Morton host Stranraer in their first home League 1 game of the season - and for visiting manager Stephen Aitken the visit to Cappielow will bring a host of memories flooding back.
Aitken was a Morton player for eight years and, during his time in Greenock, he and his team-mates came within a whisker of making the top flight of Scottish football.
He said: “Going back will be special. I had lots of good times there so I am looking forward to it. I went to Cappielow from school at 16 and left eight years later.
“We started off in the First Division and were unfortunately relegated at the end of my first season. We bounced straight back up as Second Division Champions and were in such good form we almost secured back-to-back promotions.”
The Greenock side missed out on promotion to the Premier League in 1995/96 after coming third in a three-way fight with Dunfermline and Dundee United after a final-day shoot out.
Aitken added: “We had great local boys in Brian Reid, Derek McInnes and Derek Lilley and the two Finnish players we had - Janne Lindberg and Marko Rajamaki - were sensational.
“Janne was an internationalist and you would learn loads from him on the pitch. You would also learn loads from both of them off the pitch. How they looked after themselves was years ahead of what we were doing and they opened the eyes of young players like me into what was required.
Sentiment will have to be forgotten about by Aitken as the teams meet in the league for the first time since April 2007.
He said: “It is all about getting a win for Stranraer now for me. Both teams are after their first three points of the season and will look to secure it in this game.”
Stranraer started their League 1 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Forfar at Stair Park whereas their hosts went down 1-0 to Ayr United.
Aitken said: “Our game with Forfar was a real game of two halves. We started well and got in front through Jamie Longworth’s header and should have been out of sight by half time.
“Forfar came out after the break and were the better side. They got an equaliser and had chances to go in front but we had a chance right at the end when my brother Chris was straight through.
“Morton will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Somerset Park. They will have a big support behind them who will be looking to push them towards that first win but we will go and have a go.”
The only absentee for Stranraer is midfielder Steven Bell, who has an ankle problem, with Aitken still looking to add a striker to his squad.
The Stair Park boss persuaded Craig Malcolm to return from Ayr United to link up with Jamie Longworth after losing Martin Grehan to Stenhousemuir and Andy Stirling to Dunfermline.
He said: “Craig and Jamie are terrific players and carry a real threat but the only cover we have is youngster Adam Forde. He has potential but I would like to add someone who is ready for League 1 football now. Hopefully I can do so before the transfer window closes.”
Morton lost midfielder Fouad Bachirou last weekend when he moved to Swedish side Ostersunds, with manager Jim Duffy also missing striker Andrew Barrowman who has a hamstring problem.
There is an outside chance that Stefan McCluskey will be involved after dislocating his shoulder in pre-season with Jordan Allan definitely missing after being red carded against Ayr.
On-loan Aberdeen striker Declan Manus is in line for his home debut, with manager Duffy looking for his men to up their game.
He said: “The game against Ayr was disappointing as it was the poorest performance I had seen from the group from my time in charge and that includes pre-season friendlies. We had far too many players off form with our passing and decision making being poor as well.”
“We are at home this weekend and have the chance to put on a better performance although I know from playing Stranraer last season in the Scottish Cup when I was at Clyde that they are a very decent side.”
Craig Stewart
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