Greenock Morton v Ayr United

[AyrshireTon]

9 minutes ago, munro7 said:

Thought it was a weird game in that we controlled large portions of it without ever looking like scoring. Morton didn’t massively threaten until they sussed we looked like conceding from every single ball into our box! Couldn’t see us getting back into it but they fortunately decided to defend a corner like we would!

Didn’t get a great view of any of the disallowed goals although given the referee gave a free kick every time a Morton player fell over it’s no surprise he’d give a foul on the keeper for even a hint of contact.

Think I was the only one not to cheer the last one as I saw the flag go up against whoever sent the header back to Muirhead. Miles offside.

The first looked like a foul on the keeper. Not so sure about the other - thought  McAdams landed on someone and lost control of the ball.

Edited March 26, 2022 by AyrshireTon

[Guest]

Two terrible teams, an utter dross game and a draw a fair result in the end.

I did think we were fortunate with the first disallowed goal but the ref did seem to give lots of fouls for minimal contact, so probably consistent in that respect.

I did think Ayr finished much the stronger but our prior stuff was pathetic so all in all a point was fair and keeps us both out of harms way for another week or two...

[vikingTON]

Disappointed with our performance today, although the point with results elsewhere leaves us in a very safe position.

We could have gone 2-0 up if it weren't for an IMO non-existent foul from Ugwu on McAdams (second of their clashes). We wouldn't have deserved to win though. 

Imrie laid his first real egg as manager today by bizarrely refusing to put subs on, while Ayr added three fresh players to get back in the game. McInroy beats Blues and hits a deflected shot for the corner from which Ayr equalised with a good header from Adiloye. Simply shoring up the midfield with Lyon before that goal would have seen us home IMO. 

Imrie's mission is probably accomplished - which really can't be downplayed given how much of a nick we were in last December. There still needs to be ruthless decisions made in the close season about this squad though. Those should include Ugwu though who seems to be getting a free pass for frankly disinterested performances. 

[D'Jaffo]

Disappointed with our performance today, although the point with results elsewhere leaves us in a very safe position.
We could have gone 2-0 up if it weren't for an IMO non-existent foul from Ugwu on McAdams (second of their clashes). We wouldn't have deserved to win though. 
Imrie laid his first real egg as manager today by bizarrely refusing to put subs on, while Ayr added three fresh players to get back in the game. McInroy beats Blues and hits a deflected shot for the corner from which Ayr equalised with a good header from Adiloye. Simply shoring up the midfield with Lyon before that goal would have seen us home IMO. 
Imrie's mission is probably accomplished - which really can't be downplayed given how much of a nick we were in last December. There still needs to be ruthless decisions made in the close season about this squad though. Those should include Ugwu though who seems to be getting a free pass for frankly disinterested performances. 

Ugwu was fucking rotten today which was a relief after he ragdolled us in the last two games between the sides. Seemed more intent on handbags with Muirhead and trying to win free kicks. Iain Wilson was the standout for me in the Morton team today. He’s at least doubled in size since I last saw him play and he strolls about the park both tackling and zinging 40 yarders in equal measure.

[Paisley Ton]

Looked so much like an end of season game with nothing at stake from us.

With the weather as it was MCT need to release some money to have the pitch watered, played more like that plastic shite with ball bobbling  all over the place.

Ref was a anti Queens man, first and second were goals with Goolie lost in space.

We look very tired need energy injection to finish the season off.

Ugwu looks like he is protecting fitness, has had a few injuries over the years so keeping fit and getting a contract somewhere nest season is his priority I think. Bin him for Killie game.  

[port-ton]

Ugwu probably needs dropped and has been ranging from average to awful the past 6 weeks or so but wouldn't say there's any lack of effort, just quality. 

Too much recency bias going on for some Morton fans with regards to him for me. If he was consistent enough to be at his best every week he would be nowhere near Morton or have the amount of clubs he's had, but judged over the course of the season he's been absolutely vital to us and more than worthy of a new contract. 

We'd be cutting our nose off to spite our face by not offering him anything based on some poor form towards the end of the season. Break over the summer and I'd have every confidence in him coming back refreshed and being the cult hero and absolute nuisance for championship defences he's been for the majority of the season. 

[Dunning1874]

A frustrating watch, with a flat performance generally and disappointingly reactive subs. There were some fine individual performances and Russell in particular was excellent defensively, but as a team performance it just didn't really click. Make those changes at least 10 minutes earlier and it probably goes some way to us seeing the game out with fresh legs in midfield, where we'd been breathing out our arses. We couldn't deal with Adeloye, but we didn't even make any attempt to change things to do so: the subs have been coming later and later in recent weeks and I was hoping Imrie being back in the dugout would change that, but apparently not.

On the three disallowed goals, the offside was clearly a mile off while the first half foul on McAdams is one that probably isn't a foul but a referee is going to give 99 times out of 100 when a player contests with a goalkeeper like that, so no big complaints about those. The second half foul on McAdams was an outrageous decision though, McAdams just fumbled it and jumped into Ugwu as he lost it. There was nothing even remotely approaching a foul there.

It would take an almighty collapse from here to end up going down, but we could have guaranteed safety over the last couple of games. It's been a missed opportunity.

[vikingTON]

5 hours ago, port-ton said:

Ugwu probably needs dropped and has been ranging from average to awful the past 6 weeks or so but wouldn't say there's any lack of effort, just quality. 

Too much recency bias going on for some Morton fans with regards to him for me. If he was consistent enough to be at his best every week he would be nowhere near Morton or have the amount of clubs he's had, but judged over the course of the season he's been absolutely vital to us and more than worthy of a new contract. 

We'd be cutting our nose off to spite our face by not offering him anything based on some poor form towards the end of the season. Break over the summer and I'd have every confidence in him coming back refreshed and being the cult hero and absolute nuisance for championship defences he's been for the majority of the season. 

Compare his pressing in the home game against Queen of the South to his efforts in recent weeks and it is night and day. Like Oliver, he only puts in the hard work when he can be arsed - which boils my pish more than any other trait in a footballer.

Ugwu should be dropped and absolutely should not be a priority for a contract. The first forward we should try to secure is Reilly - who does do the hard work every week - and the others can be taken or left based on what Imrie is eyeing up in the transfer market. 

On the positive side for us, the wing backs did well considering both haven't started for weeks and fitted into the system well. Hynes is a major downgrade on Brandon but did what he could and was unlucky with a strike over the bar. Russell was solid at left-wing back, which we might need to consider for next season as Strapp will probably be going elsewhere. 

[AYRSHIRE_ANGUS]

Why did a whole load of Morton fans start piling in behind the goal with about 15 minutes to go? Especially given you were attacking the WDE in the second half? Just seemed a bit odd.

Edited March 27, 2022 by AYRSHIRE_ANGUS

[wuffster]

30 minutes ago, AYRSHIRE_ANGUS said:

Why did a whole load of Morton fans start piling in behind the goal with about 15 minutes to go? Especially given you were attacking the WDE in the second half? Just seemed a bit odd.

Tannoy in main stand said that they would be stopped from crossing the corner where Ayr players left the pitch from about 10 minutes to go (seemed excessive!). I think it was just that. Preparing for a quick getaway.

[madton]

With the away team changing in the gym, right beside the home gate, the area around it is cordoned off before kick off, at half time and at full time to allow away teams to come and go.

Rather than wait an extra 5-10 mins in the cowshed at the end of the game  for the away team and management to get in the gym, fans can go behind the goal and leave via the other entrance.

Not ideal but you'd think Morton had joined Russia in bombing Ukraine by the way some fans have reacted to this. 

Hopefully next season away teams will be back in the away dressing room and all will be forgotten.

[GiGi]

The whole caper of away teams going to change in an area that blocks off the home support needs to get in the bin now. It's a covid measure but probably one of the most futile imaginable. The players are in physical contact for 90 minutes, shake hands at the end of the game but they can't head down the same corridor when it's done. Total pish.

[AsimButtHitsASix]

On the highlights it really looks as tho an Ayr player is purposefully obstructing Hamilton from getting across the goal for their equaliser. Particularly annoying as anytime Ugwu glanced in McAdam's direction it was a foul.

[jm86]

Looking at the highlights, it’s perfectly clear that the ref got all 3 chalked off “goals” correct. For the first Ugwu simply clattered into the goalie without touching the ball himself. Seemed to stick his elbow into the goalie’s chest and had an arm across his face. He might also have handled the ball, not sure. Also, for good measure, he simultaneously almost had Muirhead’s shirt off his back. If you’re going to commit a foul, might as well go the full Monty.

For the second, again he didn’t touch the ball but had the goalie in a brief headlock just as he was about to catch the ball. Quite hard to spot in real time, but the ref had a clear view. Big Ugwu clearly likes to put himself about a bit, which is admirable (within reason).

For the third, the guy who headed the ball back to the “scorer” was yards offside. Linesman’s flag went up immediately he touched the ball.

For Ayr’s goal, an opponent has no obligation to get out of the road of the goalie. You see this sort of thing in almost every game.

[GiGi]

46 minutes ago, jm86 said:

Looking at the highlights, it’s perfectly clear that the ref got all 3 chalked off “goals” correct. For the first Ugwu simply clattered into the goalie without touching the ball himself. Seemed to stick his elbow into the goalie’s chest and had an arm across his face. He might also have handled the ball, not sure. Also, for good measure, he simultaneously almost had Muirhead’s shirt off his back. If you’re going to commit a foul, might as well go the full Monty.

For the second, again he didn’t touch the ball but had the goalie in a brief headlock just as he was about to catch the ball. Quite hard to spot in real time, but the ref had a clear view. Big Ugwu clearly likes to put himself about a bit, which is admirable (within reason).

For the third, the guy who headed the ball back to the “scorer” was yards offside. Linesman’s flag went up immediately he touched the ball.

For Ayr’s goal, an opponent has no obligation to get out of the road of the goalie. You see this sort of thing in almost every game.

Aye timestamp that one.

The first looked a foul, the second looked totally fair and McAdams made a c**t of it.

The offside decision looked correct at the time and definitely was.

[AsimButtHitsASix]

12 hours ago, jm86 said:

For Ayr’s goal, an opponent has no obligation to get out of the road of the goalie. You see this sort of thing in almost every game.

He has no obligation to get out of the way but he purposefully backs into him and blocks his path. 

[D'Jaffo]

He has no obligation to get out of the way but he purposefully backs into him and blocks his path. 

He stands in front of him granted, but Hamilton wasn’t coming for that ball anyway. He doesn’t even appeal to the ref when the goal goes in. Absolutely nothing wrong with our goal.

The disallowed Morton goals are nothing unusual though. Everyone knows that if you contest a ball with the goalie and he falls on his arse then the ref is giving a foul. It’s a nonsense rule and goalies are given far too much protection these days. However as others have pointed out, Roncone was giving Morton free kicks for everything all over the park so it was only in keeping with how he was managing the game that he gives us a couple soft free kicks in our box.

Imries post match interview was a laugh though considering he thinks his team were in control for large parts of the match. A draw was a fair result and both teams only scored due to horrendous defending.

[SpoonTon]

14 hours ago, jm86 said:

Looking at the highlights, it’s perfectly clear that the ref got all 3 chalked off “goals” correct. For the first Ugwu simply clattered into the goalie without touching the ball himself. Seemed to stick his elbow into the goalie’s chest and had an arm across his face. He might also have handled the ball, not sure. Also, for good measure, he simultaneously almost had Muirhead’s shirt off his back. If you’re going to commit a foul, might as well go the full Monty.

For the second, again he didn’t touch the ball but had the goalie in a brief headlock just as he was about to catch the ball. Quite hard to spot in real time, but the ref had a clear view. Big Ugwu clearly likes to put himself about a bit, which is admirable (within reason).

For the third, the guy who headed the ball back to the “scorer” was yards offside. Linesman’s flag went up immediately he touched the ball.

For Ayr’s goal, an opponent has no obligation to get out of the road of the goalie. You see this sort of thing in almost every game.

To call it a headlock is a bit bizarre but he does put his hand over McAdams face (limiting his view) so, like with the other disallowed goals, I think the ref made the correct call. That being said, McAdams was weak with both of them.

[AsimButtHitsASix]

4 hours ago, D'Jaffo said:

He stands in front of him granted, but Hamilton wasn’t coming for that ball anyway. He doesn’t even appeal to the ref when the goal goes in. Absolutely nothing wrong with our goal.
 

He instantly appeals to the referee and the issue with him blocking Hamilton isn't that it blocks him from coming to claim the cross but blocks his movement across the line to make the save. 

I don't really think a foul should be given for it but it's more of a foul than McAdam's clanger when he decides to fall on top of Ugwu after flapping the ball straight to a Morton player.

[jm86]

In Ugwu’s second assault on McAdams, not only does he put a hand over his face, his arm also slips briefly round the back of his neck. (8.26 on GMTV video). “Headlock” might be a bit OTT given its brevity, but it did coincide with the ball squirting out of the goalie’s hands. Tbf, it's probably the hand over his eyes that was McAdams' major problem, as he had to guess where the ball actually was. To give Ugwu his due, it was quite neatly done, and I'm surprised Roncone actually spotted it given his general level of performance.