Dundee vs Greenock Morton preview - O'Donnell blow for Dundee

Posted Monday, December 26, 2011 by PA

Dundee will be without midfielder Stephen O'Donnell for their home clash with Morton.

The SFA have confirmed his ban for getting sent off at Ross County was to remain, despite a Dens Park appeal.

Winger Nicky Riley returns to manager Barry Smith's squad after a suspension with everyone else fit and available for selection.

Smith said: "It is obviously disappointing to be without Stephen but we will just need to get on with things.

"It is always a difficult game against Morton and they won here the last time they visited and took the lead down at Cappielow the last time we played them.

"There should be a big crowd backing us and it would be great if the players put on a grand performance for them."

Morton will again be without defenders Stuart McCaffrey and Ross Forsyth as they travel looking for only their second league win in 10 games.

Manager Allan Moore will return fit-again Michael Tidser and Fouad Bachirou to his starting XI while Darren McGeough has shaken off a knock to play.

Moore said: "We are on a disappointing run of results and this would do be a great game to end that.

"We won up at Dundee earlier in the season and we have big players back in Michael and Fouad so we are getting back to the side that did so well in the first quarter of the season.

"I am convinced we are just a break of the ball away from getting a win."