Morton in Glasgow

The tatty marble staircase.

Glasgow City Chambers were opened in 1888. Heritage category: A. Cost: £578,232. Height: 240 feet. Auditorium capacity: 300. Pipe organ? No.

In other words, this building is less venerable than Paisley's town hall, shorter than Greenock's, more expensive than both put together, with less seating and no pipe organ. In a word, rubbish.

Source. Also here.

It's the 2017-18 Scottish Cup Quarter-Finals. Morton visit Celtic.

This is only the second time in the 21st Century that Morton have made it to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. The other occasion was two years ago.

Morton and Celtic have been drawn together in the Scottish Cup 13 times before. Celtic have prevailed 12 times, and Morton once, in 1947-48. Celtic are heavy favourites.

But let us not forget Round Three of the 2013-14 League Cup when Morton went to Parkhead and won 0 - 1. Read the match report.

Now that Celtic are out of the Europa League they're free to meet Morton in a replay any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. When was the last time Morton and Celtic went to an extra game in the Scottish Cup? 1907.

If Celtic win it'll be the third year in a row that Morton have been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by an Old Firm club. That's a step up from losing to Spartans.

Despite Tuesday's loss Morton still have the best defensive record in the Championship, with 24 goals allowed in 26 games. They have not conceded two goals in a game since Dec 9th.

Today's game has an early start, 12:30 local time, to accommodate Sky Sports who are broadcasting it. This is just the second televised match this season for Morton.

The snowy weather in Scotland has been wiping out fixtures all week. All of today's league matches are off. Fixture congestion is becoming an issue for everyone (apart from Celtic). How many Tuesdays are left before the end of the season? March 6, 13, 20 and 27; April 3, 10, 17 and 24. Morton are already booked for March 13 and April 10.

[Celtic 3 - 0 Morton.]

Other games:

Rangers vs Falkirk

These two have been drawn together 16 times before. Rangers have advanced 14 times, Falkirk twice. [Rangers 4 - 1 Falkirk.]

Aberdeen vs Kilmarnock

These two have been drawn together seven times previously. Aberdeen have always advanced. But Killie are hot. They haven't lost a game since January 27th, although that loss was to Aberdeen. [1 - 1.]

Motherwell vs Hearts

These two have been drawn together nine times before. Motherwell have advanced six times, Hearts three. In league play this season they have played to a win, a draw and a loss. [Motherwell 2 - 1 Hearts.]

Morton in Glasgow this decade:

2017/2/12      Rangers 2 - 1 Morton

2016/3/11      Rangers 3 - 1 Morton

2016/3/6        Celtic 3 - 0 Morton

2015/12/12    Rangers 2 - 2 Morton

2013/9/24      Celtic 0 - 1 Morton

2013/4/10      Partick 1 - 0 Morton

2012/12/26    Partick 1 - 2 Morton

2012/2/18      Partick 0 - 0 Morton

2011/9/30      Partick 5 - 0 Morton

2011/4/23      Partick 2 - 0 Morton

2010/11/13    Partick 0 - 0 Morton

2010/1/4        Partick 1 - 0 Morton

Rank the quarter-finalists by Scottish Cups already won:

37        Celtic

33        Rangers

  8        Hearts

  7        Aberdeen

  3        Kilmarnock

  2        Falkirk

  2        Motherwell

  1        Morton

1978-79. Morton met Hearts at Tynecastle for their Scottish Cup Fourth Round tie, and it ended in a tie, 1 - 1. Morton goal by George Anderson.

1933-34. Morton hosted Stenhousemuir and won 3 - 1.

1944-45. Morton visited Hamilton Academical and won 6 - 2 in Southern League Cup play.

CONCACAF Champions League, Round of 16, second leg:

Guadalajara 5 - 0 Cibao. Cibao are out.

New York Red Bulls 2 - 0 Olimpia. Olimpia are out.

Toronto FC 0 - 0 Colorado Rapids. Toronto advance.

Abruzzo: San Nicolò [3 - 4] L'Aquila

Regionalliga Südwest: FSV Frankfurt [0 - 3] 1. FC Saarbrücken

Bombensucher bohrten in Ludwigspark.

League of Ireland, First Division: Wexford vs UCD [postponed]

SWFL Division 1 South: Celtic Academy vs Morton [postponed]

Svenska Cupen group stage: Malmö FF [3 - 1] IF Brommapojkarna

J2: JEF United Chiba [0 - 0] Mito HollyHock

Tokyo 23 FC play Cereza FC in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Cup. This year's cup has been in progress since early December, taking six rounds to winnow the Toyko metropolitan league teams from 63 to two: Cerveza and Nankatsu SC. These are now joined by last season's six Tokyo-based Kanto League clubs: Aries, Tokyo 23 FC, Waseda United, Tokyo United, Hitachi Building Systems and FC Korea. See here for the entire bracket. The games:

Aries [3 - 1] Waseda United

Tokyo 23 [1 - 2] Cerveza

Tokyo United [5 - 3] Nankatsu SC

Hitachi Building Systems [2 - 1] FC Korea

The winner of this cup will be [gets to the next round of deciding] the Tokyo prefecture representative in Round One of the 98th Emperor's Cup.

Clydebank want back in the senior leagues. This is interesting because they're located outside the geographical areas of the East and South of Scotland Leagues. Would they be promoted straight to the Lowland League, or could this trigger the creation of a tier VI West of Scotland League?

A valuable resource The Scottish Football Historical Archive seems to have gone down permanently. This would be a great loss for the stats-minded Scottish football fan if it were not preserved here at the Internet Archive.

Rangers versus non-league sides in the Scottish Cup:

2018/1/31        Fraserburgh 0 - 3 Rangers

2012/9/29        Forres Mechanics 0 - 1 Rangers

1996/1/27        Keith 1 - 10 Rangers

1984/2/18        Inverness Caledonian 0 - 6 Rangers

1977/2/26        Rangers 3 - 0 Elgin City

1966/2/28        Ross County 0 - 2 Rangers

1964/1/25        Rangers 9 - 0 Duns

1954/3/13        Rangers 4 - 0 Berwick Rangers

1952/2/9          Rangers 6 - 1 Elgin City

1949/1/22        Rangers 6 - 1 Elgin City

1948/1/24        Stranraer 0 - 1 Rangers

1934/1/20        Rangers 14 - 2 Blairgowrie

1929/1/19        Rangers 11 - 1 Edinburgh City

1927/1/22        Leith Athletic 1 - 4 Rangers

1925/2/7          Montrose 0 - 2 Rangers

1922/1/28        Inverness Clachnacuddin 0 - 5 Rangers

1921/2/26        Rangers 4 - 1 Alloa Athletic

1921/2/19        Rangers 0 - 0 Alloa Athletic

1920/2/21        Rangers 3 - 0 Broxburn United

1920/2/7          Rangers 5 - 0 Arbroath

1914/2/7          Rangers 5 - 0 Alloa Athletic

1912/1/27        Rangers 3 - 1 Stenhousemuir

1910/1/22        Rangers 3 - 1 Inverness Thistle

1909/1/23        St Johnstone 0 - 3 Rangers

1907/2/16        Galston 0 - 4 Rangers

1905/2/25        Rangers 5 - 1 Beith

1905/1/28        Rangers 2 - 1 Ayr Parkhouse

1903/3/7          Stenhousemuir 1 - 4 Rangers

1903/1/10        Rangers 7 - 0 Auchterarder Thistle

1902/1/25        Rangers 5 - 1 Inverness Caledonian

1902/1/11        Rangers 6 - 1 Johnstone

1900/1/27        Rangers 12 - 0 Maybole

1899/2/11        Ayr Parkhouse 1 - 4 Rangers

1898/2/5          Queen's Park 1 - 3 Rangers

1898/1/22        Rangers 12 - 0 Cartvale

1898/1/8          Rangers 8 - 0 Polton Vale

1894/2/10        Queen's Park 1 - 3 Rangers

1894/2/3          Rangers 1 - 1 Queen's Park

1894/1/13        Clyde 0 - 5 Rangers

1893/11/25      Rangers 8 - 0 Cowlairs

1893/1/28        St Bernard's 3 - 2 Rangers

1892/11/26      Rangers 7 - 0 Annbank United

1892/1/30        Rangers 2 - 0 Annbank United

1892/1/23        Kilmarnock 2 - 3 Rangers

1891/12/26      Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Rangers

1891/12/19      Rangers 0 - 0 Kilmarnock

1891/11/28      Rangers 5 - 1 St Bernard's

Prior to 1890-91 all clubs were non-league.