitchell 6; McAllister 8, Holt 8, Dick 6, McMann 6; Rus 6 (Watret 5), McKenzie 6, Ure 6, Walker 8 (Hastie 4); Oakley 7, Main 6 📺 WATCH NOW: Billy Davies’ post game reaction

August 23, 2025

Partick Thistle 1-1 Morton: Rivals Draw in Firhill Thriller

There was no shortage of thrills at Firhill as Partick Thistle began their home league campaign against rivals Greenock Morton. Thistle fans were looking for a response following a disastrous opening-day defeat to relegated St Johnstone. The Jags had taken an early lead in Perth but collapsed, conceding five without reply. Morton’s start to the season was more complicated. Manager Dougie Imrie, linked with the Firhill job in the summer before Thistle appointed Mark Wilson, missed the opening league fixture for personal reasons. Technical head coach Billy Davies stepped in, guiding the side to a 0–0 draw with Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline. Team News Imrie returned to the dugout in Maryhill, making three changes: Eammon Brophy was handed his full debut, with Cammy Blues and Ali Crawford also starting. Owen Moffat, Kerr Robertson, and Michael O’Halloran dropped out. Thistle made two changes of their own, with debutant goalkeeper Josh Clarke and home-grown midfielder Ben Stanway replacing Lewis Budinauckas and Ts’oanelo Lets’osa. Before kick-off, a minute’s applause for lifelong Thistle supporter Robert Reid was warmly observed by both sets of fans, while Morton’s travelling support unveiled a banner for their manager’s young daughter reading: Keep fighting, Remi. First Half The opening stages saw few chances, the blustery conditions leading to scrappy play. Thistle’s Logan Chalmers went closest in the first half hour, his wind-assisted free-kick from wide drifting just past James Storer’s post. Morton finally made the breakthrough in the 35th minute. A Cammy Ballantyne cross was held up by Brophy at the near post before being laid off for the onrushing Crawford to fire home, sparking bedlam among the away fans. The visitors then struck the bar twice in quick succession through captain Jackson Longridge and Tomi Adeloye. Thistle responded immediately, Chalmers’ strike crashing off the inside of the post and straight into Storer’s arms. Second Half The game burst into life after the break. Thistle introduced Lets’osa for Luke McBeth, and the Lesotho-born midfielder quickly won his side a penalty after a clattering challenge from Longridge. Chalmers stepped up, sending Storer the wrong way to level the match. Imrie, Davies and Longridge were all visibly unhappy with the referees award of the spot kick against their side. Minutes later, Chalmers broke down the left and squared for Aidan Fitzpatrick, who raced through the middle. With only the advancing Storer to beat, the former Norwich winger somehow dragged his effort wide. Both sides would threaten in the dying stages, with both putting set pieces into dangerous area but neither keeper was forced into any late action as the match ended square. What’s next? Thistle at least have a point on the board, and Morton pick up a valuable away draw but both sides remain in search of a first league win of the season. Both sides now turn their attention to Premier Sports Cup action, with a home tie with Scott Brown’s Ayr United next week for the Maryhill men whilst Imrie, Davies and co host Scottish Cup winners Aberdeen at Cappielow in their own second round tie. Partick Thistle: Clarke; Logan (McPherson 69′), Reading, Ashcroft, O’Reilly; Stanway (MacKenzie 84′) , McBeth (Lets’osa 46′), Crawford; Fitzpatrick, Chalmers, Watt Subs not used: Budinauckas; Lawless, Horn, Falconer. Scorer: Chalmers (50′) Greenock Morton: Storer; Ballantyne, Moore, Longridge, Deleney; Wilson, Blues (Moffat 67′), Crawford (Garrity 84′), Taylor (Robertson 67′); Brophy (McKay 78′), Adeloye (O’Halloran 67′) Subs not used: Murdoch; Corr, Hart. Scorer: Crawford (32′) Att: 3,926

August 9, 2025

Billy Davies in Managerial Return as New Morton Technical Head Coach Set to Cover Absent Dougie Imrie

Billy Davies is today set to return to the dugout, as Morton’s new Technical Head Coach steps in to cover for manager Dougie Imrie, who is absent from the Championship opener due to family matters. Davies will be pit against a Dunfermline side managed by Neil Lennon in this opening weekend clash at Cappielow. He confirmed his return to football with the Ton only weeks ago, taking on a role that sees him working alongside current manager Imrie, who has held the post in Greenock since 2021. This marks Davies’ first involvement in Scottish football since leaving Motherwell in 2001, having gone on to enjoy spells in the English game with Preston, Nottingham Forest, and Derby County, the latter earning promotion to the Premier League under his guidance. A former Dunfermline player, Davies, who has even been linked with the Scotland job in the past — revealed in an exclusive interview with SNN Sports that he had been scheduled to interview for the Rangers job shortly after their return to the Premiership. The move ultimately never materialised. Now in his new role at Morton, Davies is demonstrating his willingness to step in and support Imrie whenever needed, as he goes head-to-head with a coach today who has won all there is to win domestically in Scotland, both as a player and manager. Morton finished sixth last season, one place above Dunfermline, who showed a marked improvement in results following Lennon’s appointment. Imrie also holds the current bragging rights, having led the Ton to a 2–0 win over the Pars on the final day of last season. Morton described Davies’ appointment on their official website as a “clear message of intent ahead of the new campaign,” while Dunfermline recently tied Lennon down to a new two-year deal following the expiry of his short-term contract. Today’s encounter offers both sides an early chance to lay down a marker in what promises to be one of the most competitive Scottish Championship seasons in recent years.

August 2, 2025

Scottish Championship