Sat 14 November, 2020
Betfred Cup 
Firhill StadiumThistle win 4-2 on penalties
Betfred Cup
Sat 14 November, 2020. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium
In line with Scottish Government guidelines, this match is a closed doors match. It is imperative that all fans support the club and protect the squad by staying away from the stadium and enjoying all content safely from home.
Matchday Coverage:
Live Stream
Season Ticket Holders
As this is a cup tie, Saturday’s game is not available on the 2020/21 Partick Thistle season ticket with all season ticket holders requiring to purchase a stream ticket to access the live stream of Saturday’s match.
SEASON TICKET HOLDERS SHOULD NOT USE THE LOG IN DETAILS YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY USED FOR OUR LEAGUE GAMES AGAINST AIRDRIEONIANS AND FALKIRK.
TO ACCESS SATURDAY’s STREAM AGAINST GREENOCK MORTON, ALL SUPPORTERS SHOULD LOG IN AT https://ppv.ptfcpass.co.uk
For full information on how to purchase your pay-per-view pass, click here.
Pay-per-view Pass
Any supporter who wishes to watch our Betfred Cup match against Greenock Morton can purchase a pay-per-view pass, priced at £10, from https://ppv.ptfcpass.co.uk/events
If you require any assistance with your purchase or watching Saturday’s stream, please contact
For full information on how to purchase your pay-per-view pass, click here.
Audio Commentary
Audio Commentary will be available for supporter on JagZone.
Starting at 2:30, tune in to hear Michael Max and Christopher Dobie take you through the ninety minutes of action, with thirty minutes of comprehensive build up before the game.
In Game Coverage
We’ll have our usual in-depth text commentary right here on ptfc.co.uk. Social Media Updates will also be available through our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Post Match
After the 90 minutes of action we’ll have post match reaction from the Jags camp on JagZone following the full time whistle. A full game replay and comprehensive highlights package will also follow on JagZone.
Match Programme
Match programmes are available to purchase online through our programme production partner Curtis Sport.
Click here to purchase the match programme for this fixture or sign up to a season long subscription.
Half Time 50/50 draw
Our 50/50 draw will be conducted at half time during Saturday’s match. Tickets are available to purchase until 3:30 on Saturday afternoon.
Click here to purchase 50/50 tickets
During this unique but exciting season we are looking forward to bringing you extensive matchday coverage throughout the campaign. Due to the current exceptional circumstances, our coverage may change or be impacted if a member of our media team is required to self-isolate at short notice. We thank you for your understanding and patience around this situation.
The Betfred Cup group stages come to a conclusion this weekend for Partick Thistle as they play their fourth game of the groups against Greenock Morton at Firhill. The Jags are still in with a chance of topping Group G with best runner-up spots also still up for grabs. Thistle assistant manager Neil Scally spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the contest:
“We’re looking forward to the game because we’ve got a chance of going through. It could have been the case that this was a dead rubber for us but because of the way results went in midweek, we’ve still got an opportunity to qualify.
“The other game in the group will have an effect on what we can do but we just need to focus on ourselves, make sure we get the win and then we can look at what’s happened elsewhere after the match.”
Our opponents played out a draw against St. Mirren in midweek but Scally doesn’t think that will give the Maryhill men any sort of edge over the Ton.
“I don’t think it matters that much because it’s not as if everyone’s been playing weekend then midweek repeatedly this season so far. If you’re playing midweek games every week then it can creep up on you and players can be fatigued but that’s not been the case.
“In all honesty, when I was a player I actually preferred the frequent games because you were able to get into a rhythm of playing games one after another.”
Brian Graham and Ross Docherty will both be serving suspensions for the game and, although that presents a huge challenge, Scally is hopeful that the players who come in for them will be able to fill their boots.
“There’s no getting a way from it; they’re two massive losses for us and it weakens the team but it’s an opportunity for other guys to come in and make their mark. The players who come in have to see it as a chance to show what they can do and put themselves in the manager’s thinking for the upcoming league games.”
With those two absentees in addition to the list of players who are out injured, the coaching staff will have to be a bit creative with their selections this week but Neil is confident that the team will be able to go and win the game despite being depleted in numbers.
“It’s the reason that you go and build a strong all-round squad. We’ve got quite a few missing at the moment but we feel like the guys coming in are more than capable of starting this game. We might have to move things about a bit but we’ll have a strong XI to field tomorrow.”
Scally ended by giving us the latest team news and updates on some of the aforementioned injured squad members.
“Zak Rudden and Jamie Sneddon have come through their operations and have started their rehab programs. They’ve been in around the guys too so it’s good for them to not feel too isolated while they’re making their recovery because it can feel lonely at times.
“Ciaran McKenna’s seen a consultant about his issue and it’s looking like he will have to go for surgery too which is a blow but on the plus side, Tam O’Ware has been back doing some light training. He’s done some running and managed to move on to ball work as well so he’s getting closer every day.
“Salim Kouider-Aissa, who missed last week’s game will hopefully be back in the next week or two. It’s a real shame that he misses this game though because with Zak and Brian Graham out, he would have been starting and it would have been a great opportunity for him to show what he can do.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally and Joe Cardle are now available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
We’re streaming our clash with Greenock Morton on Saturday afternoon. A pay-per-view pass costs just £10 for this match. Click here to purchase your pay-per-view pass.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of our final Betfred Cup group game on JagZone this Saturday evening.
Article Copyright © 2020. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Partick Thistle played their final Betfred Cup group stage game as Greenock Morton visited Maryhill this afternoon with progression still on the table. The Jags needed to beat the travelling ‘Ton and get a favour from Queen’s Park against St. Mirren to stand a chance of topping the group with their opponents in the same position.
Morton started the game with a few half chances. Markus Fjortoft, Kyle Jacobs and Ross Maciver all had headed opportunities in the opening stages but they weren’t able to hit the target in any of those instances.
The hosts’ first opening of the game presented itself on 16 minutes as Rhys Breen received the ball just inside the Morton half and carried it forward to within 30 yards of goal. Under no pressure from the away side, he decided to take aim, however, his powerful effort flew just past the post.
Morton threatened with another header right on the stroke of half-time as a deep free kick into the Thistle area deflected the way of Ross MacIver. He managed to find the target with his attempt this time but Kieran Wright got down sharply to parry it before Kyle Jacobs slashed a left-footed shot out for a goalkick.
Shea Gordon went close early in the second half as Connor Murray picked up the ball on the left flank and curled a delivery into the goalmouth area. Gordon rose highest and looked to flick it towards goal but his contact took it well clear of the crossbar.
David Hopkin’s side then had the ball in the net twice but both strikes were chalked off. First, a Fjortoft knockdown was turned home by MacIver but the striker was adjudged to have been offside. 13 minutes later, the on-loan Motherwell forward was left disappointed again when after tapping home from a long throw the referee blew for a foul in the build-up.
MacIver had a very good chance in the 76th minute to notch a goal that the official wouldn’t have ruled out. The attacker lifted a ball into the box which Lewis Strapp chased and kept alive. The left-back poked it towards MacIver who had found a few yards of space ten yards from goal. He tried to strike it first time but hit it into the ground and Kieran Wright was on hand to turn it over the bar.
Rhys Breen had a headed opportunity in the dying embers of the game but he directed his attempt straight at Aidan McAdams and the game went to penalties.
Morton stepped up first with Kyle Jacobs dispatching confidently into the top left corner of the goal before Stuart Bannigan levelled things for the Jags. Substitute James Wallace was up next for the ‘Ton and the number 24 saw his kick saved by Kieran Wright.
Richard Foster was tasked with giving his side the lead and the defender did so powerfully from 12 yards. Sean McGinty then restored parity with a well taken effort before Joe Cardle restored Thistle’s advantage.
Kieran Wright produced another stop, this time from Rabin Omar’s spot kick, to put the Maryhill men a penalty away from victory and James Penrice subsequently found the bottom corner to secure the bonus point for Ian McCall’s side.
Thistle finished the group in third place on seven points sadly missing out on progression from the group stage. Next up for the Jags is a home clash with East Fife in League One next Saturday at 15:00.
Thistle rounded off their Betfred Cup group with the visit of Greenock Morton to Firhill on a rainy afternoon in Maryhill. After a goalless ninety minutes, the Jags prevailed on penalties to finish 3rd in the group. Thistle manager Ian McCall gave his thoughts to ptfc.co.uk on the clash with the Championship side.
“We’re pleased to get two points from that game considering how many players we have out at the moment. I thought first half we moved the ball around well and looked the better team. In the second half they put us under pressure more but we stood up to it and I’m really proud of them.
“It was always going to be really difficult to create chances without a recognised striker in the team to play off. We had Connor Murray up there to begin with and Blair Lyons later on and they both did what they could but you could tell it wasn’t natural for them. The whole team worked hard until the end and that’s exactly what I asked of them before the game.”
Thistle kept their first clean sheet in a month and the gaffer was pleased with the improvement shown in the defensive areas throughout a tough match.
“It was great to get the clean sheet and I thought the boys at the back deserved it. They dealt with what was thrown at them really well and Kieran Wright was excellent when called upon. They had a couple of near things towards the end of each half but for the most part we kept them out well.”
In a week where Scottish goalkeepers have made the headlines for crucial penalty saves, it was Kieran Wright’s turn as he produced two saves to ensure Thistle won the penalty shoot out.
“Kieran did brilliantly with the penalties. The first one is a pretty simple save down to the right but the second one was fantastic and since he’s come into the team I think he’s been very impressive. Any ‘keeper can make saves but I was pleased with everything else he did today. He showed a lot of composure and communicated well with the rest of the defence.”
Blair Spittal became the latest to join a mounting injury list at Firhill having to leave the field of play in the opening 45 minutes and looking likely for a spell on the sidelines.
“Blair’s injury looks like a hamstring one which is another huge blow for us. It just happened as he went up for a header and it means he’ll miss probably around six weeks. We’re just having no luck whatsoever with injuries at the moment, but we just have to get on with it. We’ve tried not to make the injuries an issue but it’s becoming quite serious. We’ve had a look at how we were training and changed it slightly this week. We’re still working hard but with a lot less contact in training because we just can’t afford to pick up any more injuries.
“We’ll have Brian Graham and Ross Docherty back next week which will be a massive boost and we need it because it’s a very important game against East Fife. We now have a run of fixtures to take us into Christmas and we have to pick up as many points as possible to start climbing the table.”
A further reaction interview with Thistle gaffer Ian McCall and Stuart Bannigan will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of today’s match on JagZone this evening.
Article Copyright © 2020. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
