Morton vs Livingston preview - Selection worries dog Moore

Posted Saturday, August 11, 2012 by PA

Morton will be without suspended summer signing Mark McLaughlin as they open their Irn-Bru First Division campaign at home against Livingston.

The Greenock men are also without injured pair Willie Dyer and Peter MacDonald, while another new signing, Martin Hardie, will undergo a late fitness check.

Morton manager Allan Moore said: "We lost far too many points at home last season and want to put that right straight away.

"We will need to reshuffle after two good cup wins, but we reckon we have the strength in depth to do that.

"Livingston like to play good football and so do we, so this game should be an excellent way to start the league season."

Livingston are expected to be without injured midfielder Keaghan Jacobs.

But John Hughes' side will open the campaign full of confidence following last weekend's 8-0 demolition of Stranraer in the Scottish Communities League Cup.

Manager John Hughes is looking for history to repeat itself as he said: "We won 3-1 down at Cappielow not long after I took this job and it would be great to open the season by doing that again.

"We played some great stuff down at Stranraer last weekend and looked like we would score every time we broke forward.

"Morton will be a tougher test as they have built a good squad, but if we play like we can we can do well there."