SATURDAY football threatens to return to Cappielow for the first time in seven weeks this weekend as Morton prepare to lock horns with Partick Thistle once again.
Although it looks like we’ll be asking mother nature to be kind to those of a footballing persuasion if we’re to finally see Morton run out in front of the Cowshed for a traditional 3pm kick off.
READ MORE: Morton showed true character in Raith victory says Delaney
The visit of Partick is, of course, one of the spicier fixtures on the calendar. If we throw in some other factors, such as the Firhill side's formidable run of form, Morton’s magnificent late victory in Kirkcaldy and the birthday celebrations of the Morton fans’ favourite returning hero Brian Graham, there are enough ingredients to ensure tomorrow’s match should be one to keep an eye on.
There can be no denying that Kris Doolan’s side will go into the match as strong favourites to continue their run of four wins and a draw in their last five before the Championship takes a week’s hiatus for the Scottish Cup Third Round next weekend.
But few who travelled to Fife last week would not admit to feeling quite good about life after Morton snatched the points at the death in a Stark’s Park thriller.
It wouldn’t be too outlandish to suggest that optimism was in short supply as we made the way to Kirkcaldy, but Ton turned the formbook on its head by flying out the traps with a quite fantastic team goal.
The move was finished off by Filip Stuparevic, with the Serbian hitman doubling his account 20 minutes later with a near post header from an Alexander King corner.
Although Morton could have gone into the break three-nil up, but for Kevin Dabrowski smothering Stuparevic’s shot when the officials really should have stopped play for Jack Hamilton’s head knock.
Though Raith were markedly better in the second half, it felt the game turned in their favour when the Motherwell loanee was forced off with an injury.
Morton were forced further and further back, and fans lost count of the number of times the ball was cleared to the halfway line only for Fankatay Dabo to return it with interest.
The backs-to-the-wall effort was of course only outdone by a Zak Delaney own goal and a controversial late penalty, dispatched with aplomb by Easton, but credit must go to Dougie Imrie’s team for never giving up.
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While Michael Garrity will have been delighted to have got the final touch that secured the points, the winning goal must feel like a real personal triumph for Jordan Davies, who has endured a difficult start to his Morton career, but got what one can only hope will be his watershed moment.
They weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the late, late show of course - the scenes of celebration in the away end were a joy to be a part of, the sort of moment that makes it all worthwhile, especially after a difficult month or so on our travels.
Saturday’s result was a boost for a number of reasons - leaving real daylight between Morton and Airdrie at the foot of the table, while keeping Ton above Dunfermline in ninth, and dragging us closer to the mid-table pack.
With two very difficult home fixtures coming up before we play the current bottom two just before Christmas, it can’t be emphasised just how important those extra two points could prove to be.
That’s not to say Morton can’t take something from Partick, or Livingston at Cappielow, however.
READ MORE: Cameron Blues praises Morton character after Raith win
The Maryhill side are in a good place, with the evergreen Graham and teammate Scott Robinson both in prolific goal-scoring form and Steven Lawless returning from long-term injury last weekend, the expectation is that they put the foot down and pursue the title from here.
In a more pleasing prospect, Morton’s bench has looked a bit busier in recent weeks. Injuries are clearing up, and we’ve already put a spanner in Partick's title quest with an opening day goalless draw at Firhill.
With Stuparevic having his best game in the blue and white hoops in Kirkcaldy, I suspect our prospects with depend on the severity of the knock he picked up last weekend.
The last time Morton played at Cappielow on a Saturday, it was a day of great birthday celebrations, with a fitting result in the end. Hopefully all this week’s birthday boy has to celebrate are his advancing years.
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