SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 17 September, 2016. Kick Off: - 15:00
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Supporter Information:
The travelling Jags fans will be housed behind the goals in the Chadwick stand.
Adult – £20.00
Concession – £15.00
Under 16 – £5.00
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 12:20
Station Bar – 12:30
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 to book.
Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 13:30
Thornwood Bar – 13:35
Prices:
£12 for adults
£6 for concessions
All Jags fans are welcome but booking is essential.
For seats please contact Alistair on 07817612563 or email
For general enquires please contact Iain on 07779668357
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 13:00
Esquire House – 13:15
Maryhill Community Halls – 13:30
Prices:
£12 for adults
£7.50 for concessions.
A concession qualifies as school aged children, unwaged adults, senior citizens & matriculated students
For seats please call 01416323604 before 21:00 or e-mail
Thistle head into another Ladbrokes Premiership weekend with a tough trip to Kilmarnock as Alan Archibald’s side look to put the poor performance from last week behind them.
“Last week we didn’t do the basics which give us chances to win games. At this level we can’t just turn up and expect to get a win. We have to do the hard work during a game and then build on that.
“The players know that last week wasn’t good enough and that improvements are required, starting with the Kilmarnock game on Saturday. We have to win our individual battles and do the simple things correctly to give ourselves the best chance of three points.
“In the past when we’ve had a poor performance from a number of players, we’ve always had a reaction and improvement, so hopefully that is a trend which will continue heading into this weekend.”
Thistle have been training at Lesser Hampden in a bid to readapt to artificial surfaces and with a good recent record at the Ayrshire ground, the manager is hoping that the preparation continues to help.
“We won both our games at Rugby Park so we know we can do it on an artificial surface. We’ve been training at Lesser Hampden to get used to the feel of it again and make sure there are no excuses on Saturday.
“We’re desperate to break our losing run before it becomes a habit. We will roll up the sleeves, work hard and make sure we give ourselves the best chance of bringing the three points back up the road on Saturday evening.”
Thistle fans at last week’s game saw Tomas Cerny leave during the first half and the gaffer gave us an update on his condition.
“Tomas is struggling for Saturday but we’ll give him every chance. The way his foot is, the injury settles down very, very quickly. We’re just not sure if he will last a full game and that’s a decision we need to make. He could start, last half an hour and we have to use a sub, like we did last week. It’s not an ideal situation to be in.
“We’ve brought in Thorsten Stuckmann on a short term deal to give us extra cover in the goalkeeping position. He comes with a lot of experience and will provide good competition in the squad.”
Thistle played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon, a result which lifts the club off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership, and ptfc.co.uk caught up with manager Alan Archibald shortly after the full time whistle.
“It was a much improved performance from last week and we more than deserved our point today. We had a great chance in the last minute with Azeez and that would have been great to secure a win. It wasn’t to be though, Jamie MacDonald did really well to stand up and deny him. When you have a one on one in the last minute you’re thinking you will get all three points”
Thistle fought back on two occasions to get a share of the spoils and the gaffer was pleased with the attitude shown by the team.
“We showed great character to come back from being a goal down on two occasions. We’re not happy at the goals we’ve conceded but we are happy at the way the side bounced back from the set backs to score two good goals of our own.
“In the first half especially, some of our play was outstanding and it was probably up there with the best we have played all season. From middle to front we were linking up well but we maybe didn’t test the goalkeeper enough in the opening 45 minutes. We worked our way into a number of opportunities but we just weren’t getting efforts on target.”
David Amoo was restored to the starting line up and he had an impressive showing during his time on the pitch.
“David did well for his first start in a couple of games. We’re pleased with the way he reacted to being left out in the last couple of games and he terrorised their defence throughout the time he was on the pitch. He tired a bit in the second half, which is why we took him off, which is partly down to the lack of game time he’s had recently. When David is in that form not many defenders can handle him.”
Ryan Scully was another player making his first start in a while and he made a string of crucial saves to give Thistle a chance of getting anything from the game.
“Ryan was terrific for us, he made a number of good stops during the ninety minutes and he dealt with what he had to do with the minimum of fuss. He’s been unlucky in the past that he has been exposed by makeshift defensive units, but today he had an established back four in front of him and that helped him as the game went on.”
Sat 17 September, 2016
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
And the referee bring a frenetic game to a close. It was a second half filled with chances and when Coulibaly put the home side 2-1 up it looked like it might be a tough afternoon for the men in red and yellow. Heads didn't go down though and the Jags kept fighting until Lindsay bundled the ball over the line to make it 2-2.
After the equaliser it was anyone's game and both teams had chances but, with the final kick of the game Azeez could have won it when he latched onto a through ball but he couldn't beat MacDonald with his lob.
Azees nearly snatches it for Thistle as he tries to lift the ball over MacDonald but the keeeper gets enough of a hand to it to keep it out.
Kilmarnock howl for a free kick after an apparent foul from Devine.
Thistle throw down by the Kilmarnock corner flag.
Osman collects a second yellow card and Thistle will finish the game with 10 men.
Lindsay is across quickly to make an important clearance as Kilmarnock pressure mounts.
Boyd thunders in the free kick but it is way too high and goes over the bar.
Kilmarnock free kick about 35 yards from the Thistle goal.
The Thistle fans, but not the players, appeal for handball and a penalty.
Erskine takes the free kick. It bounces about the six yard box before Lindsay nods home from close range. No less than Thistle deserve.
Thistle have a free kick over by the right touchline, in line with the penalty spot.
Coulibaly in action for Kilmarnock again sending a first time shot high over the Thistle bar.
Kilmarnock win a free kick a few yards outside their penalty box easing the pressure on their goal.
Azeez has a greatr chance but can't find a route past MacDonald.
Scully manages to claw the corner away before the referee spots a foul on Erskine earning Thistle a free kick.
Edwards nearly threads a great ball through to Booth but a defender intercepts it and MacDonald is swiftly off his line to gather the ball.
Amoo's cross finds Doolan but his volley smacks off a defender a goes clear.
Erskine makes a mess of a free kick and Thistle are nearly punished for it as Coulibaly breaks but Booth gets back to snuff out the danger. You do get the feeling that the scoring in this game is not over.
Lawless' shot strikes a defender taking the pace off it and allowing Kilmarnock to get the ball clear.
He's been arguably Kilmarnock's best player and he is the man that puts them back in front climbing to nod the ball home from inside the Thistle 6 yard box.
Booth lays a great ball across the Killie box but it is just behind Erskine. Thistle's turn to be on top now.
Thistle demand a penalty after some typical Erskine play opens up the Kilmarnock defence. He threads the ball through to Lawless who looks to be caught but referee Dallas is interested in giving Thistle a penalty.
Coulibaly has been a handful this afternoon and he is again a threat but can only shoot wide from the edge of the Thistle box. Killie on top at the moment.
Crowd: 4,169
Scully makes an excellent stop low down to deny Coulibaly's free kick from finding the corner of his net.
Boyd's shot strikes Gordon on the arm and Killie have a free kick just outside the Thistle box.
Amoo's cross nearly reaches Doolan in front of goal but a defender is able to get the ball clear. Good start to the half from Thistle.
Booth nearly gives Thistle the lead but after pushing forward down the left he sees his shot pushed away by MacDonald with no Thistle player able to gather the loose ball.
It's been an entertaining first 45 minutes with score level at 1-1 at the break.
Both teams have had spells on top. Firstly Thistle with David Amoo having Thistle's first effort on goal inside the game's first 60 seconds.
Thistle were unable to find the early goal that their play merited and it was the home side, during their spell on top, that opened the scoring when Kris Boyd fired home after 16 minutes.
Thistle came back strongly and they netted a deserved equaliser 15 minutes after falling behind. Steven Lawless collected a David Amoo cross from the right and he found the bottom corner of the net after a sharp turn.
Thistle looked the more likely to score again before the half-time whistle but had to settle to going at half-time on level terms.
Thistle are going to have to defend a free kick deep inside their half before the half-time whistle.
Boyd wins a header inside the box but it presents Scully with no problems.
Minimum of 2 additional minutes to be played.
Doolan's header is saved by MacDonald but the referee had adjudged Doolan to have nudged a defender in the process of winning the header.
An Osman cross has the Killie defence under pressure but neither Booth or Doolan can fashion an opening from it.
The home fans are angry as the flag goes up for offside against Couiibaly but Gordon looked to be in charge of the situation in any case.
Amoo's cross is just too high for Booth as Thistle continue to press hard.
That was a chance for Thistle. Lawless lays the ball to Erskine at the edge of the box but he snatches at the ball and drags his effort well wide of target.
Scully pushes away Couilbaly's shot. Good save from the Thistle keeper.
Thistle are back on level terms. Amoo makes the goal with a cross to Lawless but Lawless still has much to do and he turns before finding the bottom corner of the net.
Boyd flicks the ball on for Couilbaly but the flag goes up for offside. It looked a tight call.
Booked for time wasting at a throw in.
Good spell of pressure from Thistle but it fails to produce a clear look at goal although Lawless does try to flick the ball towards the Killie goal following a cross from Erskine.
Kilmarnock enjoy the break of the ball inside the Thistle box. The ball falls nicely for Boyd who drills a low shot past Scully and into the net.
The referee spots a push and Thistle have a free kick inside their own penalty box.
Some more defending for Thistle to do as Kilmarnock win a free kick midway inside the Thistle half.
The ball is safely in the hands of Scully after the first spell of Kilmarnock pressure.
Scully makes an excellent stop to deny Kilmarnock the opening goal.
Gordon is a shade lucky to escape a booking for a foul just inside the Kilmarnock half.
Thistle continue to press and Doolan's snap shot flies just wide of MacDonald's left hand post. Perhaps not quite as close as the noise from the away stand suggested.
Gordon's ball into the box just drifts away from Doolan lurking near the far post.
Good chance for Thistle. Amoo gets clear down the right and he squares the ball for Lawless who sees his shot blocked by a defender.
Fairly frantic openinmg but Thistle looking in the mood early on.
Thistle make a bright start and Amoo is quickly involved in the action before shooting wide of target. Positive start.
It's a bright sunny day in Kilmarnock as Thistle hope to bounce back from last weekend's disappointment with three points at Rugby Park, a venue that Thistle picked up maximum points from last season.
In attempting to collect another maximum points haul from Rugby Park manager Alan Archibald has made three changes to the side defeated by St Johnstone.
Ryan Scully starts in goal in place of the injured Tomas Cerny with new signing Thorsten Stuckmann taking up a place on the bench.
The other changes see Ryan Edwards and David Amoo start with Sean Welsh and Ade Azeez dropping to the bench.