Poet W. S. Graham (1918-1986) was born at 1 Hope Street, Greenock, a short hike uphill from Well Park. He pronounced the word "poem" poyyem. Source. Wikipedia. Greenockian. Poetry Foundation. A reading.
Morton host Brechin City.
It's the moment of reckoning for Brechin. They have to win today, and in every remaining game until the end of the season, and Dumbarton must lose all of theirs, otherwise Brechin are relegated.
Brechin have accumulated only 4 points all season, which they earned in draws with Livi, Falkirk, Dundee United and Morton. At this rate they'll finish with 5, easily the record for futility in the 3-point-win era, or at any time since Clyde's 4 points in 1899-00, if you don't count the teams that had their records expunged.
The last time Morton relegated a divisional rival was the final weekend of the 2009-10 schedule when they beat Ayr United and sent them down to the Second Division.
For their part Morton need to take advantage of this opportunity to win an easy one, and to fill the goalmouth while they're at it, as they are one of four teams chasing two playoff spots, and Dunfermline have the better goal difference. A manita today would be timely.
Have Brechin allowed five goals in a league match this season? No. How many have they allowed and how often?
4 goals 5 times
3 goals 7 times
2 goals 6 times
1 goal 10 times
none 0 times
Brechin did lose 5 - 0 to Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
Have Morton scored five in a league match this season? No. But they did beat Edinburgh City 5 - 0 in the League Cup.
[Morton win 2 - 0. Both goals by John Baird. Morton move into third place.]
This will probably be the last meeting between Morton and Brechin for a while, as Brechin will be in League One as well as the northern half of the League Cup. What was the longest stretch between competitive matches involving these two clubs? April 17, 1967 to August 10, 1983, or sixteen complete seasons.
Other match of the day: Dundee United [1 - 1] Dunfermline.
1978-79. On this date Morton hosted Dundee United and won 3 - 1. Goals by Anderson, McNeil and Tolmie.
1933-34. On this date in 1934 Morton were at home to Brechin City. Morton won 4 - 2.
1944-45. On this date in 1945 Morton were home to Hamilton Academical and won 1 - 0.
The Costa Rican national team practiced at Cappielow on Wednesday.
Morton's best goal differences:
+98 1963-64 Division Two (2 of 2)
+93 1966-67 Division Two (2 of 2)
+68 1936-37 Division Two (2 of 2)
+57 1935-36 Division Two (2 of 2)
+51 1915-16 Division One (1 of 2)
+51 1962-63 Division Two (2 of 2)
+44 1949-50 Division B (2 of 2)
+44 2006-07 2nd Division (3 of 4)
+43 1977-78 Division One (2 of 3)
+41 1899-00 Division Two (2 of 2)
Morton's last ten league games this decade:
2017-18 LDD [WDLWLLL 7 points]
2016-17 WLDLDLLDLD 7 points
2015-16 DLWWLDWLDL 12 points
2014-15 WLLWWLWWWW 21 points
2013-14 LLLWWLWDL 10 points
2012-13 WWWLWLLWLL 15 points
2011-12 DLWDDWLDDL 11 points
2010-11 DWLDWWLLLL 11 points
Since 1994, which clubs have played the most seasons in tier III with Morton?
6 Forfar
5 Stirling Albion
Alloa
4 Stenhousemuir
Ayr United
Brechin
Stranraer
Dumbarton
Berwick
It's the final of the 2017-18 Scottish Challenge Cup: Dumbarton vs Inverness CT at McDiarmid Park in Perth. ICT won the cup in 2003-04, and were runners-up two other times. This is Dumbarton's first trip to the final. In fact it's Dumbarton's first trip to any final in a national cup since the St Mungo Quaich of 1951, and before that the Scottish Cup of 1896-97.
In league play this season each side has one win. Dumbarton and ICT have never met in the Challenge Cup before, though they have met twice in the League Cup, Inverness winning both times.
Has any club won the Challenge Cup right after relegation from the Premiership?
Yes. Dundee, 1990-91. Falkirk, 1993-94. Dundee United, 2016-17.
Has any club won the cup just before relegation to tier III?
Yes. Ross County, 2006-07.
Has any club won the cup right before liquidation?
Yes. Airdrieonians, 2001-02.
Which SPFL club was the first one eliminated from all three domestic cups this year?
Edinburgh City, Annan, Stirling Albion, Cowdenbeath were all knocked out of Round Two of the Scottish Cup, having been previously eliminated from the League Cup and the Challenge Cup, but Edinburgh City's game was scheduled a day earlier, so they were the first out of all three cups.
Which parks have hosted the Challenge Cup final and how often?
McDiarmid Park, Perth 10 times, including today
Fir Park, Motherwell 5 times
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld 4 times
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie twice
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston twice
Love Street, Paisley once
Dens Park, Dundee once
Easter Road, Glasgow once
Hampden Park, Glasgow once
[Inverness win 1 - 0.]
Abruzzo:
Francavilla [1 - 1] Pineto
L'Aquila [1 - 1] Avezzano
Regionalliga Südwest: 1. FC Saarbrücken [0 - 1] Koblenz
League Of Ireland, First Division: UCD [3 - 1] Cabinteely
SWFL Division 1 South: Queen's Park [3 - 0] Morton
J2: Oita Trinita 3 - 1 Mito HollyHock (March 21st)
Mito HollyHock [0 - 0] Yokohama FC (March 25th)
Mito joined the J League in the year 2000 and have played every season in J2. They have never finished above seventh place or with a goal difference in positive numbers. They have averaged more than 1 goal per game in only half their seasons; by far their best was 1.37 in 2009 (70 goals in 51 games, but they allowed 79).