Two teams with contrasting objectives in the 2024-25 Scottish Championship campaign are set to come together on Tuesday afternoon when Greenock Morton host Partick Thistle.
The hosts are eighth in the table with 20 points from their first 18 matches, while the visitors are fourth in the standings with 32 points from their opening 18 fixtures.
Match preview
Having narrowly finished outside of the promotion playoff places in each of the last two seasons, placing fifth in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, Morton would have been aiming to record a top four finish in the Scottish Championship this term.
However, they have endured an extremely underwhelming first half to the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting eighth in the table with just 20 points from 18 matches, after four wins, eight draws and six defeats.
Those results leave them only four points above ninth-placed Dunfermline, who are in the relegation playoff place, although both of the teams below them have played one game more than Dougie Imrie's men.
After ending a three-game losing streak between matchday 10 and 12 with a 1-1 draw against Ayr United in November, Imrie's side have been significantly improved in the following matches, with that draw sparking a run of six games without a loss in the league.
They have managed just two wins in that period, leaving them desperately needing just a fifth win of the season heading into this one as they aim to move away from the drop zone.
Their opponents are unlikely to prove an easy task though, with Partick Thistle heading into this game sitting fourth in the table with 32 points from 18 matches, after nine wins, five draws and four losses.
Since returning to the Scottish Championship in 2021-22, after winning League One in 2020-21, Partick have placed inside the playoff places in each of the subsequent three years.
They placed fourth in both 2021-22 and 2022-23 before climbing into third last season, but the Jags have failed to secure promotion to the top flight, something they will be hoping to achieve this term.
Partick are comfortably seven points ahead of fifth-placed Queen's Park, but they will be hoping to increase their lead and potentially close the 10-point gap on league-leading Falkirk with a victory here.
Team News
Having remained undefeated in all of their last six Scottish Championship fixtures, Imrie could decide to name a similar starting 11 for Tuesday's outing.
Filip Stuparevic has netted just three goals in 11 appearances in the league so far this season, and the striker will be looking to add to his tally with a probable start in this one.
As for Partick, they secured a vital 2-1 win against Queen's Park in their last outing, a performance that could result in Kris Doolan naming the same team in this one.
Brian Graham scored both goals in that game, taking his tally to nine in the Scottish Championship this term, and the striker is expected to lead the line once again here.
Greenock Morton possible starting lineup:
Mullen; Ballantye, Baird, Boyes, Delaney; Wilson, Blues; Shaw, Lyall, Davies; Stuparevic
Partick Thistle possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Turner, Ashcroft, O'Reilly, Sayers; Chalmers, Crawford, Bannigan, Fitzpatrick; Robinson; Graham
We say: Greenock Morton 0-2 Partick Thistle
While the hosts are on a recent unbeaten run, their struggles in front of goal, coupled with Partick Thistle's evident superiority - sitting 12 points above Morton - suggests that the visitors will come out on top in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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