First Team
PREVIEW | Saints v Morton
14th January 2020
We're back in action tomorrow afternoon after the winter break and we kick-off 2020 with a Scottish Cup 4th Round tie at home to Championship side Greenock Morton!
It's a competition in the hearts of all Saints fans after our triumph back in 2014 and we're hopefully of another memorable campaign this time around.
David Hopkin's Morton side lie in 8th place in the Championship table and come into the game on the back of a 3-2 victory over Dunfermline last weekend.
The last match for Saints was here at McDiarmid Park on Sunday 29th December where we drew 1-1 with Ross County but an upturn in form towards the end of 2019 should give the team confidence as we head into the second half of the season.
TEAM NEWS
The Manager has no injury concerns ahead of the match and has a full squad to choose from.
Michael O'Halloran has had a slight hand injury but that won't rule him out this weekend.
PRE-MATCH INTERVIEWS
ALEC CLELAND:"We're back now from the break and raring to go. It would've been good to have been able to keep going having ended the year in good form but hopefully the break has the players refreshed and they can carry on tomorrow.
"Last time out against Ross County I thought we played really well and created somed great chances. We were unlucky not to take all three points that day.
"It's going to be a tough tie and David has his Morton side playing well at the moment. We know that we need to be at our best to get the result.
"We'll be taking nothing for granted. Morton may be in the league below but they are one of a number of clubs in that league with aspirations of getting to the Premiership.
"We've watched their past few games and the Manager was at their match last weekend so we know what to expect and we're ready for the challenge.
"The Scottish Cup is a massive thing for this Club and it was a massive achievement for St. Johnstone to have won it.
"It's always in the back of our minds and it's important to us and to the supporters that we can have a good cup run and get through as many rounds as possible."
STEVIE MAY:"The first Scottish Cup fixture of a campaign is always one that's in the diary and one the players and the fans look out for.
"We're determined to be in the hat for the next round and we're all looking forward to getting back out there.
"This Club has good memories in this competition and hopefully we can go on another good cup run.
"There's not many better feelings in football than getting your hands on some silverware and it's something that some players go through their whole careers without it happening.
"It's a special competition and we'll just have to take every game as it comes and see where it takes us.
"Over the years the Club has done well against lower league opposition and we always take these games seriously. We've done our homework and we're ready to go and put on a performance."
SUPPORTER INFORMATION
You can purchase tickets right up until kick-off tomorrow via our online eTicketing platform!
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE
There will be limited cash turnstiles on the day.
Get your hands on an official matchday programme for just £2! Programmes will be available from sellers in all stands as well as from the Saints Shop pre-match.
In this issue you will be able to read an exclusive interview with striker Callum Hendry, preview the St. Johnstone Women's 2020 campaign as well as look back on the Saints career of Sergei Baltacha and more.
We also have an exclusive interview with Scottish Cup-winning midfielder Chris Millar who returns to McDiarmid Park today as part of the Greenock Morton squad. All this for just £2!
The Muirton Suite will be open from midday and both sets of supporters are welcome.
There will be hot and cold food available plus live football on the box. You can catch Watford v Tottenham (pre-match) and Newcastle v Chelsea (post-match) in the bar.
McDiarmid Park prides itself in being a fully inclusive stadium and we have a range of benefits to help enhance the matchday experience of disabled supporters.
Click HERE to find out more, including info on our Sensory Packs, equipment for blind or partially sighted supporters, disabled parking and more.
The Saints Shop will be open from 1:45PM where you can get all your official St. Johnstone FC merchandise!
The first Junior Saints Pre-Match Club of 2020 takes place tomorrow with things kicking-off at 1PM in the Muirton Gym!
Brogan the Beagle will be there along with some of the first-team-squad and there will be loads of fun activities to get involved with.
Take part in fun games including mini football, tabletop games, arts & crafts, play Xbox/PlayStation and have a penalty competition against Brogan and the players!
The Pre-Match Club is for members only - to join the Junior Saints Supporters' Club click HERE to download an application form.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Tomorrow's match is the 96th meeting between the clubs with Saints coming out on top in the head-to-head record with 42 wins.
Morton have 28 victories and the fixture has ended in a stalemate on 25 occasions.
The last time the two sides met competitively was back in October 2015 when Saints won 3-1 at Cappielow in the League Cup thanks to goals from Steven MacLean, Michael O'Halloran and Chris Kane.
Of course, the two sides did meet in pre-season before the start of the current campaign with Tommy Wright's men winning 3-2 in Greenock.
The last time the two sides met in this competition was back in the 1988/89 season, where after a 2-2 draw at Cappielow, Saints won 3-2 in the replay to set up a semi-final showdown with Rangers.
Saints currently boast a 12 match unbeaten record against Morton with the Greenock side's last win coming back in September 2006 when they won 3-2 at Cappielow in the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals.
Simon Mensing scored a double for Saints that night but goals from Harding and McGowen (2) secured the win for Morton.
One of the most memorable clashes between the sides was just over a decade ago, when Martin Hardie and a Steven 'Savo' Milne double sent Saints to a 3-1 victory at McDiarmid Parkm clinching the First Division title and promotion to the top-flight.
SAINTS TV
Not making the game? Saints TV has you covered!
The match will be shown LIVE to international subscribers with live audio commentary for those in the UK/Ireland.
Joining Gary Henderson on the commentary this weekend is former Saints and Morton midfielder, Tommy Turner!
Subscribe now before the game!