Morton ended a 19-match winless run with a chaotic 2-1 victory away to Arbroath on Saturday. The win, secured by a Grant Gillespie penalty and a second-half own goal, lifts the side off the foot of the Scottish Championship table and up to ninth in the standings, now on four points from ten games.
Gary Miller's side were handed an early advantage when Arbroath's Scott Constable was sent off in the ninth minute for a foul on Gillespie inside the box. Gillespie converted the spot-kick himself. The game was levelled in numbers when Morton's Christopher Cupps saw red for a similar challenge in the 28th minute, forcing a tactical reshuffle that saw Phil Croker replace Kerr Robertson.
Play was then suspended for almost an hour before half-time due to a medical incident involving a supporter in the stands. After the restart, Morton doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Callum Sandilands' work forced Arbroath's Charlie Dewar to turn the ball into his own net. Arbroath pulled a goal back almost immediately through MacIntyre, but Morton held on through a nervy final half-hour.
Manager Gary Miller praised his team's resilience. "I’m delighted for the players, delighted for the fans as well," Miller said. "It was a hard-fought victory, but I thought we showed some spells of good play and good effort and energy." Miller also confirmed the team came through the match with no new issues to report on the injuries front.
The victory provides a key platform as the team looks ahead to a quick turnaround in the fixtures, with a home match against Queen's Park next Saturday. Morton will be seeking to avenge a 2-1 defeat from the reverse fixture in early September. The manager will now be analysing the stats from this hard-earned win as he prepares his squad for the next challenge.
Callum Sandilands reflected on the chaotic 2-1 win at Arbroath on October 10, saying the manner of victory could prove vital. "I think in the long run that's going to show a lot more," Sandilands said. The midfielder, on loan from Hearts, stated the team showed real grit to hold on after their two-goal lead was halved. He added the squad's resilience in a strange game demonstrated their togetherness. Morton, now 10th in the Championship with four points, host Queen's Park next.
Manager Gary Miller praised defender Jackson Longridge for his performance in the 2-1 win at Arbroath. “I thought Jacko was excellent,” Miller said. “He's only been training now for two weeks.” Miller stated the experienced defender put in a great performance despite low fitness. The victory, which moved Morton to 10th in the Championship with four points, was the club's first win of the season.
On October 14, captain Grant Gillespie thanked the travelling supporters for their backing during the 2-1 win at Arbroath. "I just want to say a huge thank you to them," Gillespie said. He stated the fans travel in numbers regardless of results. The skipper also detailed how the squad handled the lengthy first-half stoppage for a medical incident, saying they stayed focused to be ready for the restart. The victory, which ended a 19-match winless run, leaves Morton 10th in the Championship with four points.
