Scottish Championship
MortonGreenock Morton2BrechinBrechin City0

Greenock Morton 2-0 Brechin City

By Connie McLaughlinBBC Scotland at Cappielow
Brechin City goalkeeper Graeme Smith
Brechin City goalkeeper Graeme Smith made several good saves before he was injured

Brechin City were relegated from the Championship without winning a game after John Baird struck twice to move Morton up to third place.

With seven matches to go, City are the first UK club to suffer the drop and the only one without a league success.

The part-time visitors, who have amassed just four points from 29 games, missed a golden chance when Paul McLean headed wide from close range.

Baird then nodded in from a corner and added a neat, clipped strike.

City goalkeeper Graeme Smith was kept busy, as he has been for much of the season, and had to be replaced late on after a challenge from Bob McHugh.

Smith made excellent stops to deny Gary Oliver and Gary Fraser before an incredible miss from McLean.

The Brechin defender somehow failed to hit the target from inside the six yard box after the home defence went to sleep at a set-piece.

Smith saved again from Michael Tidser shortly before half time but was beaten on 50 minutes when Baird, on an emergency loan from Inverness CT, met Fraser's corner to head in his first goal for the Greenock club.

His second arrived on 72 minutes when he ran on to a Scott Tiffoney angled pass and lifted a shot beyond the advancing Smith, which went in via the post.

'It's been a challenge'

Brechin were promoted via the play-offs last season after finishing fourth in League One.

"It's been a challenge and confidence does take a hit," admitted manager Darren Dods before kick-off at Cappielow.

"We've worked hard and been unfortunate six or seven times this season when we've probably played the best we could and not got the win.

"It's getting harder and harder for part-time teams to compete in the Championship."

Morton boss Jim Duffy applauded Brechin's "terrific attitude", saying: "It must be so difficult for the players being down there for so long but all credit to them for rolling up their sleeves and giving everything. No one can criticise them for lack of effort.

"It wasn't a pretty game but we dominated from start to finish and Graeme Smith has made three or four great saves.

"We just needed to stay focused and keep our concentration and we got two good goals in the second half."

Line-ups

Morton

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Gaston
  • 6Doyle
  • 4O'Ware
  • 5Lamie
  • 26IredaleSubstituted forStrappat 88'minutes
  • 12Tidser
  • 3MurdochBooked at 68minsSubstituted forRossat 74'minutes
  • 23Fraser
  • 15Tiffoney
  • 7Oliver
  • 18BairdSubstituted forMcHughat 77'minutes

Substitutes

  • 11McHugh
  • 16Strapp
  • 17Russell
  • 19Gasparotto
  • 20Brennan
  • 21Langan
  • 25Ross

Brechin

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1SmithSubstituted forO'Neilat 85'minutes
  • 29Smith
  • 20Crighton
  • 2McLean
  • 11Watt
  • 7Tapping
  • 21SinclairSubstituted forMackinat 69'minutes
  • 8Graham
  • 3DyerBooked at 76mins
  • 16Morrison
  • 10LayneSubstituted forOrsiat 79'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Fusco
  • 6Dale
  • 14Lynas
  • 15Spark
  • 18Orsi
  • 19O'Neil
  • 22Mackin
Referee:
Mike Roncone
Attendance:
1,831

Match Stats

Home TeamMortonAway TeamBrechin
Possession
Home61%
Away39%
Shots
Home15
Away11
Shots on Target
Home9
Away3
Corners
Home8
Away4
Fouls
Home10
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Morton 2, Brechin City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Morton 2, Brechin City 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Frank Ross (Morton) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left from a direct free kick.

  4. Post update

    Frank Ross (Morton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Euan Smith (Brechin City).

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Scott Tiffoney (Morton) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Morton. Conceded by Paul McLean.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Morton. Lewis Strapp replaces Jack Iredale.

  9. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  10. Post update

    Delay in match Bob McHugh (Morton) because of an injury.

  11. Post update

    Attempt saved. Bob McHugh (Morton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Brechin City. Patrick O'Neil replaces Graeme Smith because of an injury.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Bob McHugh (Morton).

  14. Post update

    (Brechin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Gary Oliver (Morton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Callum Tapping (Brechin City).

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Dylan Mackin (Brechin City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Brechin City. Kalvin Orsi replaces Isaac Layne.

  19. Post update

    Michael Tidser (Morton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Callum Tapping (Brechin City).