Partick Thistle v Cowdenbeath Match Preview - Partick Thistle Football Club

It was disappointing not to get the opportunity to maintain our recent good run at Falkirk on Tuesday evening but we return to action tomorrow with a home fixture against a Cowdenbeath side that are fighting for their First Division lives. That fact alone will make tomorrow’s fixture an extremely difficult one, something that manager Ian McCall acknowledged when he spoke to ptfc.co.uk a little earlier today.

“Look, if Cowdenbeath were to win tomorrow that would take them to within just 7 points of us so we certainly can’t afford to take them lightly. The previous three games have seen one win apiece and one draw so it has been pretty much even-steven between the teams this season.”

“We’re on a good run and if were to win that would make it three wins in a row and five games unbeaten. We’re at home as well where we have a good record and we will do our very best to play the way that we did against Raith Rovers although it will be hard to play as well as that again. That won’t stop us striving to do just that.”

What then of the all important team news?

“Bryan Hodge has broken a metatarsal in his foot and it is possible that he will be out for the rest of the season which is a blow for us and the player. Paul Cairney too will miss out again.”

“We’ve a few other injuries as well. Simon Donnelly won’t play tomorrow but he’s back in training and should be okay for Tuesday. It’s a similar situation with Willie Kinniburgh and Ryan MacBeth neither of whom will play tomorrow. Ryan is now back from Clyde. We had initially thought about keeping him out on loan until the end of March, which would have allowed him to come back to Firhill before the end of the season. However, he has picked up a wee strain and we thought it was better that he received treatment for that here at Firhill. He’ll not be out for long and he will feature for us between now and the end of the season.”

“Paul Paton will play tomorrow before beginning a period of suspension which will give him a period of rest and allow the injury he has been carrying to clear up.”

“Ryan McGowan too is available tomorrow but he will miss Tuesday’s game as he is away on international duty with Australia. Ryan’s loan from Hearts is up at the end of the month and we will review the situation after the next couple of games. I would like to keep Ryan at Firhill but we will need to speak to Hearts about that. It could be that we would need to make a contribution to his wages until the end of the SPL season and that is something that I would need to speak to the Board about.”

Partick Thistle Stats

Current Form – Last Five Games

W D L F A

2 2 1 5 2

Scorers Season 2010/2011

Kris Doolan 12

Liam Buchanan 5

Chris Erskine 5

Paddy Boyle 4

Iain Flannigan 4

Paul Cairney 2

Simon Donnelly 2