Plenty of Nothing

Soccertastic

The Canadian Premier League's two Japanese players Wataru Murofushi and Kodai Iida met in Halifax in May.

Morton visit Arbroath.

Today's match is the first meeting between these clubs since 2005 when they were both members of the Second Division. 2019-20 is the first season to see them together in tier II since 1977-78, in the old three-division days. They missed each other in 2001-02 and 2002-03 when Arbroath were up in tier II and Morton were down in tiers III and IV.

This is Morton's first match against Derek Gaston, who tended their goalmouth from 2012 to 2019.

What was Arbroath's greatest moment? On September 12th, 1885, Arbroath beat Bon Accord 36 - 0 in a Scottish Cup match. That scoreline still stands as the world record for a football drubbing.

Second greatest moment: Arbroath made it to the semi-finals of the 1946-47 Scottish Cup, losing to Aberdeen 0 - 2 in front of 22,000 spectators at Dens Park on April 12th, 1947.

What was Arbroath's biggest win against Morton? January 9th, 1993, Arbroath knocked Morton out of the Scottish Cup by a 3 - 0 score.

Morton are currently fifth in the Championship with 10 points. Arbroath are seventh with 8 points.

Arbroath are better than expected. They were supposed to monopolize tenth place but have not been down there even once, which is more than Inverness, Alloa, Dunfermline or Partick can say. And they knocked Dundee United out of the Challenge Cup. However, they're now on a four-game losing streak.

Morton's last win was on September 21st.

Arbroath have the oldest squad in the Championship, with seven players aged 30 or more. The eldest is Gavin Swankie, aged 35.

Most recent league match against Arbroath prior to 2019-20:

2018/3/31      Alloa

2018/3/14      Ayr United

2014/4/26      Dunfermline

2013/3/16      Queen of the South

2005/3/5        Morton

2003/3/15      Inverness CT

2002/3/2        Partick Thistle

1979/5/6        Dundee

1975/3/19      Dundee United

The other Championship matches:

Dundee (4th) [1 - 3] Partick Thistle (10th)

Dunfermline (9th) [3 - 2] Ayr United (2nd)

Inverness CT (3rd) [2 - 2] Alloa (8th)

Queen of the South (6th) [4 - 0] Dundee United (1st)

Lawrence Shankland scored in Scotland's 6 - 0 win over San Marino last Sunday.

[Arbroath 1 - 0 Morton.]

League One:

Airdrieonians (4th) [1 - 3] Montrose (9th)

Clyde (6th) [2 - 2] Raith Rovers (1st)

East Fife (2nd) [1 - 0] Forfar (7th)

Falkirk (3rd) [4 - 0] Peterhead (8th)

Stranraer (10th) [0 - 0] Dumbarton (5th)

1907-08: Morton hosted Motherwell. They played to a 1 - 1 draw. At this point Morton were 9th out of 18, with 3 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses, 17 gf and 21 ga, for 10 points.

1963-64: On October 14th Morton met Hibs in their League Cup semi-final replay and won 1 - 0. On the 19th they were home to Berwick Rangers and won 7 - 1.

Port Glasgow versus Cowdenbeath. These two played in the 1910-11 Division Two. They each won one game, and they each scored 5 goals on aggregate. Cowdenbeath win on the away goal rule.

It's the 2019-20 Scottish Cup, Round Two. This is where the League Two clubs join in. Games involving survivors from the preliminary rounds are:

Penicuik vs Stenny [postponed]

Cowdenbeath [1 - 1] Broxburn

Edinburgh City 3 - 1 Banks O'Dee (last night)

Lochee United [1 - 1] BSC Glasgow

Auchinleck Talbot [1 - 0] Cove Rangers

Stirling University [0 - 2] Linlithgow Rose (tomorrow)

Other games:

Bonnyrigg Rose 2 - 0 Buckie Thistle (last night)

Top of the Lowland League versus top of the Highland League and a possible advance viewing of next spring's pyramid playoff.

Stirling Albion [2 - 0] Strathspey Thistle

Strathspey Thistle [were] on a streak.

Albion Rovers [1 - 1] Fort William

Clachnacuddin [0 - 7] Brora

Rothes [1 - 3] Inverurie Loco Works

Spartans [0 - 2] Queen's Park

Elgin [3 - 1] Berwick

Formartine [2 - 2] Gala Fairydean Rovers

Annan [2 - 2] Brechin

East Kilbride [3 - 1] Gretna 2008

East Kilbride in the Scottish, League and Challenge Cups:

2014/9/13      Lothian Thistle HV 0 - 1 East Kilbride    SC R1

2014/10/4      Spartans 3 - 3 East Kilbride    SC R2

2014/10/11    East Kilbride 1 - 5 Spartans    SC R2

2015/10/24    East Kilbride 1 - 1 Forres Mechanics    SC R2

2015/10/31    Forres Mechanics 2 - 3 East Kilbride    SC R2

2015/11/28    Stenhousemuir 2 - 2 East Kilbride    SC R3

2015/12/5      East Kilbride 2 - 1 Stenhousemuir    SC R3

2016/1/20      East Kilbride 2 - 0 Lothian Thistle HV    SC R4

2016/2/7        East Kilbride 0 - 2 Celtic    SC R5

2016/9/24      East Kilbride 9 - 1 Vale of Leithen    SC R1

2016/10/22    Cowdenbeath 0 - 1 East Kilbride    SC R2

2016/12/3      Stranraer 2 - 1 East Kilbride    SC R3

2017/7/15      East Kilbride 1 - 3 Hamilton    LC GS

2017/7/18      QoS 0 - 0 East Kilbride    (EK won PK.)    LC GS

2017/7/22      East Kilbride 2 - 5 Albion Rovers    LC GS

2017/7/25      Stenhousemuir 1 - 2 East Kilbride    LC GS

2017/8/15      St Mirren 2 - 1 East Kilbride    Ch R1

2017/10/14    Cowdenbeath 0 - 1 East Kilbride    SC R2

2017/11/18    East Kilbride 3 - 4 Albion Rovers    SC R3

2018/8/15      East Kilbride 1 - 1 Spartans    (EK won PK.)    Ch R1

2018/9/8        East Kilbride 2 - 3 Edinburgh City    Ch R2

2018/10/20    East Kilbride 3 - 1 Spartans    SC R2

2018/11/24    East Kilbride 1 - 0 Gala Fairydean Rovers    SC R3

2019/1/19      Inverness CT 4 - 0 East Kilbride    SC R4

2019/7/13      East Kilbride 0 - 1 Albion Rovers    LC GS

2019/7/20      East Kilbride 0 - 0 St Mirren    (EK won PK.)    LC GS

2019/7/23      Edinburgh City 0 - 1 East Kilbride    LS GS

2019/7/27      Dunfermline 4 - 0 East Kilbride    LC GS

2019/8/6        St Mirren U21s 1 - 0 East Kilbride    Ch R1

2019/10/19    East Kilbride [3 - 1] Gretna 2008   SC R2

Swiss Challenge League: Winterthur [1 - 0] Vaduz

There is still one place to be decided in the 2019 Regional Champions League in Japan's tier V, because the Chugoku Soccer League title hasn't been won yet. These two games will settle it tomorrow:

Fuji Xerox Hiroshima (6th) [0 - 4] Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima (1st)

SRC (2nd) [7 - 0] JXTG (5th)

Mitsubishi and SRC enter the weekend equal in points and 1 goal apart in goal difference.

[SRC win the league.]

Canadian Premier League:

Forge 1 - 0 Cavalry (Oct 16)

Valour 0 - 4 York9 (Oct 16)

Edmonton 3 - 1 Pacific (Oct 16)

Cavalry [3 - 1] Edmonton (today)

Pacific [2 - 0] Valour (today)

Prior to this game Pacific FC fired its head coach.

York9 [0 - 2] HFX Wanderers (today) [Goals by Gutiérrez and Kodai Iida.]

This ends the Fall Season. Cavalry and Forge will now compete in the CPL Championship for the league title and a place in the 2020 CONCACAF League.

How did HFX Wanderers fare against the opposition?

League:

York9 FC                     2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. 6 gf, 7 ga, -1 gd. 8 points.

Valour FC                    2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses. 3 gf, 3 ga, 0 gd. 7 points.

Forge FC                    1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss. 5 gf, 6 ga, -1 gd. 5 points.

Pacific FC                   1 win, 2 draws, 2 losses. 5 gf, 7 ga, -2 gd. 5 points.

Edmonton FC             2 draws, 2 losses. 1 gf, 5 ga, -4 gd. 2 points.

Cavalry FC                 1 draw, 4 losses. 1 gf, 7 ga, -6 gd. 1 point.

Cup:

Valour FC                   2 wins. 4 gf, 1 ga, +3 gd.

Vaughan Azzurri        1 win, 1 loss. 3 gf, 3 ga, 0 gd.

Ottawa Fury               1 draw, 1 loss. 4 gf, 5 ga, -1 gd.

Some other 2019 HFX Wanderers stats:

Longest winning streak (league and cup): 3

Longest winless streak (league and cup): 10

Longest string of draw scores: 6

Home record (league): 5W 7D 2L

Away record (league): 1W 3D 10L

McGraw and MacGraw

Allan McGraw versus Ali MacGraw.

It's Round Four of the Challenge Cup.

    Q: "When did it become the UEFA Challenge Cup?"

    A: "Wafer! Wafer!"

The matches:

Stenhousemuir 3 - 2 Waterford (last night)

Stenny got to this game by beating The New Saints.

Arbroath [0 - 2] Clyde

This is the twentieth meeting between these two clubs this decade. Arbroath have 13 wins, Clyde 4 wins, plus 3 draws. They have never met in the Challenge Cup before today.

Airdrieonians [0 - 2] Elgin

This is the first ever Challenge Cup match between these two clubs.

Raith Rovers [3 - 1] Glenavon

This is Raith Rovers' first Challenge Cup match against a not-Scottish-or-Berwick club. Raith are currently top of League One.

Partick Thistle [2 - 0] Connah's Quay Nomads

This is Partick's first competitive match against a not-Scottish-or-Berwick side since the Intertoto Cup of 1995. Partick are currently bottom of the Championship.

Wrexham [4 - 1] St Mirren colts

Wrexham qualified for this tournament by finishing 4th out of 24 in the National League last season, but this season they are 20th.

Inverness CT [3 - 0] Alloa

A rematch of the 1999-2000 final.

Solihull Moors vs Rangers colts (This match is postponed until Oct 29th due to international call-ups.)

They should either take the Premiership colt teams out of this cup or stop scheduling the games on international weeks.

Mortonalia: This week Cappielow was the venue for two UEFA U-19 matches:

2019/10/9      Scotland 2 - 2 Belarus

2019/10/12    Germany [9 - 2] Belarus

An SFA investigation has fingered Morton kitman Andy Bryan for betting on the football. Source.

1907-08: Morton were away to Kilmarnock where they won 2 - 1.

1963-64: On October 7th Morton and Hibs met in the League Cup semi-finals and played to a 1 - 1 draw, necessitating a rematch. On the 12th Morton were away to Montrose and won 0 - 2.

SPFL Reserve League: Morton 2 - 2 Queen of the South (Oct 7)

It's the South Region Challenge Cup, Round Three:

Blackburn United [1 - 2] East Stirlingshire

Bonnyrigg Rose [3 - 0] Threave Rovers

BSC Glasgow [3 - 1] Gala Fairydean Rovers

Caledonian Braves [5 - 3] Musselburgh

Civil Service Strollers [1 - 2] Kelty Hearts

Cumbernauld Colts [1 - 0] Jeanfield Swifts

Easthouses Lily [0 - 4] East Kilbride

Spartans [2 - 3] Stirling University

(Plus eight other games not involving Lowland League sides.)

Canadian Premier League:

HFX Wanderers 1 - 1 Pacific (Oct 9) Perea scored for Halifax.

This was the Haligonians' final match against Pacific FC for 2019, and final home game of the season.

It's the 55th National Football Championship in Japan. This tournament decides who gets into up to three vacant places in the 2019 National Regional Soccer Champions League, from which the list of JFL candidate clubs is drawn. Although Iwaki FC have already won a place in the 2019 National Regional Soccer Champions League by winning the Tohoku League, they qualified for one of the two Tohoku spots in this tournament (along with Sendai University) back in July, and they're going to play, dammit. Iwaki could have up to five matches this week. Iwaki's possible routes:

Today: (Match No. 16) Briobecca Urayasu [2 - 2] Iwaki FC [Iwaki win on PK.]

Aug 13: (Match No. 24) [Chukyo University 0 - 4 Iwaki FC]

Aug 14: (Match No. 28) [Hamamatsu FC 0 - 4 Iwaki FC]

Aug 15: (Match No. 30) [Koshiyasu Kyoto AC 2 - 0 Iwaki FC]

Aug 16: (Match No. 31) [Yokohama Takeru FC 1 - 7 Iwaki FC for third place]

Aug 16: (Match No. 32) [FC Tiamo 1 - 0 Koshiyasu Kyoto AC]

[After all this only one team gets added to the Regional Champions League: FC Tiamo Hirakata, who finished second in the Kansai League, and win this tournament. Of the other three semi-finalists, Iwaki FC and Koshiyasu Kyoto are already in as winners of the Tohoku and Kansai leagues, and Yokohama Takeru are too lowly, having finished 10th in the Kanto league. Therefore two other clubs that were second in their leagues have been elected to fill the final two places: FC Tokushima from the Shikoku league and Blancdieu Hirosaki from Tohoku.]

Shunsuke Nakamura

Shunsuke Nakamura was a star for Yokohama F. Marinos before signing with Reggina of the Italian league, Celtic, Espanyol of Barcelona, Marinos again, and Júbilo Iwata. He made 128 appearances for Celtic from 2005 to 2009 and scored 29 goals. He has made 98 appearances for the Japanese national squad. Source.

Morton are at home to Dunfermline Athletic.

Week Eight finds Dunfermline in seventh place with 6 points and Morton in fifth place with 9 points. Dunfermline have 1 win, 3 draws, and 3 losses. Morton have 3 wins and 4 losses. It's a good example of how wins and losses are better than draws, mathematically.

All of Morton's wins have come at home, and all of their losses away. Dunfermline's one win came at Partick Thistle's home ground.

Morton currently own the worst goal difference in the division.

Dunfermline's Ryan Scully and Greg Kiltie played for Morton last year.

The other Championship matches:

Alloa (10th) 1 - 0 Dundee United (1st) (last night) Well there's an upset.

Lawrence Shankland has been called up to the national team. They play Russia and San Marino next week.

Ayr United (2nd) [0 - 2] Inverness CT (3rd)

Dundee (4th) [2 - 0] Arbroath (6th)

Partick Thistle (9th) [0 - 1] Queen of the South (8th)

[Morton 1 - 1 Dunfermline. Last-minute equaliser for Morton by Jim McAlister.]

League One:

Clyde (4th) [0 - 2] Montrose (10th)

Dumbarton (7th) [3 - 1] Forfar (6th)

East Fife (2nd) [1 - 1] Stranraer (9th)

Peterhead (8th) [1 - 2] Airdrieonians (5th)

Raith Rovers (1st) [2 - 2] Falkirk (3rd)

This is the first league match between these rivals since April 2017, when they were both in the Championship. Raith Rovers did, however, beat Falkirk last month in the Challenge Cup. It will be very sweet if Raith earn promotion and Falkirk do not.

[Sunday: Livingston 2 - 0 Celtic. It's Livi's first win against Celtic --- ever.]

1907-08: Morton were at home to Port Glasgow Athletic and won 2 - 0.

1963-64: On October 1st Morton were at home to Brechin and won 8 - 1, which was not their greatest margin of victory of 1963-64. On October 5th East Fife came to Cappielow and Morton won by a more modest 6 - 1.

Port Glasgow Athletic versus Dumbarton. They played two seasons together in Division Two, 1896-97 and 1910-11. Each won twice. Dumbarton had the edge on scoring, 8 to 7.

SPFL Reserve League: Kilmarnock 0 - 0 Morton (Oct 1)

Canadian Premier League:

Cavalry 4 - 1 Valour (Oct 2)

Edmonton 0 - 1 Forge (Oct 2)

Pacific 1 - 1 HFX Wanderers (Oct 2) Goal by Garcia.

Wanderers' last win was August 5th.

Valour [3 - 1] Edmonton (today)

Cavalry [2 - 0] HFX Wanderers (today)

This is the Haligonians' final match against Cavalry for 2019.

[Akeem Garcia has been called up by the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He has three caps as a U17, 3 as a U20, and one match against Panama in 2015 with the senior squad.]

Forge [1 - 0] York9 (tomorrow)

CONCACAF League QF, second leg (Oct 1 - 3):

Motagua 0 - 0 Waterhouse

Alianza 0 - 1 San Carlos

Saprissa 1 - 0 Independiente

Comunicaciones 0 - 0 Olimpia

UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 2 (Oct 3):

Celtic 2 - 0 Cluj

Young Boys 2 - 1 Rangers

Malmö 1 - 1 Copenhagen

AFC Champions League semi-finals, leg one (Oct 2):

Urawa Red Diamonds 2 - 0 Evergrande Guangzhou

Swiss Challenge League: Lausanne Sport 0 - 0 Winterthur (yesterday)

Tohoku Soccer League: Iwaki FC [4 - 0] Ganju Iwate

This concludes the Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League schedule. [Iwaki win the league.]

Eiji Kawashima

Japan internationalist Eiji Kawashima appeared in goal for Dundee United during the 2015-16 season, the year they got relegated from the Premiership. He has also played for Omiya Ardija, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Kawasaki Frontale, Lierse SK, Standard Liège and Metz, and is currently with RC Strasbourg.

Morton visit Tannadice for a game against Dundee United. Morton finished last weekend in 4th place. The Tangerines hold first place ahead of Ayr United on goal difference.

United have league scoring leader Lawrence Shankland on their roster. He has 10 league goals so far this season.

The eldest member of the Tangerine squad is captain Mark Reynolds, aged 32.

Lawrence Shankland's goals against Morton:

2016/1/2        Morton 0 - 1 St Mirren        Gaston       39'

2016/4/16      St Mirren 3 - 1 Morton        Gaston         7'

2018/7/14      Ayr Utd 3 - 1 Morton           Scully        48'

2018/7/14      Ayr Utd 3 - 1 Morton           Scully        72'

2018/7/14      Ayr Utd 3 - 1 Morton           Scully        75'

2018/9/29      Morton 1 - 5 Ayr Utd           Scully        19'

2018/9/29      Morton 1 - 5 Ayr Utd           Scully        75'

2019/4/2        Ayr Utd 1 - 1 Morton           McCrorie   21'

The other Championship matches:

Arbroath (5th) [0 - 3] Ayr United (2nd)

Dunfermline (7th) [1 - 1] Alloa (9th)

This is the closest the Championship will come to a Fife Derby this season.

Inverness CT (3rd) [1 - 3] Partick Thistle (10th)

Queen of the South (8th) 1 - 1 Dundee (6th) (last night)

[Dundee United 6 - 0 Morton. Hat-trick for Shankland, his second against Morton (see above). This is Morton's worst scoreline since Hamilton Accies beat them 10 - 2 on May 3, 2014, and it's their worst loss to Dundee United since Nov 17, 1984, when the Tangerines won 7 - 0.]

League One:

Airdrieonians (5th) [2 - 2] Stranraer (9th)

Dumbarton (6th) [1 - 2] Clyde (7th)

Falkirk (3rd) [0 - 0] East Fife (2nd)

Forfar (4th) [1 - 2] Raith Rovers (1st)

Montrose (10th) [4 - 3] Peterhead (8th)

1907-08: On September 24th Morton travelled to Dundee and lost 5 - 2 to the Dark Blues.

1963-64: On September 25th Morton were away to Brechin where they won 3 - 7. On September 28th they visited Clyde and won 1 - 2.

Port Glasgow Athletic versus Dundee United. They played twice in Division Two in 1910-11. Dundee United won both games.

Rank the 2019-20 Championship clubs by how many rungs they have risen or fallen since Sept 28th, 2009:

+/-          2009       2019

+11        28th        17th                Arbroath

  +5        19th        14th                Ayr United

  +5        21st        16th                Morton

  +3        18th        15th                ICT

  +3        24th        21st                Alloa

  +1        20th        19th                Dunfermline

   -1        17th        18th                Dundee

   -7        13th        20th                QoS

   -7        15th        22nd                Partick

   -9          4th        13th                Dundee Utd

(Explainer: Dundee United were 4th in the Premier League on Sept. 28, 2009. Now they're 1st in the Championship, a drop of 9 rungs. They have fallen the furthest. Arbroath have climbed the highest, from 6th in the Second Division to 5th in the Championship. Last night's QoS/Dundee match is not included because I made this list on Wednesday.)

2019-20 Scottish Cup Round One replays:

Clachnacuddin [2 - 1] Nairn

Deveronvale [1 - 2] Spartans (Sept 30)

2019-20 Scottish Junior Cup, Round Two:

Irvine Meadow wo/scr Buchanhaven Hearts

Bellshill [0 - 7] Auchinleck Talbot

Talbot have played four Scottish Cup matches so far this season. This is their first Junior Cup fixture.

Arthurlie [1 - 5] Beith

Deveronside vs Benburb [postponed]

Carluke Rovers [1 - 3] Clydebank

Cumnock [0 - 2] Rossvale

Glenafton [13 - 0] West Calder

Cumbernauld United [0 - 1] Hurlford

Kilbirnie Ladeside [3 - 1] Vale of Leven

Kilwinning Rangers [2 - 2] Bridge of Don Thistle

Largs Thistle [1 - 0] Luncarty

Luncarty is a village in Perth and Kinross.

Forres Thistle [0 - 3] Pollok

Ardeer Thistle [0 - 11] Rutherglen Glencairn

Troon [3 - 1] Montrose Roselea

(These are only the games involving West Region Premiership teams. There are many many more.)

2019 Canadian Championship, Finals, second leg (Sept 25):

Toronto FC 1 - 0 Montreal Impact

1 - 1 on aggregate. Montreal win the shootout and will go on to the Concacaf Champions League.

Canadian Premier League:

HFX Wanderers [1 - 1] Edmonton

This is the Haligonians' final match against the Eddies for 2019.

[The Halifax goal was actually an own goal by Edmonton.]

Forge [3 - 0] Pacific

York9 [1 - 1] Cavalry [96th minute goal for Murofushi.]

Rumour has Langley BC joining the CPL in 2021.

SWFL2 W/SW: Morton Women [6 - 0] Clark Drive Ladies (tomorrow)

[This ends the schedule. Stranraer and East Kilbride Thistle dropped out, leaving the division with eight teams and shortening the season to 14 matches. Morton finish in first place with 14 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses, 105 goals scored and 4 goals allowed, for a sparkling goal difference of +101. They also won the league cup.]

Tohoku Soccer League: Morioka Zebra [0 - 10] Iwaki FC (tomorrow)

Swiss Challenge League: Winterthur 3 - 1 Schaffhausen (yesterday)

CONCACAF League QF, first leg:

Olimpia (Honduras) 2 - 0 Comunicaciones (Guatemala)

Saprissa (Costa Rica) 3 - 2 Independiente (Panama)

Alianza (El Salvador) 2 - 0 San Carlos (Costa Rica)

Waterhouse (Jamaica) 0 - 2 Motagua (Honduras)

Ryotaro Meshino

Ryotaro Meshino came up through the Gamba Osaka system and has played for both the J3 development squad and the J1 first team. He scored in Round Two of this year's Emperor's Cup during Gamba's 7 - 1 tromping of Kamatamare Sanuki. This summer he went to Manchester City who immediately loaned him out to Heart of Midlothian. His first SPFL match was August 31st against Hamilton Academical. By my count he's the fourth Japanese player to appear in the Scottish League.

It's the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup. [Ha ha, tomorrow.]

Celtic [5 - 0] Partick

These two have met in the League Cup quarter-finals four times before, and Celtic have come through each time. Patrick have a 31-game winless streak going on against Celtic. Celtic are undedeated so far in the Premiership; Partick are winless in the Championship.

Killie [0 - 0] Hibs [Hibs win on PK.]

These two have met in the League Cup quarter-finals twice, and each has won once. Killie beat Hibs 2 - 0 in league play ten days ago.

Hearts [2 - 2] Aberdeen [Hearts win on PK.]

Aberdeen have won three of their four quarter-finals with Hearts. Aberdeen beat Hearts 3 - 2 on the opening day of the league.

Livingston [0 - 1] Rangers

This is their first League Cup quarter-final meeting. Rangers beat Livi 3 - 1 on Sept 14th.

Manageria: Sunday Ayr United manager Ian McCall took over the vacant post at Partick Thistle. Sandy Stewart fills in as interim manager at Ayr. McCall was Partick manager once before, from 2007 to 2011, and Morton manager for part of the year 2000.

Swiss Challenge League: Chiasso [0 - 2] Winterthur

SPFL Reserve Cup: Celtic [4 - 2] Morton (Sept 23)

Celtic aren't in the Reserve League, but somehow they're in the Reserve Cup.

Iwaki FC played a friendly against J2 side Machida Zelvia yesterday and won 2 - 1.

HFX Wanderers are now mathematically eliminated from the 2019 Canadian Premier League championship. They can neither win the Fall Season nor finish first or second in the overall table. In fact the gap between second and third place is so wide that the entire October schedule is more or less meaningless. It's going to be Cavalry and Forge in the finals.

2010s Tier II regulars' relegation seasons compared:

Raith ('16-17)               36    10     9    17    35    52    -17    39

Falkirk ('18-19)             36      9   11    16    37    49    -12    38

Ayr Utd ('11-12)            36      9   11    16    44    67    -23    38

Cowdenbeath ('10-11)  36      9     8    19    41    72    -31    35

Dunfermline ('12-13)    36    14     7    15    62    59     +3    34**

Ayr Utd ('16-17)            36      7   12    17    33    62    -29    33

QoS ('11-12)                 36      7   11    18    38    64    -26    32

Livingston ('15-16)        36     8     7     21    37    51    -14    31

Dumbarton ('17-18)      36     7     9     20    27    63    -36    30

Morton ('13-14)             36     6     8     22    32    71    -39    26

Cowdenbeath ('14-15)  36     7     4     25    31    86    -55    25

Alloa ('15-16)                36     4     9     23    22    67    -45    21

(Includes teams that spent at least four seasons in the First Division/Championship this decade and were relegated to the Second Division/League One.)

**Deducted 15 points for going into adminstration.

Young Lord Greenock

Alan Cathcart (1919-1999) when he was about the same age as Christopher Robin. He carried the title Lord Greenock until he became 6th Earl Cathcart at age eight, and went on to become a Major General and Commandant of the British Sector of Berlin from 1970 to 1973. Source.

It's Morton versus Dundee FC.  Dundee are fifth in the division with 8 points, Morton are sixth with 6 points.

The last time Morton played Dundee was April 19th, 2014 at Cappielow, and the Greenockians won 1 - 0.

The oldest player on the Dundee squad is Andrew Davies, aged 34.

Morton have signed forward Billy King who has played for Hearts, Rangers Inverness CT, Dundee United and Gillingham.

The other Championship matches:

Alloa (8th) [1 - 4] Ayr United (2nd)

Dundee United (1st) [2 - 1] Arbroath (4th)

Inverness CT (3rd) [2 - 0] Queen of the South (7th)

Partick Thistle (9th) [0 - 3] Dunfermline (10th)

Partick Thistle have sacked manager Gary Caldwell.

[Morton win 1 - 0. Goal by Peter Grant.]

League One:

Airdrieonians (4th) [0 - 1] Raith Rovers (2nd)

East Fife (1st) [2 - 2] Dumbarton (5th)

Forfar (8th) [2 - 0] Montrose (10th)

Peterhead (7th) [1 - 1] Clyde (6th)

Stranraer (9th) [0 - 3] Falkirk (3rd)

Stenhousemuir have sacked their manager Colin McMenamin and replaced him with Davie Irons, who managed Greenock Morton in the 2008-09 season.

It's the 2019-20 Scottish Cup, Round One. The Highland and Lowland Leagues join in. Let's follow the seven survivors from the preliminary rounds.

Kelty Hearts 0 - 3 Auchinleck Talbot (last night)

Broxburn Athletic [3 - 2] East Stirlingshire

Gretna 2008 [1 - 0] Hill of Beath Hawthorn

Linlithgow Rose [1 - 0] Huntly

Cumbernauld Colts [1 - 5] Penicuik

Forres Mechanics [1 - 4] Banks O'Dee

Edinburgh University [1 - 3] Lochee United

1907-08: Rangers visited Cappielow and won 2 - 3.

1963-64: On September 18th Morton were at home to Motherwell in the second leg of their League Cup quarter-final. Morton won 2 - 0 to advance.

Port Glasgow Athletic versus Dundee. These two sides played sixteen Scottish League matches, all in Division One. Dundee won nine, Port won three, with four draws.

SPFL Reserve League: Morton [7 - 0] Dundee United (Sept 16)

2019 Canadian Championship, Finals, first leg (Sept 18):

Montreal Impact 1 - 0 Toronto FC

Toronto have won the Canadian Championship 7 times including last year. Montreal have won it 3 times, not since 2014. In the MLS East standings Toronto are fourth and Montreal eighth.

Canadian Premier League:

HFX Wanderers 1 - 1 Forge (Sept 18)

Goal by Garcia.

This was the Haligonians' final match against the Hamiltonians for 2019.

HFX Wanderers [0 - 0] Valour

This is the Haligonians' final match against the Winnipeggers for 2019.

Edmonton [1 - 3] York9 [Gasparotto scored one.]

Cavalry [4 - 1] Pacific (tomorrow)

AFC Champions League QF, second leg:

Urawa Red Diamonds 1 - 1 Shanghai SIPG

Kashima Antlers 1 - 1 Guangzhou Evergrande

Urawa progress; Kashima are out.

UEFA Europa League group stage, matchday 1 (Sept 19):

Rennes 1 - 1 Celtic

Rangers 1 - 0 Feyenoord

Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 0 Malmö

SWFL2 W/SW: Gleniffer Thistle [0 - 9] Morton Women (tomorrow)

From that time when Glen Campbell and Jennifer Aniston were married.

Tohoku Soccer League, Div 1: Nippon Steel Kamaishi [0 - 8] Iwaki FC (tomorrow)

Swiss Challenge League: Winterthur [0 - 3] Wil

Who scored Morton's last goal against each SPFL club and when?

2019/9/21      Dundee    Peter Grant

2019/9/7        Inverness CT    John Sutton

2019/8/23      Partick    Brian McLean

2019/8/17      Hibs    Bob McHugh

2019/8/10      Alloa    Bob McHugh

2019/8/3        Ayr United    Nicky Cadden

2019/7/27      QoS    Nicky Cadden

2019/7/23      Annan Athletic    Robbie Muirhead

2019/7/16      Dumbarton    Bob McHugh

2019/5/4        Dundee United    Michael Tidser

2019/4/27      Dunfermline    Greg Kiltie

2019/4/20      Falkirk    Charlie Telfer

2019/1/19      East Fife    Bob McHugh

2019/1/4        Ross County    Kerr Waddell

2018/11/27    Peterhead    Chris Millar

2018/7/28      Albion Rovers    Michael Tidser

2018/7/21      Stenhousemuir    Bob McHugh

2018/4/21      St Mirren    Michael Doyle

2018/4/7        Livingston    Ricki Lamie

2018/3/24      Brechin    John Baird

2017/7/29      Edinburgh City    Bob McHugh

2017/7/18      Queen's Park    Darren Barr

2017/2/12      Rangers    Michael Tidser

2017/2/7        Raith Rovers    Lee Kilday

2016/8/9        Hamilton    Jai Quitongo

2016/7/23      Kilmarnock    Jai Quitongo

2016/7/19      Clyde    Thomas O'Ware

2015/10/27    St Johnstone    Denny Johnstone

2015/9/22      Motherwell    Michael Tidser

2015/8/1        Elgin    John Scullion

2015/4/25      Stranraer    Declan McManus

2015/4/18      Stirling Albion    Declan McManus

2015/3/14      Airdrieonians    James McCluskey

2015/1/31      Forfar    Peter MacDonald

2014/4/19      Dundee    Dougie Imrie

2014/2/15      Cowdenbeath    Archie Campbell

2013/9/24      Celtic    Dougie Imrie

2013/8/27      Montrose    Aiden Fulton

2005/3/5        Arbroath    Chris Millar

2004/12/11    Cove Rangers    Chris Millar

1996/9/3        Aberdeen    Derek Lilley

1987/9/5        Hearts    John McNeil

To Dumfries by Arrol-Johnston Touring Car

Source.

Queen of the South FC was formed in 1919 in a merger between the team of the 5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the company team of the Arrol-Johnston automobile factory.

Morton visit Palmerston Park today for a game against QoS.

These two have met once already this season. In the League Cup group stage they played to a 3 - 3 draw, but Morton won the shootout. That was the closest thing to a draw so far this season for Morton, who either win big or lose big.

Morton might win big today. QoS have scored only once in league play this season, whereas Morton have scored nine times. However, Morton have the most goals allowed (12) while QoS are tied with Arbroath for fewest (3).

The oldest player on the Queen of the South roster is captain Stephen Dobbie, 36.

Current winless streaks, league and cup:

0        Alloa

1        Dundee United

1        Ayr United

1        Arbroath

1        Inverness CT

1        Partick Thistle

2        Dundee

2        Morton

3        Queen of the South

4        Dunfermline

The other Championship matches:

Arbroath 1 - 1 Partick Thistle (last night)

Ayr United [2 - 0] Dundee United

If Ayr win by four goals they will take over first place.

Dundee [2 - 1] Alloa

Dunfermline [0 - 1] Inverness CT

[Qos 1 - 0 Morton.]

League One:

Clyde [6 - 1] Stranraer

Dumbarton [0 - 1] Airdrieonians

Falkirk [3 - 0] Forfar

Montrose [1 - 3] East Fife

Raith Rovers [4 - 0] Peterhead

1907-08: Morton were away to Hampden where they played Queen's Park to a 1 - 1 draw.

1963-64: On September 11th Motherwell hosted Morton in the first leg of their League Cup quarter-final. 0 - 0. On the 14th Morton were away to Stenhousemuir and won 4 - 5 in a high-scoring league match.

Port Glasgow Athletic versus Rangers. These two played sixteen league matches. Rangers won thirteen, Port Glasgow two, and there was a draw.

On March 10th, 1906, Port Glasgow met Rangers at Clune Park in the third round of the Scottish Cup. Port Glasgow won 1 - 0. It is easily Port Glasgow Athletic's greatest moment.

2019-20 Scottish Junior Cup, Round One:

Kilwinning Rangers [2 - 1] Dundee Violet

Maybole [2 - 3] Benburb

Neilston [4 - 2] Yoker

Newburgh [0 - 6] Whitburn

2019-20 South Region Challenge Cup, Round Two:

Cumbernauld Colts [1 - 0] Dalbeattie Star

Bo'ness United [1 - 2] BSC Glasgow

Broxburn Athletic [3 - 1] Edinburgh University

Caledonian Braves [4 - 0] Crossgates Primrose

Kinnoull [0 - 3] Spartans

Gala Fairydean Rovers [2 - 1] Newton Stewart

Glasgow University [0 - 5] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

Leith Athletic [1 - 5] East Kilbride

Linlithgow Rose [5 - 1] Gretna 2008

Lochar Thistle [0 - 5] East Stirlingshire

Sauchie Juniors [1 - 2] Civil Service Strollers

Tranent Juniors [2 - 1] Berwick Rangers

Vale of Leithen [1 - 6] Kelty Hearts

Stiring University [wo/scr] Arniston Rangers

(And these are just the games involving Lowland League sides.)

Canadian Premier League:

Edmonton 0 - 1 Cavalry (Sept 11)

Pacific 0 - 2 York 9 (Sept 11)

Valour 1 - 3 Forge (Sept 12)

Forge take over first place in the Fall standings with this win.

Pacific [1 - 0] Edmonton (today)

Forge [2 - 2] HFX Wanderers (tomorrow)

[Wanderers goals by Garcia and Gutierrez.]

As of the September 11 results HFX Wanderers cannot finish first in the overall table. They are currently last in the Fall table and have not scored since August 5th.

York 9 [2 - 4] Valour (tomorrow)

Tohoku Soccer League: Iwaki FC [9 - 0] Fuji Club 2003 (tomorrow)

With 14 of 18 games played Iwaki lead the Tohoku league with 36 points, and can only be overtaken by Blancdieu Hirosaki who are 3 points behind, and Cobaltore Onagawa who are 6 behind.

It's the Swiss Cup, Round Two: Winterthur 2 - 0 St Gallen (yesterday) [Upset!]

St Gallen have knocked Winterthur out of the Swiss Cup more times than any other club. Source.

Years in which Queen of the South finished higher than Morton:

1927-28        QoS 12th (Div 2), Morton 18th (Div 2)

---

1933-34        QoS 4th (Div 1), Morton 5th (Div 2)

1934-35        QoS 17th (Div 1), Morton 6th (Div 2)

1935-36        QoS 15th (Div 1), Morton 3rd (Div 2)

1936-37        QoS 18th (Div 1), Morton 2nd (Div 2)

1937-38        QoS 16th (Div 1), Morton 20th (Div 1)

1938-39        QoS 6th (Div 1), Morton 12th (Div 2)

1939-40        QoS 11th (Div 1), Morton 15th (Div 2)

1939-40        QoS 2nd, Morton 5th (Emergency League West)

---

1947-48        QoS 13th (Div A), Morton 14th (Div A)

1948-49        QoS 19th (Div A), Morton 15th (Div A)

1949-50        QoS 15th (Div A), Morton 1st (Div B)

---

1951-52        QoS 10th (Div A), Morton 15th (Div A)

1952-53        QoS 10th (Div A), Morton 6th (Div B)

1953-54        QoS 10th (Div A), Morton 5th (Div B)

1954-55        QoS 15th (Div A), Morton 9th (Div B)

1955-56        QoS 6th (Div 1), Morton 9th (Div 2)

1956-57        QoS 16th (Div 1), Morton 4th (Div 2)

1957-58        QoS 15th (Div 1), Morton 13th (Div 2)

1958-59        QoS 18th (Div 1), Morton 11th (Div 2)

1959-60        QoS 3rd (Div 2), Morton 14th (Div 2)

1960-61        QoS 5th (Div 2), Morton 19th (Div 2)

1961-62        QoS 2nd (Div 2), Morton 3rd (Div 2)

1962-63        QoS 15th (Div 1), Morton 3rd (Div 2)

1963-64        QoS 17th (Div 1), Morton 1st (Div 2)

---

1975-76        QoS 10th (Div 1), Morton 11th (Div 1)

---

2001-02        QoS 1st (2nd Div), Morton 10th (2nd Div)

2002-03        QoS 5th (1st Div), Morton 1st (3rd Div)

2003-04        QoS 5th (1st Div), Morton 4th (2nd Div)

2004-05        QoS 4th (1st Div), Morton 3rd (2nd Div)

2005-06        QoS 8th (1st Div), Morton 2nd (2nd Div)

2006-07        QoS 8th (1st Div), Morton 1st (2nd Div)

2007-08        QoS 4th (1st Div), Morton 8th (1st Div)

2008-09        QoS 5th (1st Div), Morton 6th (1st Div)

2009-10        QoS 4th (1st Div), Morton 8th (1st Div)

2010-11        QoS 4th (1st Div), Morton 7th (1st Div)

---

2013-14        QoS 4th (Champ), Morton 10th (Champ)

2014-15        QoS 4th (Champ), Morton 1st (League One)

---

2017-18        QoS 6th (Champ), Morton 7th (Champ)

Koki Mizuno

Koki Mizuno played for JEF United Chiba before signing with Celtic in 2008. He made 11 appearances over two seasons and scored once, against Falkirk on Dec 21st, 2008, in extra time. He returned to Japan in 2010 and has since played for Kashiwa Reysol, Ventforet Kofu, JEF, Vegalta Sendai, Sagan Tosu, Roasso Kumamoto, and SC Sagamihara. Source.

It's Round Three of the Scottish Challenge Cup. In this round we have the 14 winners from Round Two, plus all ten Championship clubs, plus two each from the League of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Premiership, the Welsh Premier League, and the English National League: Bohemians and Waterford, Glenavon and Ballymena United, The New Saints and Connah's Quay Nomads, and Solihull Moors and Wrexham. The New Saints actually have their park in England, and Wrexham are a Welsh club playing in the English leagues. The involvement of all these non-Scottish clubs makes today one of the weirdest and most interesting matchdays in the Scottish football calendar.

Morton visit Inverness CT. You'll recall that Morton visited Inverness for a league match just eight days ago and Caley Thistle slapped them around to the tune of 5 - 0.

This is only the thirteenth Challenge Cup competition for ICT, but in that time they have won the cup twice and been runners-up two other times.

The last time Morton won a match in the Challenge Cup was August 19th, 2014, a 5 - 2 victory over Berwick Rangers at Cappielow. Since then the Ton have been eliminated by Alloa, Dumbarton, Queen's Park, Livingston, and Dumbarton again.

Morton and ICT have never met in the Challenge Cup before.

Referee is Willie Collum!

Morton have shipped 30 goals, league and cup, since this season began. They did not allow that number of goals until December 1st last season.

At the close of the transfer window Morton signed defenders Adam Livingstone and Jack Baird on loan from Motherwell and St Mirren respectively.

[Inverness CT 3 - 1 Morton. Morton goal by Sutton.]

The other matches:

Airdrieonians [3 - 2] Bohemians

Bohemians appeared in last year's Challenge Cup, beating Peterhead and Sutton United before a scheduling fiasco led them to withdraw from the quarter-finals. Nor have they left such difficulties behind. Today's match pre-empts Bohs' FAI Cup quarter-final against Crumlin United of the Leinster senior league, which will now go next week. Also, two Bohemians players have been called up for the Irish U21 squad.

Waterford 3 - 1 Hearts colts (last night)

This is the first time Waterford have participated in this cup. Waterford FC were called Waterford United before 2016. They were badly beaten by Celtic in the 1970-71 European Cup.

Formartine United [0 - 3] Glenavon

It's the first time in the Challenge Cup for Glenavon. Glenavon have faced Scottish opposition before: they played Kilmarnock in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup, losing 0 - 2 on aggregate. Formartine, who are in their fourth Challenge Cup, beat Livi colts and Peterhead to get to this game.

Ballymena United [0 - 1] Rangers colts (Sept 18)

First time for Ballymena. They were knocked out of this year's Europa League by Fouad Bachirou's Malmö FF. Rangers are without Kieran Wright, called up to the Scotland U21 squad. Ballymena are without Kofi Balmer.

Stenhousemuir [1 - 1] The New Saints

The New Saints have appeared in every edition of the Challenge Cup since Welsh clubs were admitted. In 2016-17 they beat Forfar and Livingston before losing to St Mirren. In 2017-18 they beat Livingston, Elgin City and Queen of the South, and then fell to rampant Dumbarton. Last year they lost to Queen's Park in their first game. [Stenny win the shootout.]

Connah's Quay Nomads [1 - 0] Cove Rangers

This is the Nomads' third Challenge Cup. In 2017-18 they were knocked out by Dumbarton in their first game. Last year they went to the final, beating Falkirk, Coleraine, Queen's Park and Edinburgh City before losing to Ross County.

Kelty Hearts [1 - 1] Solihill Moors

It's the first time in this cup for Solihull Moors. Guilty Hearts got to this game by beating Killie colts and Annan Athletic. [Solihull win the shootout.]

Wrexham [1 - 1] Ayr United

It's a road trip to Wales for the Honest Men, who are without Ross Doohan, Daniel Harvie, and Stephen Kelly, all called up to the Scotland U21s. [Wrexham win the shootout.]

Montrose [0 - 2] Partick Thistle

These two clubs have never met in the Challenge Cup before.

St Mirren colts [1 - 0] Stirling Albion

Meh. Colts. St Mirren are without Scotland U21 callups Kyle McAllister and Kyle Magennis.

Dundee United [0 - 0] Arbroath

Another all-Championship match. [Arbroath win the shootout.]

Clyde [3 - 2] Queen of the South

These two met in the first round of the 2007-08 Challenge Cup and Clyde won. QoS have to do without Scotland U21 callup Robbie McCrorie.

Raith Rovers [2 - 0] Falkirk

Romulus vs Remus. Raith currently lead League One, and Falkirk are in third place. This is their 30th meeting this decade.

Dundee [1 - 2] Elgin (tomorrow)

This is the first competitive match of any kind between these two clubs.

Dunfermline [1 - 2] Alloa

Another all-Championship match. These two also met five times last season. The towns of Dunfermline and Alloa are 29 miles apart as the wasp flies.

What a strange move on the part of the SPFL to introduce U21 squads to the Challenge Cup and then schedule a round on an international weekend when U21s are being called up.

Which 2019-20 Championship clubs have not yet played a non-Scottish team in the Challenge Cup?

Morton, Partick, Dundee, Arbroath.

League One:

Forfar [1 - 2] East Fife

Which teams have played the most 36-game seasons in the Scottish league?

44    Albion Rovers, Alloa, Brechin, Dumbarton, Stenhousemuir

43    Berwick, Forfar, Montrose, Stranraer

42    Cowdenbeath

41    Morton

1907-08: Morton hosted Heart of Midlothian and played them to a 1 - 1 draw.

1963-64: Morton returned to league play with a 5 - 1 win over Dumbarton on September 4th, and a 2 - 0 victory against Ayr United, both of them at Cappielow. Morton had now recorded nine wins in nine games, league and cup.

Scottish Cup: Jeanfield Swifts [2 - 5] Linlithgow Rose

SPFL Reserve League: Motherwell 2 - 0 Morton (Sept 2)

Lowland League: Edinburgh University [1 - 1] University of Stirling

Canadian Premier League:

Pacific 1 - 1 Forge (Sept 4)

Forge [2 - 1] York9 (Sept 8)

Which Canadian Premier League players have been called up for this weekend's Concacaf Nations League A games?

Marco Carducci (Cavalry) Canada

Ryan Telfer (York9) Trinidad and Tobago

SWFL2 W/SW: Mid Annandale Ladies [0 - 10] Morton Women (tomorrow)

Tohoku Soccer League: Saruta Kogyo [0 - 5] Iwaki FC (tomorrow)

Top, left to right: Ballymena United, Bohemians, Connah's Quay Nomads, Glenavon.

Bottom, left to right: Solihull Moors, The New Saints, Waterford, Wrexham.

Source: their Wikipedia pages.

Vintage Dundee

Vintage Dundee marmalade jars. Source.

Morton visit Inverness for a televised match against Caledonian Thistle.

Week Four finds Morton in second place, behind Dundee United by 3 points and ahead of Ayr on goals scored. It looks like Morton could stay ahead of everyone on goals scored this season. They presently have 9 after three league matches, compared to eight for Dundee United. It's the goals against column that needs work.

Morton have 29 goals for in all competitions and 25 against. Last season their 25th goal against came on Oct 30th, and their 29th goal for on Nov 24th.

This is Caley Thistle's third consecutive season in the Championship, and their ninth in tier II overall. They've spent twelve seasons in the top tier. So far this season they have a win, a loss and a draw.

The oldest player on the Caley Thistle squad is captain Carl Tremarco, aged 33.

Reghan Tumilty has been loaned to Dumbarton. Henk Van Schaik has left Morton to return to the Netherlands. Defender Stephen Welsh is signed on loan from Celtic.

[Oh! ICT 5 - 0 Morton.]

The other Championship matches:

Dundee United [6 - 2] Dundee (also tonight)

It's the first Dundee Derby of the season. This is the first meeting of these two teams since Round Two of the 2017-18 League Cup. Dundee FC won that time.

Partick Thistle [2 - 3] Ayr United (tomorrow)

Arbroath [1 - 0] Dunfermline (tomorrow)*

Queen of the South [0 - 1] Alloa (tomorrow)*

* These matches count as Round One of the Championship League Cup. (See below.)

League One (tomorrow):

Airdrieonians (4th) [0 - 0] Falkirk (2nd)

East Fife (6th) [4 - 2] Raith Rovers (1st)

Forfar (3rd) [0 - 0] Clyde (9th)

Montrose (10th) [1 - 2] Dumbarton (5th)

Stranraer (8th) [1 - 2] Peterhead (7th)

How many years did each club spend in the First Division/Championship this decade?

9        Falkirk, Queen of the South, Morton

7        Raith Rovers

6        Dunfermline, Livingston, Dumbarton

5        Partick Thistle, Alloa

4        Dundee, Cowdenbeath, Ayr United, Dundee United

3        Ross County, Hamilton, Hibs, St Mirren, Inverness CT

2        Rangers

1        Stirling Albion, Airdrie, Hearts, Brechin, Arbroath

0        everybody else

It's the Scottish Cup, second preliminary round:

Jeanfield Swifts vs Linlithgow Rose [postponed]

Girvan [0 - 1] Broxburn Athletic

Banks O'Dee [2 - 0] Golspie Sutherland

Threave Rovers [0 -2] Hill of Beath Hawthorn

Lochee United [5 - 2] LTHV

Whitehill Welfare [0 - 1] Penicuik Athletic

Camelon Juniors [0 - 2] Auchinleck Talbot

1907-08: On August 28th Morton and Port Glasgow Athletic played their Renfrewshire Cup second round replay, and Morton won 2 - 0.

On August 31st Morton were away to Aberdeen where they won 2 - 1.

1963-64: On August 28th visited Stranraer and won 1 - 2. It was the third meeting between these two clubs and still only August. On August 31st Morton visited Clyde and beat them 0 - 4. This brought the League Cup group stage to a conclusion. Morton were winners of Group 6 with six wins in six matches, 20 goals for and 4 goals against.

Port Glasgow Athletic versus Celtic. Port Glasgow played sixteen league matches against Celtic in Division One. Celtic won fourteen of them, Port Glasgow one (on Nov 11, 1905), with one draw. Celtic won all four of their Scottish Cup meetings, the most significant being the semi-final of the 1898-99 cup.

SPFL Reserve Cup: Morton 1 - 4 Motherwell (August 26)

[SWFL2 W/SW: Morton 8 - 0 Mid-Annandale Ladies]

Canadian Premier League:

York9 vs Forge (August 28) (postponed)

Valour 2 - 0 HFX Wanderers (August 28)

Cavalry 1 - 1 Pacific (August 28)

HFX Wanderers [0 - 0] Edmonton (Sept 2)

Valour [0 - 8] Cavalry (Sept 2)

MLS: Montreal Impact 2 - 1 Vancouver Whitecaps (August 28)

Bury FC have been expelled from the English league. They won the FA Cup in 1900 and 1903.

AFC Champions League QF, first leg:

Shanghai SIPG 2 - 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (Aug 27)

Guangzhou Evergrande 0 - 0 Kashima Antlers (Aug 28)

UEFA Europa League Playoff Round, second leg:

AIK 1 - 4 Celtic

Rangers 1 - 0 Legia Warsaw

Maribor 2 - 2 Ludogorets Razgrad

Qarabağ 2 - 1 Linfield

Bnei Yehuda 0 - 1 Malmö

CONCACAF League, Round of 16, second leg:

Independiente 2 - 1 Robinhood (Aug 27)

Olimpia [4 - 1] Forge (Aug 29)

Because of the rioting at that recent Olimpia league match this fixture was moved to San Pedro Sula on the north coast of Honduras and was played behind closed-door match.

Swiss Challenge League: Kriens [3 - 2] Winterthur (tomorrow)

Tohoku Soccer League: Iwaki FC [11 - 0] FC Primeiro (Sunday)

FC Primeiro is based in Koriyama, a city in the geographical centre of Fukushima Prefecture. The club was founded in 1996 after Fukushima FC were promoted to the old JFL. (Fukushima FC folded soon after.) They rapidly moved up the Tohoku League Division One, where they have played ever since. They have appeared in the Fukushima Prefecture championship ten times, winning seven times, but not since 2006, having been surpassed as top club in the prefecture by Fukushima United and now Iwaki FC.

The name Primeiro comes from the Portuguese for first and is written プリメーロ. Their colour scheme is light blue, black and white.

A made-up stat: the Championship League Cup

In the spirit of the Morton Castle Game and Statistical Third Lanark, here's the Championship League Cup. This competition, made up by me, and it's mine, uses actual Championship results to pit the ten teams of tier II against each other in a knockout tournament.

How it works:

Each club in the 2019-20 Scottish Championship is seeded 1 to 10 according to the 2018-19 final standings. Clubs that have entered for 2019-20 by promotion or relegation are inserted at the top and bottom. So this year's clubs are seeded

  1.  Dundee

  2.  Dundee United

  3.  Inverness CT

  4.  Ayr United

  5.  Morton

  6.  Partick Thistle

  7.  Dunfermline

  8.  Alloa

  9.  Queen of the South

10.  Arbroath

There are four rounds. Round One is played by teams 7 to 10. The two winners join teams 1 to 6 in Round Two. The four winners of Round Two go to the semi-finals, and the two semi-final winners to the final.

The teams are matched on the basis of highest seed versus lowest seed. Each encounter is single-game.

Results are taken from the actual matches played by the opponents in the 2019-20 Championship. Round One will use scores from the first quarter of the schedule, Round Two the second quarter, the semis the third quarter, and the final the fourth quarter.

If a match is postponed then the next league match between those two teams will count, even if it's not the re-arranged match, and even if it's in the next quarter.  In the event that a fixture is postponed so long that it takes place after the fixture it's supposed to set up I'll declare No Cup Winner Due To Temporal Distortion.

Draws are tricky because there can be no extra time, penalty-kicks or replays. In the event of a draw, I'll say that victory will go to the team with: (1) fewer red cards; and if they are still even, then (2) fewer yellow cards; and if they are still even, then (3) the greater number of corner kicks. If they're still even, the win will go to the visiting side.

[Round One results:

2019/8/30      Arbroath 1 - 0 Dunfermline

2019/8/30      Queen of the South 0 - 1 Alloa]

Around the Bend

A footrace at Cappielow in 1893, Wee Dublin End. Source.

Partick Thistle visit Cappielow for a televised Friday night match against Morton. Morton are third in the standings, Partick eighth.

In the League Cup group stage Partick beat Airdrieonians, Queen's Park and Clyde, and played Hamilton to a draw. The Accies won the shootout. Partick's 10 points earned them first place in the group and a match in Round Two against Ross County, which they won.

Playing for Partick this season are former Mortonners Thomas O'Ware and Gary Harkins. They also have onetime Rangers standout Kenny Miller. Miller is 39.

Reports are that Partick Thistle are skint and no longer even have a team bus.

So far this season Morton have scored 26 goals and allowed 23, league and cup. Last season they did not allow their 23rd goal until Oct 27, and they did not score their 26th goal until Nov 3rd.

[Morton have signed midfielder Luca Colville from Bradford City.]

The other Championship matches (Saturday):

Alloa (10th) [0 - 1] Arbroath (9th)

Ayr United (4th) [1 - 0] Queen of the South (7th)

Dundee (2nd) [0 - 0] Inverness CT (5th)

Dunfermline (6th) [0 - 2] Dundee United (1st)

[Morton 3 - 2 Partick. Morton goals by Cadden, Sutton and McLean. Morton were down 0 - 2 at the half.]

League One (Saturday):

Clyde (10th) [1 - 0] Falkirk (1st)

Dumbarton (6th) [3 - 1] Stranraer (5th)

East Fife (7th) [4 - 1] Airdrieonians (4th)

Peterhead (8th) [1 - 0] Forfar (3rd)

Raith Rovers (2nd) [3 - 0] Montrose (9th)

Which Championship clubs have up-to-date Current Season articles on Wikipedia?

Dundee, Dunfermine, Inverness CT, Queen of the South.

When did each Championship club last win or lose by a score of 1 - 0, and how many games ago was that?

2019/8/10      Ayr United (1)

2019/8/10      Dundee (2)

2019/7/28      Inverness CT (3)

2019/7/20      Dunfermline (5)

2019/7/13      Partick Thistle (7)

2019/5/14      Dundee United (10)

2019/5/4        Morton (8)

2019/4/13      Alloa (10)

2019/4/13      Queen of the South (14)

2019/4/6        Arbroath (11)

Manageria: Brechin have parted ways with manager Barry Smith. Smith played for Morton in 2008.

1907-08: On August 21st Port Glasgow Athletic and Morton played to a 2 - 2 draw in the second round of the Renfrewshire Cup.

On August 24th Morton hosted Celtic in their first home match of the season and lost 2 - 3. After three games against Glasgow clubs the Ton had one point.

1963-64: Morton got in their first league match of the season on August 21st in Stranraer, winning 1 - 3. On August 24th Ayr United visited Cappielow for a League Cup group stage match which Morton won 5 - 2.

Port Glasgow Athletic versus Partick Thistle. These two were members of the 1891-92 Scottish Alliance. Their games:

1891/12/5        Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Port Glasgow Athletic

1892/1/23        Port Glasgow Athletic 2 - 2 Partick Thistle

They played twenty-eight Scottish League games, Partick winning fourteen, Port Glasgow ten, with four draws.

SPFL Reserve League: Morton 1 - 2 Hamilton (Aug 19)

SWFL2 W/SW: Morton Women [7 - 0] Rutherglen (Sunday)

2019-20 South Region Challenge Cup, Round One:

Berwick Rangers [4 - 0] Newtongrange Star (Saturday)

The South Region Challenge Cup is a knockout tournament played by the clubs of the Lowland League, East of Scotland League and South of Scotland League, plus Glasgow University. It's run by the SFA and bears some organizational resemblance to the Scottish Cup. It was started in 2007 when SFA licensees were first admitted directly into the Scottish Cup and the South Qualifying Cup was scrapped. There was once a North Region Challenge Cup too, but it only lasted a couple of seasons. Spartans and East Kilbride have each won it three times.

There are a lot of clubs in this competition, so for this year off I'll just track the Lowland League teams, two of which should make it to the final.

Tohoku Soccer League: Iwaki FC [9 - 1] Akita FC Cambiare (Sunday)

Swiss Challenge League: Grasshopper Club Zurich [2 - 2] Winterthur

The Swiss Challenge league is like the Scottish Championship in that every year it includes a team that never falls out of the top tier, except for this one time. This year it's Grasshoppers. They have won the Swiss league 27 times, the Swiss Cup 19 times, and they made the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1977-78. This is their first time out of the top division since 1951.

UEFA Europa League Playoff Round, first leg (Aug 22):

Celtic 2 - 0 AIK

Legia Warsaw 0 - 0 Rangers

Ludogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Maribor

Linfield 3 - 2 Qarabağ

Malmö 3 - 0 Bnei Yehuda

CONCACAF League, Round of 16, first leg:

Robinhood 1 - 1 Independiente (Aug 20)

CA Independiente are from La Chorrera, Panama. They wear black and gold.

Forge 1 - 0 Olimpia (Aug 22)

CD Olimpia was founded 107 years ago. They have been winners of the Honduran league 30 times, the CONCACAF Champions Cup' twice, and more to the point they won this very competition two years ago. They wear white at home, or red, white and blue away. This is not Olimpia's first game against a Canadian side: in the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League group stage they played to a 1 - 1 draw and a 1 - 2 loss against Montreal Impact.

Olimpia's stadium was the scene of rioting Saturday as Olimpia fans attacked the team bus of their rival Motagua, and the riot police were called in. Four people were killed.

Canadian Premier League:

Valour 3 - 1 Edmonton (Aug 19)

HFX Wanderers vs Forge (Aug 21) (postponed)

Cavalry 3 - 1 York 9 (Aug 21)

Pacific [2 - 1] Valour (Saturday)

Forge [1 - 0] Cavalry (Sunday)

Edmonton [2 - 2] York9 (Sunday)

MLS: Toronto FC [1 - 2] Montreal Impact (Saturday)

Which Canadian Premier League parks have floodlights?

Wanderers Grounds (Halifax)    Got 'em.

York Lions Stadium (York9)       Got 'em.

Tim Hortons Field (Hamilton)    Got 'em.

IG Field (Winnipeg)                   Got 'em

Clarke Stadium (Edmonton)      Got 'em.

Westhills Stadium (Langford)    Got 'em.

Spruce Meadows (Calgary)       Need 'em.

I don't know what they're thinking at Cavalry FC. Their October home games are scheduled to kick off at sundown. Story.