Ramsdens Cup Greenock Morton 2-0 Albion Rovers
By Matthew Harold:Morton boss Allan Moore was satisfied after his team were made to work by a stubborn Albion Rovers to advance to the second round of the Ramsdens Cup.
Second half goals from Tony Wallace and David O’Brien secured the Cappielow side’s passage into the next round against a determined Second Division outfit.
“It was a
competent performance, that’s what I’ll say," said Moore. "The last couple of
games we’ve knocked the ball about pretty nicely, but Premier
League teams let you do that. Albion Rovers didn’t let us do that today.
“They were in our faces from the start, a lot of bodies behind the ball, it’s difficult to break them down and we were saying that to the boys. They were getting a bit frustrated at half time.
“They were in our faces from the start, a lot of bodies behind the ball, it’s difficult to break them down and we were saying that to the boys. They were getting a bit frustrated at half time.
“We felt we could lift the pace a wee bit more. We felt if we
got our full backs more into the game we could cause them problems,
because we were getting matched up everywhere on the pitch.
“We told [Scott] Taggart and [Willie] Dyer to get round the outside, because they’re not being matched up because their forwards aren’t going to chase them and that’s what happened, we got down that side of the pitch with the full back and got a body in the box and started to capitalise.”
“We told [Scott] Taggart and [Willie] Dyer to get round the outside, because they’re not being matched up because their forwards aren’t going to chase them and that’s what happened, we got down that side of the pitch with the full back and got a body in the box and started to capitalise.”
He added: “I didn’t feel as if we were going to lose a goal at any stage. I was
disappointed with them, I just felt we could have lifted the pace a
little bit and when we did that for 15 minutes in the second half, got
our two goals and I said that to them after full time, 'if it gets to two
goals they can drop the pace as much as they want as long as they keep a
clean sheet.'
"It was good to get a couple of the boys 90 minutes and managed to get a
couple of the subs on, it’s a clean sheet and we look solid
defensively.”
The former Stirling Albion boss was happy with how his side performed,
as they adapt to a new system, with one lone frontman, which Moore
claims his side will be playing in the upcoming season.
He said: “At the end of the day I thought the boy Rutkiewicz strolled through the game today, I thought he was outstanding and we do look solid at the back, we don’t look as potent as we should be with the one up front, but its early days, it’s a system we are trying to adopt.
“I don’t think a lot of teams in the first division are going with two strikers, but we’ve got four, we’ve got Peter MacDonald still to come back as well.”
Moore also confirmed the signing of former Hamilton forward Kyle Wilkie, saying: “Kyle Wilkie will be tied up on Monday, so that’s another one added to the squad.”
He said: “At the end of the day I thought the boy Rutkiewicz strolled through the game today, I thought he was outstanding and we do look solid at the back, we don’t look as potent as we should be with the one up front, but its early days, it’s a system we are trying to adopt.
“I don’t think a lot of teams in the first division are going with two strikers, but we’ve got four, we’ve got Peter MacDonald still to come back as well.”
Moore also confirmed the signing of former Hamilton forward Kyle Wilkie, saying: “Kyle Wilkie will be tied up on Monday, so that’s another one added to the squad.”
The First Division side had started the brightest, but couldn’t get in behind the Albion Rovers rear-guard as they found Rovers keeper Chris McCluskey in top form, as he thwarted attempts from O’Brien, Mark McLaughlin and Craig Reid in the first half to keep the sides level.
However he wasn’t as fortunate in the second period, as Morton found their stride and Wallace got on the end of an O’Brien cross from the left wing and guided his header into the top corner to put the Greenock side into the lead.
That when then extended minutes lead, when O’Brien turned from provider to scorer, playing a neat one-two with Michael Tidser, before stroking the ball beyond the helpless McCluskey to double Morton’s advantage and book a place in the second round.
The visitors were reduced to ten men late on as Tony Stevenson when in for a challenge with Tidser, which referee John Beaton deemed to be violent and the Rovers midfielder was sent from the field.
His opposite number Todd Lumsden was frustrated after his first game in charge, feeling his half-time team talk had fallen on deaf ears.
However he wasn’t as fortunate in the second period, as Morton found their stride and Wallace got on the end of an O’Brien cross from the left wing and guided his header into the top corner to put the Greenock side into the lead.
That when then extended minutes lead, when O’Brien turned from provider to scorer, playing a neat one-two with Michael Tidser, before stroking the ball beyond the helpless McCluskey to double Morton’s advantage and book a place in the second round.
The visitors were reduced to ten men late on as Tony Stevenson when in for a challenge with Tidser, which referee John Beaton deemed to be violent and the Rovers midfielder was sent from the field.
His opposite number Todd Lumsden was frustrated after his first game in charge, feeling his half-time team talk had fallen on deaf ears.
“We spoke at half time, how we had restricted them to one header from the edge of the box with a good save," he said. "Just to stay concentrated, how to play against the lone striker and not allow him to come off and link the play.
“The first ball in the second half, he flicks over the corner, they cross it in and they score, so everything we spoke about at half time went out the window.”
He was full of praise from his new goalkeeper Chris McCluskey, who replaced the current Morton number one Derek Gaston at Cliftonhill.
“The first ball in the second half, he flicks over the corner, they cross it in and they score, so everything we spoke about at half time went out the window.”
He was full of praise from his new goalkeeper Chris McCluskey, who replaced the current Morton number one Derek Gaston at Cliftonhill.
He said: “He did well, Chris, in the second half in particular. The saves he made kept us in it, but that’s what he gets paid for, so he’s made some good saves.
“What I did like in the first half was he was quite alert for balls over the top and was quite sharp off his line sweeping, so for him he did really well.”
Greenock Morton: Gaston, Taggart, Dyer, Reid, Rutkiewicz, McLaughlin (Naismith, 70), Stirling, Tidser, Wallace (Graham, 77), Weatherson (Campbell, 73), O’Brien
Subs Not Used: Halsman, Combe (GK)
Albion Rovers: McCluskey, Reid, Russell, Stevenson, O’Bryne, Donnelly, Stevenson, Innes, Crooks (Howarth, 70), Dick (Marriott, 59), Phillips
Subs Not Used: Boyle, Brennan, McWilliams (GK)
Attendance: 1,269
Referee: John Beaton
Man of the Match: David O'Brien (Greenock Morton)
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“What I did like in the first half was he was quite alert for balls over the top and was quite sharp off his line sweeping, so for him he did really well.”
Greenock Morton: Gaston, Taggart, Dyer, Reid, Rutkiewicz, McLaughlin (Naismith, 70), Stirling, Tidser, Wallace (Graham, 77), Weatherson (Campbell, 73), O’Brien
Subs Not Used: Halsman, Combe (GK)
Albion Rovers: McCluskey, Reid, Russell, Stevenson, O’Bryne, Donnelly, Stevenson, Innes, Crooks (Howarth, 70), Dick (Marriott, 59), Phillips
Subs Not Used: Boyle, Brennan, McWilliams (GK)
Attendance: 1,269
Referee: John Beaton
Man of the Match: David O'Brien (Greenock Morton)
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