SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 3 December, 2016. Kick Off: - 15:00
The SuperSeal Stadium, Hamilton
Supporter Information:
Thistle supporters will be accomodated in the Spice of Life stand with admission by cash at the turnstiles.
Prices are as follows:
Adults: £22
Concessions: £12
A concession is classed as under 18 and over 65.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 12:20
Station Bar – 12:30
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 1:30
Thornwood Bar – 1:35
Prices:
£10 for adults
£5 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 – 13:15
Esquire House – 13:30
Maryhill Community Halls – 13:45
Prices:
£11 for adults
£7 for concessions.
A concession qualifies as school aged children, unwaged adults, senior citizens & matriculated students
After an unbelievably cruel conclusion to Saturday’s match against Rangers it would be easy to understand Jags boss, Alan Archibald, being a little down this week but if any bad feeling remained he certainly didn’t show it as he spoke to ptfc.co.uk at Lesser Hampden after training.
Although he admits it was a tough defeat to take, Archie is certain his side will bounce back in the best possible way against Hamilton Accies on Saturday.
“Obviously everyone was disappointed after Saturday but we don’t let it get us too down. We don’t get carried away when we win and go on a good run and it’s exactly the same when things don’t go our way.”
It was a similar story the last time Archibald’s side met Hamilton, with a late Eamonn Brophy strike preventing all three points going to the team in red and yellow.
“That was another frustrating one but it was a bit easier to take that day. Hamilton had played well and probably deserved at least a point based on their play. The difference on Saturday was that I thought we definitely deserved at least a point.
“We need to start taking points from these fixtures, especially when we go ahead in games. It looks like the league is going to stay very tight for the whole season and that means that one win can have a massive impact on your league position. If you take last Saturday as an example – we were sitting in sixth when we were leading and ended up finishing the match in last, it really is just that tight.”
Despite the negative nature of the result Archie was pleased with the reaction he got from his players after a very lacklustre display against Motherwell.
“We asked for a reaction of the boys and we certainly got that, which was the good side of Saturday. We now need to take that into the game at Hamilton. We’ve got a good, strong group of lads here and we know what they’re capable of. We’ll need them at their best on Saturday because it is a massive game for us now.”
Finally, the gaffer took us through the latest injury news.
“We’ve not got any fresh doubts. Tomas Cerny was on the bench last week and it’s great to have him in contention again. Other than that it’s just the longer term ones who are all still working hard with the physio to get back to full fitness.”
Having watched his side put so much into a second half performance that definitely merited more than a single point, Alan Archibald was understandably disappointed when he spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the game.
The gaffer said: “I definitely thought we deserved the win, especially based on that second half performance. We were up in the game and dominating both in terms of chances and possession and I thought the lads deserved to be taking all three points today.”
There were a number of controversial incidents at the SuperSeal Stadium but a seemingly legitimate goal scored by Callum Booth that was subsequently ruled out for offside was the clear talking point post-match.
“We’ve watched it back and it was definitely a goal, the linesman has got that one wrong I think. We thought it was onside at the time and the reaction from the boys on the pitch was that it was a goal. It’s a very hard one to take because the boys did really well. We were very pleased with the performances right the way through the team today and we only wish that we could have come away with all three points rather than just one.
“It is frustrating but, at the end of the day, we did have chances to kill the game off and we really need to be doing that, especially when it comes down to these massive six point games. The table is still really tight and a win today would have seen us move right up the table. It’s a hard place to come and I really thought we had done enough to get us over the line with more than just a point.”
The point lifted the Jags off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table but Archibald knows that, with the table as tight as it is, it’s important not to put too much emphasis on league position.
“We don’t get too high when we win and we don’t let ourselves get too low when we lose. Every week there are teams cutting each other’s throats and taking points off one another so things can change so quickly.
“There’s no doubt we have a tough run coming up but it’s all cyclical. We play Celtic twice and then Hearts but after that we play our close rivals again. We didn’t score enough points in the last run of games so we need to make sure we take more from the run between now and the New Year.
“We were pleased with the effort last week and again today so we will just need to analyse the performance, take the positives and build from there.”
Thistle have to settle for just a point after coming from behind at the SuperSeal Stadium.
Alex D'Acol scored the opener for Accies in the first half before Doolan hit the post before half time.
Thistle came out strongly in the second half and deservedly drew level through Sean Welsh.
Callum Booth had the ball in the back of the net after converting Erskine's cut back but a late offside flag ruled the effort out.
Thistle rise to 11th in the Ladbrokes Premiership tonight.
Shot from distance by Docherty is easily scooped up by Cerny.
A mix up between Seaborne and Woods gets Thistle a corner but the ex-Jags man clears the cross.
We don't want to curse it but it has been one Jags attack after another in the last few minutes.
Welsh has a go from 25 yards but it flies wideof the post.
Good play by Erskine and Elliott down the right but Booth can't connect at the back post.
D'Acoll has an acrobatic overhead effort but it is comfortaly over the bar.
Doolan gets himself into the box and squares it for Welsh. The pass just lacks the pace needed though and the ball is cleared.
Barton has a shot blocked from 20 yards.
Thistle piling on the pressure now but they must make sure they remain solid at the back while they hunt for a winner.
Chaos in the Accies box as a low ball is zipped along the astro by Elliott. Doolan and Erskine almost tackle each other in trying to get a shot away and ultimately cost themselves a shot on goal.
Osman has his shot blocked on the edge of the box and Accies can break but the Jags recover to snuff out the danger.
Good cross from Accies but Gordon slices it clear.
GOAL FOR THISTLE! No, it's been ruled out for offside. The ball is played across the six yard box by Erskine and Booth sticks it in at the back post. The celebrations are cut short though as the assistant spoils the fun.
How has nobody connected with that?! Booth puts the ball in from a free kick and it flies just past Lindsay's head, with Erskine and Doolan both just missing a final touch.
The initial corner is well dealth with by Thistle but it comes back in and, after a bit of pinball eventually falls to a very grateful Tomas Cerny.
Bingham fires a cross into the box, forcing Gordon to head behind for a corner.
Great skill from Doolan in the box there but his shot screws well wide.
Chance for Accies as D'Acol beats Gordon in the air inside the Jags box. The header is tame though and Cerny collects comfortably.
And it's 1-1. Sean Welsh scores the equaliser for Thistle, showing great composure to slot low to the keeper's left. Only as much as Thistle's second half play deserves. GAME ON!
Good play from Thistle, Azeez uses his strength to hold up the ball brilliantly before laying it off to Edwards. Wdwards and Booth do a one two that gets the Australian into the box before getting a hard low shot away that Woods needs to chances to get hold of.
A poor corner, Accies clear.
Accies break through Docherty but Elliott is strong to deny Imrie as the ball is played wide to him.
Bingham lashes a shot just over the bar.
Welsh fires high over the bar from 20 yards. A very bright opening to the second half for Thistle.
Elliott goes on a lengthy run from his own half. The ball breaks back to him as he tries to pass to Doolan before fizzing an effort into the side netting.
Just an update from the goal, it appears Barton was booked for his protestations.
Thistle dominated possession early on but a horrible defensive error gifted the home side a 1-0 lead at the break.
Azeez and Doolan both had good chances to equalise, the later hitting the post and the former reall needing to do better when clear through on the keeper.
Enough to be optimistic about but Archibald's men really need to get back on level terms as soon as possible in the second half.
Half time at the Superseal Stadium and it remains Hamilton Accies 1 - 0 Thistle.
Corner finds Bingham but Cerny collects the header easily.
Thistle hit the post! Great work from Booth who makes a strong surging run up the left flank. With only two Thistle players in the box to aim for Booth puts in an excellent cross which Doolan rises well to head goalwards. Dools' header is a good one and only the post stops it from being the equaaliser. Seaborne clears before Welsh flashes a shot wide.
Better from the Jags but the visitors still trail.
Cross goes in from Booth's free kick and, after Thistle win the first header it certainly looks like the ball strikes an Accies hand but nothing is given.
Thistle free kick at the edge of the box after Gillespie pulled back Booth.
Massive chance for Thistle as Welsh plays a terrific ball through to Ade who is one on one with the keeper. The Jags striker does everything right until the finish where it goes wrong, his lobbed effort going over the bar.
Shot by Doolan but it takes a heavy deflection that removes any real threat and the keeper is able to collect easily in the end.
A decent low cross from Elliott but no Thistle bodies able to connect with it in the box.
Apologies for the lack of updates folks but there really isn't much happening here. One cross from Accies that was dealt with fairly comfotably about the only real action.
A brief stoppage here as the referee clears a toilet roll that has somehow found its way onto the artificial pitch. Nothing personal we hope.
At 1-0 Hamilton become a very different team and look happy to sit on their lead. Thistle will need to work even harder to break them down. Not many chances in the game so far.
Nearly a spectacular equaliser from Azeez as Doolan flicks the ball on and the former AFC Wibledon front man loops a first time volley over the keeper. Some travelling fans thought it was in but the ball just would not drop quick enough and ends up on the roof of the net.
High looping delivery to the back post but Osman can't get much control on his header and Accies clear.
Free kick to Thistle, edge of the box. Welsh puts it in to the back post but Ziggy Gordon can't keep his diving header under the bar.
Accies have had some joy with looping balls on to the top of the Thistle back three with D'Acol and Bingham really giving the Jags stoppers something to think about.
Another chance for the home side as Bingham makes room for himself in the Thistle box and gets a strong shot away. Cerny is there though and holds the shot at the second time of asking.
A horrible moment for Liam Lindsay as he gets the ball caught under his feet in the course of clearing his lines. D'Acol pounces on the mistake by the youngster, taking the ball to Cerny's left and burying it with a shot across the goal. One to forget for the Thistle defenders there.
Accies definitely coming more into the game now as a couple fo decent looking crosses call the Jags defence into action.
Almost a break on for Accies as the ball falls to Bingham who is on his own for a moment Lindsay and Barton ensure the danger is cleared though.
First chance of the match goes the way of the visitors as Welsh lashes and effort from 25 yards that dips at the last minute and lands on the roof of the net. Close.
It's fair to say Mr Gordon is taking a fair bit of stick from some elements of the Accies support, the Jags man hasn't put a foot wrong yet though as Thistle dominate possession.
Thistle returning to a three at the back system this week with Ziggy Gordon and Liam Lindsay either side of Adam Barton.
Some decent possession from Thistle in the opening minutes with Azeez and Doolan linking up well. Nothing in the way of clear cut chances yet though.
So, after an impecably observed minute's silence before the game in memory of all those killed in Chapecoense plane crash, the game gets under way.
Welcome to the Superseal Stadium where Thistle will look to banish any remaining thoughts of last week's gutting late defeat to Rangers.
The manager has made a number of changes to his starting 11 with Tomas Cerny returning in goal for the visitors. With the table so tight a win could catapult the Jags up the table and away from the bottom place that they currently occupy.
It's just under five minutes until kick off and we'll keep you up to date with text commentary here, all the major incidents on Facebook and regular updates on twitter.
Enjoy the game.