Few Morton fans will relish Ayr match after Falkirk defeat

Friday night football comes after what, if I was to be kind, I would describe as a sub-standard performance at Falkirk last weekend - sub-standard doesn’t scratch the surface though.

It was an afternoon to forget in Falkirk (Image: Gary Bradley) THAT 10-2 defeat at Hamilton will always be indelibly scarred on Morton’s history. But since then, I can only remember two such games in which Morton were so abysmal and that was when David Hopkin’s gang of misfits shipped five and six at Inverness and Dundee United respectively a month apart five years ago.

Saturday’s mauling from a buoyant Bairns side who, it pains me to say, were magnificent on the day, certainly fell into the same category of those miserable days of 2019.

Most travelling to Grangemouth last weekend were doing so more in hope than expectation anyway, but in all honesty, our worst fears weren’t even realised.

Despite scoring four in a dominant second half, Morton’s hosts took the foot off the gas in that period, and on a day that Morton suffered badly, they could be grateful that Falkirk settled for six.

Falkirk outclassed Morton last time out (Image: Gary Bradley)

Dougie Imrie said after the match that this was the lowest point in his tenure in charge of Morton, and he was left with a feeling he never wants to feel again.

The Cappielow support can all echo those sentiments, but this was the first time in Imrie’s three years at Cappielow that some had felt that Morton were beaten before a ball was kicked.

Though Falkirk deserved grudging praise, Morton made it far too easy for John McGlynn’s side.

When Keelan Adams nodded in the opener from Calvin Miller’s free kick, Morton’s defence was so static that had Adams not connected, teammate Dylan Tait would also have had a free header to give Falkirk a lead.

From their perspective, the second was a fine goal - an excellent passing move from which Miller’s pinpoint cross was expertly glanced home by Ethan Ross. From Morton’s - it was abysmal. They were far too passive and far too slow to close their opponents down.

Ton's defence was all over the place (Image: Gary Bradley)

They went down the tunnel at the break thankful to on-loan Lewis Budinauckas for keeping the score line respectable at that point.

Of course, any of Imrie’s best-laid plans to get back into the match were torn up within a minute of the restart when Falkirk were awarded a penalty and the floodgates opened.

Though Budinauckas was perhaps the only Morton player to come out with any credit, and Zak Delaney the only other not deserving of the wrath of the support on the day, some were more culpable than others, or at least, should be held to higher standards.

I was scathing in my assessment of Jack Baird’s conduct, that could've led to a red card in the midweek defeat by Queen’s Park, only for him to repeat his misdemeanour at 1-0 and again find himself extremely fortunate not to see red.

The conduct of his central defensive partner Kirk Broadfoot on his substitution in throwing a temper tantrum towards his manager grates.

Like Baird, it was not for the first time - he did similar against East Fife in July.

The only positive that can be taken from the match was the return of Morgan Boyes to the team, and if that sees at least one of Morton’s two experienced centre backs warming the bench, there won’t be any complaints from sections of the support anyway.

Dougie Imrie could ring the changes tonight, even with a depleted squad (Image: Gary Bradley) Such was the debacle of last weekend, I’ve not even mentioned the return of old friend George Oakley to Cappielow yet.

While I’m sure the former fans’ favourite will get a more hostile reception than he probably deserves, Ayr will look at the match as an opportunity to correct a similarly poor run of results that has seen them win only one of their last four league games since beating Morton at Somerset Park in September.

With this being a dress rehearsal for when the two clubs meet in the Scottish Cup at the end of the month, and Morton teetering on the brink of the relegation play-off places, one can only hope that last weekend’s horror show proves to be a sliding doors moment in Morton’s season.

And one that results in a positive reaction, as has been the case around this time of year in the last two seasons.

Under Imrie, Morton have generally reacted well to their more chastening setbacks. That’s something that we'd be glad to see a repeat of.