SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 1 October, 2016. Kick Off: - 15:00
Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Partick Thistle end are SOLD OUT. Please don’t travel to Ibrox without a ticket.
If you’re travelling to Ibrox on Saturday please read the important matchday advice below from Police Scotland:
Underground
Thistle fans attending Ibrox on Saturday by SPTE Underground are advised to alight at the Govan underground station and walk the short distance along Broomloan Road to approach the stadium. The use of Ibrox and Cessnock stations are not advised.
The Thistle fans will be accommodated within the north west corner of Ibrox Stadium and will enter via turnstiles 76 & 77.
Using Govan underground station and approaching via Broomloan Road, is the safest and most convenient route for Thistle fans.
Supporters’ Buses
The drivers of Thistle supporters’ coaches are advised to park on Broomloan Road on the south bound carriageway, as the road network surrounding Ibrox is extremely congested post match due to the sheer volume of vehicles, Thistle buses are advised to park at this location and, on departure, travel onto the motorway for an easier journey.
Supporters’ Private Cars
Please be informed that a crowd of over 48,000 is expected on Saturday and the road network surrounding Ibrox becomes severely congested. Please arrive at the stadium early and allow plenty of time for your journey. Parking on Broomloan Road (there will be some scheduled coning to prevent parking at certain areas along Broomloan Road) and surrounding streets is the advised area to park.
Final Whistle
Finally, dependent on the circumstances on the day, Thistle fans may be requested to remain in the stadium for a short period of time after the final whistle. This is purely in the interests of safety and allows for the surrounding vicinity of the stadium to become clear of Rangers fans exiting and thus allows Thistle fans an easier and safer departure from the stadium. Your co-operation is appreciated regarding this.
As his Thistle team prepare for the first trip to Ibrox since 2008, Jags boss, Alan Archibald, knows only too well the challenge that will face them as they run out onto the pitch. He took ptfc.co.uk through his own memories of playing in Govan and looked forward to Saturday’s match when we spoke to him after training today.
“I think Ibrox is always a tough place to go but we’re looking forward to it too, it’s a good place to go and play, the surface will be good and there will be an excellent atmosphere as well which should bring the best out of the players.
“Whenever I played there they would always try and intimidate you, there’d be loud music and the atmosphere would be sharp but if we can go and take the game to them then that atmosphere will become less intimidating quite quickly. We want the players to react positively to that atmosphere though and I’m hoping it brings the best out of them.”
Not many of Archibald’s squad have experience of playing Rangers as Thistle are the final club, apart from Edinburgh City, to face The Gers in competitive action since they were demoted in 2012.
“I think it’s one a lot of players want on their CVs but, as I said to the press yesterday, we aren’t there just to take selfies and make up the numbers. We want to go there on Saturday, play well and hopefully get the result.
“Rangers obviously have a bigger budget than us but on the day it’s still 11 Vs 11 and we need to use everything we have to make sure we get an edge come kick off on Saturday. Rangers have come in for some criticism this season but I think it’s far too early to judge them. They’re a strong possession based team and we will need to work hard all over the pitch to get the result we want.
“We’ve done our homework and we know they’re likely to have a lot of the ball so we’ll need to make sure that when we get the chance we can go and hurt them. We had a couple of chances last week and didn’t make the most of them and that result almost spun full circle which just shows how important it is to be clinical.”
Archibald has almost an embarrassment of riches this week as the return of Abdul Osman from suspension gives him more choice in midfield than he has probably ever had before.
“I thought Adam Barton did very well for his debut last week and Ryan Edwards has been excellent. You might find that Abdul does come back in but the good thing is that it puts pressure on his performances as we have real options in that area now.
“We now have quality across the pitch so we have good options in just about every area. What that does mean is that when boys pick up knocks it isn’t as big a problem. For example, we have a few knocks hanging over us from last week; Erskine, Booth and Lawless have all had issues this week so it’s really good that we have ready-made replacements waiting to get involved.”
There will be full live audio commentary, build up, reaction, highlights and full game replays available to Jagzone subscribers before and after Saturday’s game. To sign up to either Jagzone (£5.99) or Jagzone World (£12.99) click here.
It was another disappointing afternoon for Alan Archibald as his Thistle side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox. As is becoming a theme for this season the score line did not tell the whole story, as Archie explained when he spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the match.
“I thought we started brightly enough and we were definitely well in the game. We got into good areas and it felt like we could really hurt them but, at the end of the day, that final ball just wasn’t there for us. When you get chances at this level you simply have to score and that is something we need to get into our game, quickly.
“The second goal came at a really bad time for us and it was incredibly frustrating that they really didn’t have to work very hard at all for it. It’s not the first time a team has got an easy goal out of us this season and we need to get that out of our game very quickly.”
Although the Jags went in 2-0 down at half time there was certainly a reaction as they went into the second 45 and chances did come for the visitors.
“They came out battling in the second half to be fair to them and it was good to see a reaction. Chris Erskine has an unbelievable chance and I still can’t believe it didn’t end up in the back of the net. I think at that point you know it isn’t going to be your day and that really took the wind out of our sails.
“As the half wore on I think we just took a few steps back and probably played three or four yards too deep, that gave them the chance to play the ball and when they get that chance they will take it.”
Despite the good play by Thistle, Archibald is only too aware of how important it is to start picking up points.
“It really tells the story of our season, we’ve played well but came away with nothing. The performances are good to see but we need to start turning them in to points. We can’t keep coming off talking about how well we’ve played if we aren’t getting the wins we deserve.”
Sat 1 October, 2016
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Thistle in the end go down in rather tame fashion.
For the first 30 minutes they were the better side but two goals inside 7 minutes saw them trail 2-0 at the interval.
Rarely in the second half did Thistle look like finding a way back into the game but Chris Erskine probably should have scored, after collecting a Lawless pass, early enough in the xsecond half to have offered Thistle some kind of hope.
The overall feeling in the Thistle camp will be one of disappointment where they know they can perform better than they did.
McDaid's effort is deflected wide.
Thistle fans still here encouraging their team.
Minimum of 3 additional minutes to be played.
Edwards nearly forces Foderingham into a mistake but the keeper just about manages to get the ball clear.
Welsh flashes a shot from 20 yards out just wide of the Rangers goal.
McDaid does manage a shot at goal but it doesn't threaten the Rangers goal.
There is no lack of effort from Thistle but they are making no impact at all on the Rangers back line.
This game is drifting towards a conclusion with neither side at the moment playing much in the way of good football.
Welsh's corner is easily cleared.
A Booth cross comes off a defender which allows Foderingham to collect with ease at his front post. Thistle are not looking like getting back into the game.
Kranjcar's free kick from fully 35 yards out goes well over the Thistle bar.
Dodoo leaves Gordon sprawled on the turf but Rangers, who are in total control now, are unable to force the ball home.
Dodoo's cross is cleared as Rangers push for a third goal.
Scully pushes away a Holt shot as Thistle start to lose their shape and give Rangers far too much space.
Thistle are incredibly open at the back.
McKay gets the better of Devine and has space to push forward down the left. He lays a cross right across the face of the Thistle goal that no Rangers player can get a touch to.
How does that stay out? Lawless' pass finds Erskine. His shot beats Foderingham who does get a touch to his shot. That touch is enough to stop the ball crossing the line but Erskine still looks odds on to force the ball home but doesn't.
Wallace throws himself to the ground at the edge of the Thistle box looking for a free kick but none comes to the annoyance of the home fans.
Lawless puts a good cross into the box. It is only partially cleared and falls to Gordon but his first time shot goes way over the bar.
Waghorn tries to flick the ball through to an advancing Wallace but Scully is quickly off his line to intercept.
Thistle get the second half underway. Can they find a way back into this match?
Thistle were the better side for the first 30 minutes or so of the game but couldn't turn that superiority into goals or even clear openings despite getting into promising positions.
They fell behind to an excellent finish from Kranjcar who probably should have been closed down inside the box much quicker.
A sercond goal followed 7 minutes later after Devine gifted possession of the ball and seconds later Halliday found the net with a low shot.
There is a long way back for Thistle who have been punished again for defensive mistakes.
Edwards corner is met by Devine but his header goes back to Edwards whose cross this time is gathered by Foderingham.
Rangers clear Edwards' free kick and then a cross from Lawless.
Senderos clips Azeez and collects a yellow card.
Chris Erskine collects the game's first yellow card.
An awful goal to lose. Devine gifts possession of the ball and the ball is quickly worked to Halliday who finds the net with a low drive. Thistle's good work in the first 30 minutes is all undone with the loss of two quick goals.
Kranjcar gets the ball inside the box. He delays his shot, to the frustration of the home fans, before finally firing high past Scully. An excellent finish but an undeserved lead for the home side.
The elbow of Senderos is involved again. This time he catches Azeez near the half way line and on the referee's blind side.
Amoo tries to find Erskine to his left but his pass is poor. Thistle win a throw all the same.
Wilson's shot takes a deflection winning Rangers another corner.
Amoo gets a cross over the fright but Foderingham is quickly off his line to grab the ball ahead of Azeez.
Lawless chips a ball through to Booth whose cross is cleared at the front post.
Booth again finds himself in a good position but once more in unable to find a team mate with a pass.
Senderos appears to catch Erskine with an elbow but it is apparently missed by referee Finnie.
Erskine's corner is a poor one and easily cleared.
Break in play for a Rangers player to receive a spot of treatment.
Thistle threaten again and this time it is Booth that can't find a Thistle man with a cross.
Gordon plays a neat ball down the line for Amoo. Amoo crosses but he can't find Lawless the only Thistle player inside the box.
Erskine's corner is punched clear by Foderingham. Erskine though gets the ball back but this time his cross for Lindsay at the back post is too deep.
Holt throws himself to the ground in the hope of winning a penalty but referee Finnie is not impressed. A yellow card may have come out for that though.
McKay is getting a bit too much room down the right but Lindsay is again able to clear his cross.
Halliday's crossa is easily gathered by Scully.
Erskine picksd up a loose ball in midfield. He finds Amoo to his right and his cross is just too high for Azeez.
Azeez looked as if he might have over run the ball and allowed it to go out for a goal kick but play goes on and he finds Edwards with his cross. Edwards though tries to pl;ace his header allowing Foderingham to make a comfortable save. Good chance for Thistle though.
Another positive sign from Thistle. Erskine gets the ball over to Lawless on the left but he can't find Booth with is forward pass.
First positive thrust from Thistle but Amoo runs out of room down the right and the home side have a goal kick.
First shot at goal comes from Kranjcar but his effort is wide of Scully's right hand post.
Rangers are enjoying the early possession and McKay gets a cross in from the right but Lindsay clears.
Rangers kick the game off. Thistle shooting towards the away support in the first half.
Alan Archibald has made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Motherwell last Saturday. Abdul Osman missed that game throughh suspension and Callum Booth was forced to sit out through illness. Both come back into the starting eleven for this fixture.
Adam Barton and Christie Elliott are the two unfortunate Jags that have to content themselves with a seat on the bench this afternoon. Thistle are otherwise unchanged although Kris Doolan unfortunately misses out completely. On the plus side there is a slot on the bench for Gary Fraser. .