Plenty of Nothing

Crawford Rae

Crawford Rae tells David Hopkin his starting line-up. Source.

It's the final match of the season at Cappielow: Morton host Airdrieonians. Today's result will decide whether Morton hang on to their Championship place or go down to League One. Either way, it's the final game under ownership group Golden Casket. The club will become community owned next month.

Morton are up by one goal after winning 0 - 1 Tuesday in Airdrie.

Morton have never before played a competitive match on May 21st. Today's game is live on BBC Alba. It's Morton's fourth Friday night game this season.

The club is allowed to admit 500 spectators for this game. It will be the first and only match at Cappielow this season to have supporters in the stands. The last game played in front of live spectators at Cappielow took place on March 7th, 2020. Tuesday's game in Airdrie also had 500 spectators.

Morton in 2020-21 have been a very low-scoring team. They scored 22 goals in 27 league matches, or 0.81 per game. That's their worst goals per game average since 1987-88. The top scorer was Aidan Nesbitt with 4 goals, which ranks as the club's worst best of the post-WWII period.

2020-21 was also one of Morton's infamous three manager seasons. David Hopkin managed 10 games, league and cup. Anton McElhone managed 13. And Gus McPherson managed 15, counting today's.

If Morton win this playoff it will be the third year in a row that the ninth-place Championship team has stayed up.

If Airdrieonians win they will end an eight-year run in tier III. Since their second coming they have played six seasons in tier II and thirteen in tier III.

[Morton win 3 - 0. Goals by Muirhead (x2) and Oliver. Morton stay up.]

Also:

Premiership playoff final, first leg (yesterday):

Dundee 2 - 1 Kilmarnock

League One playoff final, second leg (yesterday):

Dumbarton 0 - 1 Edinburgh City

Dumbarton hold on to their place in League One.

Developments

The SWF proposes to play the 2020-21 Championship North and South seasons in June and July. Morton Women are in the Championship South.

Ayr United have entered into a strategic partnership with English club Burnley.

Challenge Cup:

The format and dates for the 2021-22 Challenge Cup, now called the SPFL Trust Trophy, were announced yesterday. There will be colt teams again, but because of Covid there will be no teams from other football associations involved this year.

League Cup:

The 2021-22 League Cup groups should be announced before the end of the month, if things spring back to the way they were organized before Covid.

How will having five teams in Europe affect the format? One way to tweek it would be to give the five European clubs a bye into Round Two, where they would join the eight group winners plus the top three second-place sides. But giving five clubs a bye leaves only 39 for the group stage. To ensure each group has five teams a third tier-V club could be added to the unseeded pot. Which one? Fraserburgh were clearly second in the Highland League with three wins in three starts (3.00 points per game) and a +15 goal difference. BSC Glasgow were second in the Lowland League based on points, with 30 points in 13 games (2.307 ppg). But East Kilbride and Bonnyrigg Rose each had 29 points in 12 games, which gives a better points per game average (2.417). East Kilbride had a goal difference of +26, Bonnyrigg +23 and BSC +22.

An alternative to having three tier-V clubs would be to cut back to one (which should be the pyramid playoff winner Kelty Hearts) and to turn one of the groups into a group of three clubs. Instead of having five clubs that play each other once, for a total of four games each, this group would have three clubs that play each other twice for a total of four games each, which would allow their point totals to mesh with those of the other seven groups.

If there are five byes then the top seeded teams would be the other seven Premiership clubs plus Hearts, and the second seeded clubs would be teams 2 to 9 in the Championship, which would save Morton a place in the second-seed pot. Is there an advantage to being second-seeded? Not really; in fact it seems to have prevented Morton from hosting a Premiership opponent at Cappielow; and has not prevented Morton having two other Championship clubs in the same group.

[I missed the announcement this morning. There will be three tier-V clubs in the group stage: Kelty, Brora and East Kilbride. EK and Fraserburgh drew lots for the third spot.]

The Ikeda Mission in Egypt

On the way to France in 1864 the members of the Ikeda Mission took time to visit the Sphinx. Photo by Antonio Beato. Source.

Crossing to Chikubushima

From Heike Monogatari, chapter 7, section 3. By Mitsumasa Anno. Source.

Good Old Airdrieonians

Source.

The playoffs continue. Morton travel to Excelsior Stadium to face Airdrieonians in the Championship finals, leg one. The last time these two clubs had any dealings was the season of 2014-15 when both were members of League One. Morton and Airdrie split their league matches with two wins each. They also met in Round Three of the Scottish Cup, played to a draw and went to a replay which Morton won.

In 22 league matches Airdrieonians scored 35 goals and allowed 24. They lost three out of four games in the League Cup group stage, beating only Stenhousemuir, and were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the first opportunity by Edinburgh City. They outscored Cove Rangers 4 - 3 in the semifinals.

I put some Airdrieonian stats here and weighed the question of whether these Airdrieonians are a continuation of the old Airdrieonians or old Clydebank here.

According to Fitbastats Morton have played competitive matches on May 18th only twice before. In 1940 they met old Airdrieonians in a wartime emergency league match, losing to them 3 - 2 at Broomfield. In 1965 Morton were away to Clyde for a Summer Cup group stage game, losing 2 - 1.

Airdrie captain Sean Crighton played for Morton in 2014-15.

Morton have met 16 clubs this season: the nine other Championship sides; St Mirren and Motherwell from the Premiership; Partick, East Fife, Montrose and Airdrie from League One; and Queen's Park from League Two.

Crisis! Morton goalkeeper and player of the year Aidan McAdams is out due to injury. Scott Fox has been signed on emergency loan from Motherwell. He has appeared in goal for East Fife, Queen of the South, Dundee, Partick Thistle and Ross County.

[Morton win 0 - 1. Goal by Muirhead in injury time. Attendance was 500.]

Scott Fox's record against Morton

2010/4/3        Morton 3 - 3 QoS

Fox came on in the 36th minute when the score was 2 - 1 for Morton.

2010/11/13    Partick Thistle 0 - 0 Morton

2011/2/22      Morton 1 - 0 Partick Thistle

2011/4/23      Partick Thistle 2 - 0 Morton

2011/9/30      Partick Thistle 5 - 0 Morton

2011/12/10    Morton 1 - 2 Partick Thistle

2012/2/18      Partick Thistle 0 - 0 Morton

2012/4/10      Morton 1 - 0 Partick Thistle

2012/10/6      Morton 2 - 1 Partick Thistle

2013/2/16      Morton 2 - 2 Partick Thistle

2013/4/10      Partick Thistle 1 - 0 Morton

This clean sheet effectively ended Morton's promotion hopes.

2018/8/25      Morton 2 - 1 Ross County

2018/10/27    Ross County 5 - 0 Morton

2019/1/4        Morton 1 - 0 Ross County

2019/3/9        Ross County 2 - 0 Morton

2019/8/23      Morton 3 - 2 Partick Thistle

2019/11/9      Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Morton

2019/12/28    Morton 1 - 2 Partick Thistle

League One finals, first leg:

Edinburgh City 1 - 3 Dumbarton (yesterday)

League Two finals, first leg:

Kelty Hearts [2 - 1] Brechin

Other:

TPS 1 - 2 Jaro (yesterday)

Copa Libertadores group stage, matchday 5:

Group B: Deportivo Tachira [7 - 2] Always Ready (tomorrow)

Group C: The Strongest [2 - 1] Santos

Copa Sudamericana group stage, matchday 5:

Group B: Guabira [0 - 4] Montevideo City Torque (May 20)

Group C: Jorge Wilstermann [1 - 2] Arsenal (tomorrow)

Ceara [2 - 0] Bolivar (May 20)

Developments:

The Canadian Premier League plans to play a full schedule of 28 games per team beginning late June or early July, but all games will be played at a single venue without any fans. Pacific FC want to be the hosts this time.

The Philopassos Monument, 1794

The monument to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, prince of Commagene, occupies the peak of Mousaion Hill overlooking Athens. Pausanius mentions the tomb in his guide. Some of its stone was removed to build the minaret on the Acropolis in Ottoman days. Source.

Canadiana Bookplate

Source.

Víctor Ugarte

Víctor Ugarte (1926-95), third-highest scorer for the Bolivian national team, has his name on the stadium in Potosí* and a lifesize Subbuteo out front. Source.

Playoffs:

Premiership semifinal, second leg:

Dundee [0 - 1] Raith Rovers

Raith are three goals down after the first leg. Winner will advance to meet Premiership club 11, and loser plays in the 2021-22 Championship.

[Dundee advance.]

Other matches:

Hamilton Accies [0 - 2] Kilmarnock (tomorrow)

Motherwell [1 - 2] Ross County (tomorrow)

It's the final matchday of the Premiership schedule. Ross County need only one point to escape relegation. But if they lose and Kilmarnock win, Killie will be safe and Ross County will go into the playoffs. If Hamilton beat Killie by something like 9 goals then Killie are relegated and Hamilton will go into the playoffs. [Hamilton are relegated; Killie go against Dundee in the playoffs.]

Luxembourg: Progrès Niederkorn 1 - 1 Rodange (May 12)

Differdange [0 - 3] Progrès Niederkorn (tomorrow)

3.Liga: 1.FC Saarbrücken [2 - 0] SV Meppen

Kriens 3 - 0 Winterthur (yesterday)

J2: Kyoto Sanga [1 - 0] Mito HollyHock (tomorrow)

UCD 0 - 0 Cork City (last night)

Faroes: IF  0 - 5  B36 (May 13)

B36 [1 - 1] 07 Vestur Sorvagur (tomorrow)

KPV 1 - 1 TPS (May 13)

Real Potosí vs The Strongest [postponed]

Copa Libertadores group stage, matchday 4:

Group B: Always Ready 1 - 2 Olimpia (May 13)

Group B is a four-way tie.

Group C: The Strongest 2 - 0 Barcelona (May 11)

Copa Sudamericana group stage, matchday 4:

Group B: Guabira 0 - 1 Bahia (May 13)

Group C: Bolivar 2 - 2 Jorge Wilstermann (May 12)

At this point Guabira cannot advance.

Historical matches:

May 15, 1993. Morton finished the 1992-93 season with a visit to Dunfermline, where they won 2 - 1. Alexander McEwan scored twice. Morton ended up in sixth position with 19 wins, 10 draws and 15 losses. Alex Mathie was the team scoring leader with 13 goals in league play and 8 in cup play. Rowan Alexander came second with 10 and 4. The highlight of the season was the Challenge Cup final. There was no Renfrewshire Cup that season.

Vale of Leven FC 1877-78:

1878/5/25      McDougall's team vs Campbell's team

These sides were chosen from the first elevens of Vale of Leven and Queen's Park.

1878/5/11      Vale of Leven 6 - 1 Vale of Leven 2nd XI

1878/4/29      Vale of Leven 2nd XI 9 - 0 Blackfriars (Glasgow)

1878/4/13      Wanderers 1 - 3 Vale of Leven          in London

This win over the English FA Cup winner effectively made Vale of Leven champions of the world.

1878/4/6        Vale of Leven 5 - 1 Renton         ("the return match")

1878/3/30      Third Lanark 0 - 1 Vale of Leven    Scottish Cup final

1878/3/23      Vale of Leven 6 - 0 Arthurlie

1878/3/16      Queen's Park 2 - 0 Vale of Leven (12,000 spectators)

1878/3/16      Vale of Leven 2nd XI 0 - 2 Jamestown

1878/2/16      Vale of Leven 2nd XI 2 - 0 Helensburgh 2nd XI

1878/2/16      bye                                                   Scottish Cup R7

1878/1/19      Vale of Leven 5 - 0 Parkgrove        Scottish Cup R6

1877/12/22    Vale of Leven 10 - 0 Jordanhill       Scottish Cup R5

1877/12/15    Vale of Leven 5 - 0 Rangers           Scottish Cup R4

1877/12/1      Rangers 0 - 0 Vale of Leven

1877/11/17    Vale of Leven 1 - 1 Rangers

1877/11/17    Rangers 2nd XI 1 - 1 Vale of Leven 2nd XI

1877/11/10    Vale of Leven 3 - 0 Lennox            Scottish Cup R3

1877/10/27    Vale of Leven 4 - 1 Dumbarton            Scottish Cup R2

1877/10/6      Vale of Leven 8 - 0 1st LRV

1877/9/29      Rangers 5 - 0 Vale of Leven

1877/9/29      Vale of Leven 2nd XI 4 - 1 Rangers 2nd XI

1877/9/29      Vale of Leven wo/scr Kilmaronock** Thistle    Scottish Cup R1

1877/9/22      Vale of Leven 4 - 0 Kilbirnie

*Vale's return match against Renton on April 6th points to an earlier fixture which I haven't found.

**It's a real place.

(Sources: The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; the Glasgow Herald for friendlies)

Glasgow Thistle 1877-78:

G     W     D     L     F     A      GD

15    11     1     3    48    12    +36

(Glasgow Herald, April 22, 1878, p. 9.)

Thistle FC existed from 1868 to 1894.

*Potosí is mentioned on page 962 of Don Quixote.

Burnt Njal Tapestry

Source.

2021 Men's Hockey Playoff Champions

Kovalchuk and crew celebrate Avangard's first Gagarin Cup. And look, there's Tretiak.

Russian KHL: Avangard Omsk

Svenska Hockeyligan: Växjö Lakers

Finnish Liiga: Lukko

Swiss NL: Zug

Deutsche Eishockey Liga: Eisbären Berlin

Czech Extraliga: Trinec

Slovak Extraliga: Zvolen

Asia League Ice Hockey: cancelled

Austrian ICE Hockey League: KAC Klagenfurt

Belarus: Yunost Minsk

Britain: cancelled

BeNe League: cancelled

Denmark: Rungsted

France: Dragons de Rouen

Alps Hockey League: Ljubljana

Norway: cancelled

Poland: JKH GKS Jastrzębie

Hungarian Erste Liga: HSC Csikszereda

Latvia: HK Olimp/Venta 2002

Ukraine: Donbass

Iceland: SA Víkingar

Allan Cup: cancelled

Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey: cancelled

Icelandic Sagas in Icelandic

Source.