Plenty of Nothing

To Falkirk by Tram

Laying the tramways near Carron Works, 1905. Source.

Morton visit Falkirk Stadium. Morton are 6th in the division with 21 points, Falkirk are 10th with 12 points. Morton won the first meeting 1 - 0 at Cappielow in October.

Falkirk have been stuck in last place all but three weeks this season. They have not won at home since July. They've scored 4 goals on their home pitch in the 2018-19 Championship to date. They suck.

Other Championship matches:

Ayr United (1st) [3 - 3] Ross County (2nd)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (5th) [1 - 1] Dundee United (3rd)

Partick Thistle (8th) [2 - 2] Alloa Athletic (9th)

Queen of the South (4th) [0 - 0] Dunfermline Athletic (7th)

The Dunfermline chairman issued a statement Wednesday decrying the behaviour directed at Dunfermline players and staff by some Pars supporters.

[Falkirk 0 - 0 Morton.]

1928-29. Morton hosted Queen of the South. They played to a scoreless draw. The league schedule was now half over. Morton held seventh place with 19 points and a 1.1875 goal average.

1951-52. Morton travelled to Aberdeen and lost 3 - 1.

League 1 watch: Not only does it look a sure thing that Arbroath will earn promotion to the 2019-20 Championship, they're on track to do it in March.

Angus derby: Forfar [2 - 1] Montrose

Arthurlie vs Arbroath. These two played five seasons together in Division Two in the Twenties. They each won four games, with two draws. Goals were 22 for Arthurlie, 21 for Arbroath.

Premiership: Livi's 5 - 0 win over Hearts last night was their biggest ever in the top division.

Rank the 2018-19 Championship clubs by the number of times they finished in the top half of the top division.

                                        1st time        last time

41    Dundee United        1960-61        2014-15

38    Partick Thistle          1903-04        2016-17

21    Falkirk                      1906-07        1994-95

14    Morton                     1900-01        1970-71

12    Ayr United                1913-14        1974-75

12    Dunfermline             1961-62        2003-04

  3    QoS                         1933-34        1955-56

  3    ICT                           2012-13        2014-15

  2    Ross County            2012-13        2015-16

  0    Alloa                         never

Sort the 2018-19 Championship clubs by the date each last suffered consecutive losses.

2018/3/13        Inverness CT

2018/4/22        Ayr United

2018/7/17        Morton

2018/8/25        Ross County

2018/10/6        Dundee United

2018/10/27      Falkirk

2018/11/3        Queen of the South

2018/11/10      Partick Thistle

2018/11/20      Alloa

2018/11/24      Dunfermline

How many goals has each Morton player scored this season (league + cup)?

8 (5 + 3)    McHugh

7 (4 + 3)    Tidser

3 (2 + 1)    Millar

2 (2 + 0)    Telfer

2 (1 + 1)    Oliver

1 (1 + 0)    Tiffoney

                  Lyon

                  Iredale

                  Buchanan

1 (0 + 1)    Tumilty

                  Armour

                  Bell

                  Waddell

                  R. Thomson

Morton versus the world:

1968/9/30      Morton 3 - 4 Chelsea

1968/9/18      Chelsea 5 - 0 Morton

1970/9/14      Morton 2 - 1 West Bromwich Albion

1970/9/30      West Bromwich Albion 0 - 1 Morton

1970/10/21    Morton 0 - 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers

1970/11/3      Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - 2 Morton

1971/9/15      Huddersfield Town 1 - 0 Morton

1971/9/27      Morton 1 - 1 Huddersfield Town

1973/9/19      Morton 1 - 2 Newcastle United

1973/10/1      Newcastle United 1 - 1 Morton

1978/9/13      Morton 3 - 0 Oldham Athletic

1978/9/26      Oldham Athletic 4 - 0 Morton

1979/9/18      Preston North End 1 - 3 Morton

1979/10/22    Morton 2 - 0 Preston North End

1979/11/6      Bristol City 2 - 2 Morton

1980/1/15      Morton 0 - 1 Bristol City

1980/9/16      Notts County 2 - 0 Morton

1980/9/30      Morton 1 - 1 Notts County

Falkirk versus the world:

1979/9/14      Falkirk 1 - 0 Coventry City

1979/9/28      Coventry City 3 - 0 Falkirk

2009/7/16      Falkirk 1 - 0 Vaduz

2009/7/23      Vaduz 2 - 0 Falkirk

2017/9/2        Sligo Rovers 1 - 2 Falkirk

2018/9/8        Falkirk 0 - 1 Connah's Quay Nomads

Morton vs Falkirk league results since 1994:

1996-97        Falkirk 2W - 1D - 1W Morton

1997-98        Falkirk 2W - 2D - 0W Morton

1998-99        Falkirk 2W - 2W Morton

1999-00        Falkirk 3W - 1W Morton

2000-01        Falkirk 2W - 2W Morton

2010-11        Falkirk 2W - 2D - 0W Morton

2011-12        Falkirk 1W - 1D - 2W Morton

2012-13        Falkirk 2W - 2W Morton

2013-14        Falkirk 2W - 2D - 0W Morton

2015-16        Falkirk 3W - 1D - 0W Morton

2016-17        Falkirk 0W - 3D - 1W Morton

2017-18        Falkirk 3W - 1W Morton

West of Scotland Premiership: Largs Thistle vs Pollok [postponed]

Europa League group stage, matchday 6:

Group B: Celtic 1 - 2 Red Bull Salzburg

Group G: Rapid Wien 1 - 0 Rangers

Group I: Beşiktaş 0 - 1 Malmö

Rangers are out. Malmö advance. Celtic lose but advance anyway.

FIFA Club World Cup:

Playoff (Dec 12): Al-Ain 3 - 3 Team Wellington (Al-Ain won on PK.)

Quarterfinals (Dec 15):

Espérance Sportive de Tunis [0 - 3] Al-Ain

Kashima Antlers [3 - 2] Guadalajara

Swiss Challenge League: Chiasso [1 - 3] Winterthur

The 67th All Japan University Football Championship began Wednesday and goes till Dec 22nd. 24 clubs are in it, including seven from the Kanto League: Juntendo, Meiji, Waseda, Hosei, Komazawa, Toyo, and our guys Tsukuba. There are five rounds. Tsukuba enjoy a bye into Round Two, where they face Sendai University today. [Tsukuba win 4 -1.]

CONCACAF has ruled that Ottawa Fury FC can't play in the USL now that the Canadian Premier League exists. Story.

To Tannadice by Tram

The #23 (or #25) to Reform Street. Source.

Morton visit Tannadice. The Tangerines are 4th in the division, Morton 5th. Both sides come into this match with 2 wins, a draw and a loss, and a +2 gd. United have the edge in goals for: 8 to Morton's 6. Both clubs are out of the League Cup and the Challenge Cup. Both clubs have been managed by Ray McKinnon.

This is Morton's first match under new manager Jonatan Johansson.

Morton can finish the afternoon anywhere from 1st to 7th. The best way for Morton to move into 1st place is if 1) QoS and Ross County play to a draw, 2) ICT lose or draw, and 3) Morton beat United by 3 goals. Easy peasy.

Charlie Telfer and Robert Thomson have played for Dundee United. Paul McMullan has played for Morton.

Canadian Fraser Aird is with the Tangerines. He has played for Rangers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Falkirk and Dunfermline.

The other matches: Dunfermline Athletic (8th) [0 - 0] Alloa Athletic (9th). It cannot help but be an athletic display.

Ayr United (6th) [3 - 2] Falkirk (10th)

ICT (2nd) [3 - 2] Partick (7th)

QoS (3rd) [0 - 0] Ross County (1st)

[Dundee United 1 - 1 Morton. Goal by Tidser.]

The SFA has decided to buy Hampden from Queen's Park FC.

1928-29. Morton were home to Arthurlie and won 2 - 0. This was their fifth win in a row. They occupied first place in the Division Two table with 10 points and a goal average of 5.0000.

1951-52. Morton visited Partick Thistle and played to a 1 - 1 draw.

Longest winless streaks at Tannadice by 2017-18 and 2018-19 Championship clubs:

Queen of the South were winless at Tannadice between Jan 2nd 1933 and March 20th 2018. 85 years.

Dumbarton have not won at Tannadice since Jan 11th 1958. 60 years.

Alloa were winless at Tannadice from April 16th 1958 to July 7th 2018.* 60 years.

Brechin City have not won at Tannadice since Oct 3rd 1959. 58 years.

Ayr United have not won at Tannadice since April 2nd 1977. 41 years.

Morton did not win at Tannadice between Sept 9th 1978 and Jan 17th 2018. 39 years.

Falkirk did not win at Tannadice between Oct 30th 1971 and April 29 2006. 35 years.

Partick Thistle did not win at Tannadice between Feb 1st 1930 and Jan 14th 1961. 30 years.

Livingston joined the Scottish League in 1974 and did not win a Tannadice until Oct 19th 2002. 28 years.

St Mirren did not win at Tannadice between Sept 21st 1935 and Feb 11th 1961. 25 years.

Dunfermline did not win at Tannadice between April 27th 1974 and April 27th 1996. 22 years exactly.

Ross County joined the Scottish League in 1994 and did not win at Tannadice until April 4th 2015. 20 years.

Inverness CT joined the Scottish League in 1994 and did not win at Tannadice until Dec 1st 2007. 13 years.

Dundee United did not win at home between Feb 22nd and Nov 25th 2000. 9 months.

*Alloa and Dundee United played to a 1 - 1 draw followed by a shootout which Alloa won.

Read this history of Dundee United since 2015.

Arthurlie versus Rangers: They met in Round One of the 1905-06 Scottish Cup. Rangers won 1 - 7 on Arthurlie's ground.

Arthurlie versus Queen's Park. The Spiders met Arthurlie four times in the Scottish Cup and won on every occasion.

Angus: Arbroath [3 - 1] Forfar

Raith rumours: If caretaker manager Kevin Cuthbert leads Raith to victory over Brechin City today he'll get the job permanently. [Raith win.]

J2: Yokohama FC [1 - 2] Mito HollyHock

JFL: ReinMeer Aomori [4 - 0] Cobaltore Onagawa

Kanto Soccer League: Tokyo 23 (2 - 0) Vonds Ichihara (Wednesday). That's a big win.

Ryutsu Keizai University [2 - 0] Tokyo 23 FC

The second half of the Kanto University League starts this weekend:

Senshi University [0 - 2] Tsukuba University

League of Ireland, First Division: UCD 1 - 1 Finn Harps. UCD secure promotion.

SWFL Division 1 South: Morton [1 - 3] Rangers Development

Allsvenskan: Östersunds FK [2 - 3] Malmö FF

USL: Richmond Kickers [0 - 2] Ottawa Fury

Danish 1st Division: Fremad Amager [1 - 3] Fredericia

Amager is part of Copenhagen.

Swiss Cup, Round Two: AC Bellinzona [1 - 2] Winterthur

Associazione Calcio Bellinzona are from Ticino. They were Swiss champions once, in 1948, but are recovering from a recent insolvency event and currently play in the third tier. They wear maroon and light blue.

Regionalliga Südwest: Kickers Offenbach [1 - 1] 1. FC Saarbrücken (tomorrow)

UEFA Women's Champions League, Round of 32, first leg:

Barcelona FA (Cyprus) 0 - 2 Glasgow City

SJFA West of Scotland Premiership: Largs Thistle [5 - 0] Renfrew

Away strips of the 2018-19 Championship: (top row) Alloa, Ayr United, Dundee United, Dunfermline, Falkirk; (bottom row) ICT, Morton, Partick, Queen of the South, Ross County.

Art Métro

Hector Guimard designed 141 Paris Métro stations in the Art Nouveau style, the most famous of which was at Place de la Bastille. It was demolished in 1962. Read.

To Firhill by Tram

Glasgow trams. Source.

Morton visit Partick Thistle. Morton are in second place, Partick seventh.

Morton are without manager Ray McKinnon who absconded to Falkirk yesterday. Chairman Crawford Rae issued a statement last night expressing a degree of pissedoffedness. Development squad coach John Sutton and youth director Derek Anderson will manage the team today.

Partick earned 9 points in the League Cup group stage and squeaked into the second round as the fourth-best runner-up. In Round Two they fell to Celtic. In Round One of the Challenge Cup they visited Stranraer and beat them 0 - 5. So far in league play Partick have a win and two losses. The win came at home.

Jai Quitongo signed with Partick yesterday at the close of the transfer window, ending that saga. That'll be a goal for them. [Except that he's not in the line-up today.]

Thomas O'Ware is out for the season with a knee injury requiring surgery.

The last time Morton visited Firhill Stadium was in the League Cup group stage in July. Partick won 2 - 1. The last time Morton visited Firhill Stadium in league action was April 10th, 2013. Partick won 1 - 0. The last time Morton won at Firhill Stadium was December 26th, 2012, 1 - 2.

Morton can finish the day as high as first or as low as sixth.

When was the last time Morton took 7 points in the first three league games of the season? 2007-08. Before that? 2006-07 and 2003-04. Did they ever earn 9 points in the first three games? In 2005-06. How come all these dates are in the 21st century? Because before 1994 a win was only worth 2 points.

Morton have scored in every match so far in 2018-19, counting 5 cup games and 3 league games. The only other Championship squad in the same boat is Ross County.

Today's Championship matches all pit a top-five team against a bottom-five team, which will test the notion that the Championship is a division where anyone can beat anyone else. If the bottom teams all win there will be a separation of four points between first and tenth place.

The other matches: Alloa (9th) [1 - 1] Dundee United (3rd)

Dunfermline (8th) [0 - 3] ICT (5th)

QoS (6th) [5 - 0] Ayr United (1st)

Queen of the South's record against Ayr United is 36W 15D 37L. They can even it up today! [They do. 4 goals for Dobbie.]

Ross County (4th) [2 - 0] Falkirk BOO (10th)

On Monday Falkirk's BOO Paul Hartley became the first Championship manager in 2018-19 to get the sack. Falkirk's BOO league record so far this season is 0 wins and 3 losses. When was the last time Falkirk BOO started with 0 points after three games? 2009-10, the last year they were relegated. Apparently Falkirk BOO tried to poach Ayr's manager Ian McCall earlier in the week, forcing Ayr to issue a statement assuring everyone that there was no tampering and besides he turned them down.

Ayr have issued another statement saying they plan to hold on to Lawrence Shankland till the end of the season. Which is wise because he can get them to the Premiership, where they haven't been since 1978.

[Partick 1 - 0 Morton. Several teams including Morton sat atop the standings during the afternoon, but Ross County prevailed in the end.]

It's the Second Preliminary Round of the 2018-19 Scottish Cup:

Girvan [0 - 1] Burntisland Shipyard

Auchinleck Talbot [10 - 0] Wigtown & Bladnoch

Bonnyrigg Rose [3 - 0] Shortlees

Shortlees AFC from Kilmarnock are winners of the 2017-18 Scottish Amateur Cup.

Preston [0 - 2] Linlithgow Rose

Beith [3 - 2] Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Newton Stewart [0 - 3] Coldstream

Linlithgow Rose in the Scottish Cup:

2017-18   PR2    Banks O'Dee 2 - 1 Linlithgow Rose

2016-17   PR2    Threave Rovers 1 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

                  R1    Selkirk 0 - 3 Linlithgow Rose

                  R2    Linlithgow Rose 0 - 3 Stirling Albion

2015-16     R1    Gala Fairydean Rovers 0 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

                  R2    Clachnacuddin 1 - 3 Linlithgow Rose

                  R3    Wick Academy 2 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

                           Linlithgow Rose 5 - 1 Wick Academy

                  R4    Linlithgow Rose 3 - 3 Forfar Athletic

                           Forfar Athletic 0 - 1 Linlithgow Rose

                  R5    Ross County 4 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

2014-15     R1    Fraserburgh 0 - 0 Linlithgow Rose

                           Linlithgow Rose 2 - 1 Fraserburgh

                  R2    Linlithgow Rose 5 - 1 Dalbeattie Star

                  R3    Linlithgow Rose 0 - 2 Raith Rovers

2013-14     R1    Linlithgow Rose 2 - 0 Nairn County

                  R2    Deveronvale 2 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

                           Linlithgow Rose 1 - 3 Deveronvale

2010-11     R1    Beith 2 - 0 Linlithgow Rose

2007-08     R1    Newton Stewart 0 - 6 Linlithgow Rose

                  R2    Linlithgow Rose 4 - 1 Spartans

                  R3    Linlithgow Rose 1 - 0 Dalbeattie Star

                  R4    Queen of the South 4 - 0 Linlithgow Rose

1928-29. Morton met Forfar Athletic at Cappielow and shut them out 4 - 0.

1951-52. League Cup Group 1:

Aug 29th:      Morton 5 - 2 Third Lanark

Sept 1st:       Morton 2 - 0 Celtic

Morton finished the group stage tied with Celtic in points but with a worse goal average. Morton were out of the League Cup.

Arthurlie vs Partick Thistle. These two met twice in the 1901-02 Scottish League Division Two. Thistle won both matches: 5 - 2 at Meadowside on the burgh of Partick; and 1 - 5 at the first Dunterlie Park in Barrhead.

Since 1994, when has the second tier included a club from Glasgow, Edinburgh or Dundee?

1994-95    Dundee

1995-96    Dundee, Dundee United

1996-97    Dundee, Partick

1997-98    Dundee, Partick

1998-99    Hibs

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02    Partick

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05    Partick

2005-06    Dundee

2006-07    Dundee, Partick

2007-08    Dundee, Partick

2008-09    Dundee, Partick

2009-10    Dundee, Partick

2010-11    Dundee, Partick

2011-12    Dundee, Partick

2012-13    Partick

2013-14    Dundee

2014-15    Hearts, Hibs, Rangers

2015-16    Hibs, Rangers

2016-17    Hibs, Dundee United

2017-18    Dundee United

2018-19    Dundee United, Partick

Hearts lead the Premiership right now. When have they won the top division? 1894-95, 1896-97, 1957-58, 1959-60.

Angus derby: Arbroath [2 - 2] Brechin

Which SPFL sides have not yet won in league play?

Motherwell, Dundee, Alloa, Falkirk BOO, East Fife, Stirling Albion, Albion Rovers.

Which have not lost?

Hearts, Hibs, Rangers, Aberdeen, Ayr, Morton, ICT, Arbroath, Raith, Peterhead, Annan, Elgin.

Selkirk have resigned from the Lowland League. The league board will meet Monday to work out the implications.

UEFA Europa League Playoff Round, second leg (midweek):

Celtic 3 - 0 Sūduva Marijampolė

Midtjylland 0 - 2 Malmö FF

Ufa 1 - 1 Rangers

Celtic, Rangers and Malmö all advance to the group stage. Celtic will appear in Group B along with Red Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Leipzig and Rosenborg. Rangers are in Group G with Villareal, Rapid Vienna, and Spartak Moscow. Malmö will play in Group I along with Besiktas, Genk and Sarpsborg.

AFC Champions League quarter-finals, first leg:

Kashima Antlers 2 - 0 Tianjin Quanjian

League of Ireland, First Division: Drogheda United [0 - 3] UCD

SWFL Division 1 South: Morton vs Queen's Park [Morton forfeit!]

Allsvenskan: IF Brommopojkarna [0 - 3] Malmö FF

J2: Mito HollyHock [1 - 1] Matsumoto Yamaga

Kantō Soccer League: Tochigi Uva [1 - 0] Tokyo 23 FC

Uva lead the league by a wide margin. Tokyo 23 are mid-table.

Blancdieu Hirosaki are atop the Tohoku league.

USL: New York Red Bulls II [1 - 0] Ottawa Fury

Danish 1st Division: Fredericia [3 - 1] Koge

Regionalliga Südwest: TSG Balingen [2 - 1] 1. FC Saarbrücken

Swiss Challenge League: Winterthur [1 - 1] Schaffhausen

SJFA West of Scotland Premiership: Largs Thistle [3 - 3] Cumnock

It's the 42nd Prime Minister Cup, the men's university soccer championship of Japan. Starting yesterday and going to September 9th, 24 teams are winnowed down to one over the course of five rounds. There are six teams from the Kantō league, four from the Kansai league, three from Tokai, three from Kyushu, two each from Hokushinetsu, Chugoku and Tohoku, and one each from Shikoku and Hokkaido. Eight teams have a bye into the second round: five of them are from Kantō and three from Kansai. You can follow it here.

Glasgow tram map 1938. Take the 11, 13, or 14 to Firhill. Source.

Hydro Corridors as Rail Lines

Hydroelectric transmission corridors provide potential routes for high-speed passenger rail between cities and for small local commuter train routes. Advantages: they already exist, they reach into cities, they're laid out in straight lines, and they bring their own electrical supply. Source.

The Priory

The first building constructed in Guelph, Ontario was Priory House, built in 1827 by Charles Prior -- hence the name. By mid-century it was the railway station. It was moved in 1911 to make way for a new station but by its centenary it had been condemned and used for firewood. Source. Source.

Whither Cowdenbeath?

Cowdenbeath Station. Source. This is a bit of a tortured metephor, really. The station isn't closing down, and the train leaves everyday on schedule. I guess the station is supposed to be the football club, the train is the SPFL ... and I am the tyranny of evil men?

For the second year in a row Cowdenbeath stand on the brink of relegation out of the SPFL. It was only three years ago that they were playing in the same division as Hearts, Hibs and Rangers. If they lose today they will join East Stirlingshire in the Lowland League, and possibly also Kelty Hearts, whose ground (New Central Park) is only three miles from Cowdenbeath's Central Park.

Kelty Hearts played in the juniors until this season when they joined and won the East of Scotland League. They play Threave Rovers today for a place in the Lowland League.

If Threave win they will become the first Lowland League yo-yo, having dropped out of that league two years ago.

It's the final weekend of the Premiership schedule. Either Ross County (more likely) or Partick Thistle (less likely) will be relegated to the 2018-19 Championship today. To escape, Ross County must beat St Johnstone while Partick lose or draw with Dundee. If Ross County are relegated, next year's Championship will feature the Highland Derby for the first time since 2009-10. If Partick, Kingsley. [Partick win, Ross County are relegated.]

Premiership playoff semifinals:

Dundee United 2 - 3 Livingston (May 7)

Livingston 1 - 1 Dundee United (May 11)

Livi advance to the playoff finals.

Championship playoff finals:

Alloa 0 - 1 Dumbarton (May 9)

Dumbarton [0 - 2] Alloa (tomorrow)

[Dumbarton go down, Alloa come up.]

League One playoff finals:

Stenhousemuir 2 - 0 Peterhead (May 9)

Peterhead [0 - 0] Stenhousemuir (today)

[Stenny go up.]

League Two playoffs, second leg:

Cowdenbeath [3 - 2] Cove Rangers

[Cowdenbeath survive.]

Lowland League promotion playoffs, second leg:

Kelty Hearts [6 - 0] Threave Rovers

[Guilty Hearts get into the Lowland League, replacing Hawick Royal Albert, who drop to the East of Scotland League. If Cove Rangers had knocked Cowdenbeath into the Lowland League, Vale of Leithen, who finished second-last in the Lowland League, would have been relegated to the EoSFL too.]

The East of Scotland League has admitted thirteen clubs from the junior ranks. Numerically this more than makes up for the EoS clubs that have left in recent years to join the Lowland League.

Years that Cowdenbeath finished bottom of the Scottish league:

1907-08    12th in Division Two with 14 pts

1939-40    16th in the Emergency League East Division with 15 points (played only half the schedule)

1959-60    19th in Division Two with 14 pts

1993-94    14th in Division Two with 20 pts

2016-17    10th in League Two with 35 pts

2017-18    10th in League Two with 22 pts

The Wemyss Cup was a football competition for senior Fife clubs played from 1897 till 1939. Check out the results here at Scottish Football Historical Archive. Here's an all-time table of cup wins:

Cowdenbeath        13 + 1/2 + 1/2

Raith Rovers           8 + 1/2

Dunfermline            6 + 1/2

East Fife                 6

Lochgelly Utd          5

Heart of Beath        1

(1/2 indicates a shared cup.)

Cowdenbeath were best at this.

Which Championship clubs played each other more than four times this season?

6 times        Falkirk vs Inverness CT

                    Falkirk vs Livingston

                    Dundee United vs Dunfermline

                    Dundee United vs Livingston

5 times        Brechin vs Falkirk

                    Brechin vs Inverness CT

                    Dumbarton vs Morton

                    Dumbarton vs Inverness CT

                    Falkirk vs Dunfermline

                    St Mirren vs Livingston

                    Morton vs Livingston

                    Morton vs Dunfermline

Queen of the South played no Championship side more than 4 times, but they did manage to play Montrose 3 times.

In the four-division era, which clubs have climbed from 4th tier to 1st tier, and how fast?

Gretna: DCBA (4 years: 2004-05 to 2007-08)

Rangers: DCBBA (5 years: 2012-13 to 2016-17)

Livingston: DCCCBBA (7 years: 1995-96 to 2001-02)

Inverness CT: DCCBBBBBA (9 years: 1996-97 to 2004-05)

Hamilton: DCCCBBBBA (9 years: 2000-01 to 2008-09)

Ross County: DCBBBBBBBCBBBBA (15 years: 1998-99 to 2012-13)

(D = 4th tier, C = 3rd tier, etc.)

If Livingston earn promotion they will have gone from 4th to 1st again, this time in ten seasons.

Morton watch: Somebody at Pie and Bovril says that Massimo Donati has applied for the Morton manager job. He's at the end of his playing career and this would be his first managerial post. He dressed for Hamilton and St Mirren in 2017-18. According to the Tele there are over 70 applicants.

Gary Harkins has signed with Queen of the South. He was Morton's top scorer this year.

The Canadian Premier League is quietly gathering momentum. Apparently it intends to begin play next spring, with teams from coast to coast. The plan is for it to be a club league rather than a franchise league, so already I like it. And it looks like there will be a Halifax club based on the Wanderers Ground, which is within walking distance of my house, so double bonus. This week a new Toronto club, York 9 FC, was announced. That's a weird name but no worse than Tokyo 23.

AFC Champions League, Round of 16, first leg:

Kashima Antlers 3 - 1 Shanghai SIPG

Regionalliga Südwest: Steinbach [1 - 7] 1. FC Saarbrücken

The Regionalliga Südwest schedule is now completed. Saarbrücken [who finish in first place by 11 points] have a promotion playoff against 1860 Munich and the Saarland Cup final still to go.

USL: Ottawa Fury [2 - 0] Atlanta United II

Allsvenskan: Trelleborgs FF [1 - 0] Malmö FF

[Malmö are in tenth place.]

J2: Mito HollyHock [3 - 0] Fagiano Okayama

[Mito are in 13th place.]

League of Ireland, First Division: Galway United 2 - 0 UCD

SWFL Division 1 South: Boroughmuir Thistle vs Morton [postponed?]

Ayrshire Cup QF:

Largs 4 - 0 Darvel

Largs Railway Station

Circa 1905 (source) and 2005 (source).

Airey's Railway Map of Scotland, 1875

Detail from Airey's Railway Map of Scotland (1875). To get from Dumbarton to Greenock you should just take a steamer.

Dumbarton visit Cappielow. This match was originally pencilled in for March 3rd but was postponed due to the Scottish Cup.

The Sons did Morton a huge favour by beating Dundee United Saturday. Unfortunately Morton were unable to take advantage and lost to Livingston. But Morton have a good chance to at least temporarily pass the Tangerines today.

So far this season Morton have a win and two draws against Dumbarton, plus a win in the Scottish Cup. The Sons have scored one goal against the Ton.

Altogether Dumbarton have 22 goals in 31 games played. Very poor, though they have picked up the pace lately. They appear certain to finish ninth and enter the relegation playoffs, but they will have dodged a bullet if Ayr United win League One. The Honest Men have 88 goals in league play. Still, every other likely playoff opponent has at least 50 goals.

[Morton win 3 - 2. Morton goals by Fraser, Baird and Iredale.]

Other match of the day: Dundee United vs St Mirren. St Mirren can earn promotion with a draw or a win. [DUFC win 1 - 0.]

How many goals have Dumbarton scored against each Championship opponent?

7        Brechin

4        Dundee United

2        Livingston

2        Dunfermline

2        Queen of the South

2        Inverness CT

1        St Mirren

1        Morton

1        Falkirk

Lowest goalscoring teams in tier II since 1994:

17    Clydebank (1999-00)

22    Alloa (2015-16)

23    Dumbarton (1995-96)

25    Stranraer (1994-95)

26    Raith Rovers (2004-05)

Currently Brechin have 19 and Dumbarton 22.

Teams that went down while Dumbarton stayed up: 

2013    Dunfermline, Airdrie United

2014    Morton

2015    Cowdenbeath

2016    Livingston, Alloa

2017    Raith Rovers, Ayr United

Which was greater, Dumbarton or Renton?

Renton FC was a West Dunbartonshire rival to Dumbarton FC, existing for the fifty years from 1872 to 1922. They played at Tontine Park and wore dark blue. The village of Renton is just upstream from Dumbarton on the River Leven.

Renton won the Scottish Cup in 1884-85 and 1887-88. Dumbarton won in 1882-83. In head to head action Dumbarton won four times, Renton three times, with two draws.

They met in the Scottish League four years in the 1890s. Dumbarton took four wins, Renton two, with two draws.

Dumbarton had won the Dunbartonshire Cup twelve times by the time Renton folded (and 20 times altogether); Renton won it five times.

Dumbarton won the Scottish Combination in 1905-06. Renton were runners-up twice.

Dumbarton > Renton.

Which was greater, Dumbarton or Vale of Leven?

Vale of Leven FC existed as a senior club from 1872 to 1929. Their home ground was Milburn Park in Alexandria, a stone's throw from Renton.

Vale of Leven won the Scottish Cup three times, all in the 1870s. They won the Dunbartonshire Cup 11 times.

In head-to-head Scottish League play Dumbarton took 16 wins, Vale of Leven none, with 6 draws.

In head-to-head Scottish Cup play Dumbarton advanced 6 times, Vale of Leven 3.

Dumbarton > Vale of Leven.

So, which was greater, Renton or Vale of Leven?

Scottish Cups: Vale of Leven 3, Renton 2.

Dunbartonshire Cup: Vale of Leven 11, Renton 5.

Scottish League head-to-head: Renton 1 win, Vale of Leven 1 loss, plus a draw.

Vale of Leven > Renton.

CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals, second leg:

New York Red Bulls [0 - 0] Guadalajara

América [1 - 1] Toronto FC

Toronto and Guadalajara advance to the final.

Emperor's Cup Ibaraki Prefecture qualifying semi-final:

Joyful Honda Tsukuba FC [2 - 3] University of Tsukuba

Sim Greenock

A steam train passes under the Mearns Street Bridge. See here for an amazing set of computer simulations of Greenock rail. Compare the lower photo in this post.

Morton host Livingston in what increasingly looks like a playoff preview. Livi are second in the division, Morton third. Both are doing very well at the moment.

Current unbeaten streaks (league):

6        Livingston

5        Morton

3        Falkirk

2        Dunfermline

2        QoS

1        St Mirren

1        Dumbarton

0        Dundee United

0        Inverness CT

0        Brechin

This is only the second league match between Morton and Livingston this season. Livi won the first one, plus a Challenge Cup match, both of them back in August. Two more games are scheduled March 13th and April 7th. And then there's the playoffs.

In contrast, March 10th will be Morton's final game against Falkirk for 2017-18.

Livingston are the only Championship side that Morton have not beaten this season. Morton's last win against Livingston was in April 2016, the year Livi were relegated.

Today's match at Cappielow comes after a string of three away games for Morton, and ahead of four more. That's alright, though, because Morton's record is better away than at home.

[Morton 0 - 1 Livingston.]

Other match of the day: Dundee United vs QoS [postponed.]

1978-79. On February 26th Morton and St Johnstone played their Scottish Cup Round Three replay at old Muirton Park. Morton won 2 - 4 to advance. Goals by Alistair Scott and Andy Ritchie with his second hat trick of the season.

How many games have Greenock Morton played against the other 2017-18 Championship clubs?

St Mirren             200

Falkirk                 194

Dumbarton         168

Dundee Utd        113

Dunfermline        103

QoS                    101

Brechin                75

Livingston            67

Inverness CT       15

Now, make a chart in which each 2017-18 Championship club points to the other one they have played most often:

 

When did Morton last win in the other team's* park?

2018/2/24          Inverness CT

2018/2/20          Dumbarton

2018/1/27          Dundee United

2018/1/20          Dunfermline

2017/11/25        Falkirk

2017/10/14        Brechin

2017/9/16          Queen of the South

2017/7/15          Berwick

2017/2/7            Raith Rovers

2017/1/28          Ayr United

2016/8/9            Hamilton

2016/7/23          Kilmarnock

2016/7/16          Albion Rovers (shootout)

2016/2/24          Hibs

2016/2/6            Annan 

2016/1/9            Livingston

2015/8/29          Alloa

2015/4/25          Stranraer

2015/4/18          Stirling Albion

2015/2/28          Peterhead

2015/1/31          Forfar

2015/1/10          Stenhousemuir

2014/11/15        (the new) Airdrieonians

2013/9/24          Celtic

2013/8/3            East Fife

2012/12/26        Partick Thistle

2012/9/15          Cowdenbeath

2011/12/26        Dundee

2009/3/3            Clyde

2005/3/5            Arbroath

2003/1/25          Ross County

2002/9/21          Montrose

1999/4/10          St Mirren

1995/9/2            St Johnstone

1984/8/18          Hearts

1981/2/7            Aberdeen

1980/11/29        Rangers

1970/8/22          Motherwell

never                 (the new) Edinburgh City

*current SPFL clubs only