Sat 2 April, 2022
cinch Championship 
Firhill Stadium
cinch Championship
Sat 2 April, 2022. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium
Ticketing Information:
All supporters are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets ahead of matchday to avoid lengthy Firhill queues.
Ticket prices for this match are priced at:
Adults – £20
Concessions (Over 65s, students, disabled supporter including carer, 16-18 year olds) £15
Under 16 – £5
Purchasing before matchday
Ticket purchases before matchday (2nd April) are available to buy through one of the methods below:
Matchday purchases
Tickets can be purchased on matchday through online sale. The Executive Offices will not be open on matchday.
Very limited provision will be made at the Jackie Husband ticket office for home supporters, without bank cards or online access, to use cash to purchase tickets for this game.
Partick Thistle Season Ticket Holders
This fixture is on the Partick Thistle 2021/22 season ticket. Use your season ticket card, or the PTFC ticketing app at the turnstile to gain entry to Firhill. Season tickets are only valid for the stand they were purchased for with no changing between stands on a game by game basis, currently permitted.
If you are a Partick Thistle season ticket holder who is due to be self-isolating on the date of this fixture, or who develops Covid-19 symptoms between now and matchday you should not attend this fixture. In this event, please contact to update us. We will de-activate your season card for this fixture and provide access to the live stream of the match.
Away Supporters
Away fans can purchase their ticket for this league game through one of the two methods below:
Away supporter ticket prices for this match are priced at:
Adults – £20
Concessions (Over 65s, students, disabled supporter including carer, 16-18 year olds) £15
Under 16 – £5
Online ticket sales for Arbroath fans will be available right up until kick-off.
There will be no provision available for physical in-person ticket sales for Arbroath supporters on matchday.
The management team’s written previews and reactions are presented by The Jags Trust. You can keep up to date with the latest from The Jags Trust by visiting their website, www.jagstrust.com.
With five games left of the regular cinch Championship season, Partick Thistle are hoping to consolidate their position in the play-off places as Arbroath visit Firhill this weekend. The Jags are on a four-game losing run but still maintain fourth position, two points above Raith Rovers and 10 points behind this Saturday’s opponents who occupy second place. Last time the sides met a Ciaran McKenna strike on the hour mark cancelled out an early Colin Hamilton goal as the points were shared. Thistle assistant manager Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the fixture:
“We can’t hide away from the fact that we’ve been on a poor run over the last few weeks and it’s come at the worst possible time so we have to try to get back on track with a result this week. I think the boys know they’ve left themselves with work to do and they want to get out there against Arbroath to try to get us going in the right direction again.”
Although the Jags suffered a 2-1 defeat in their most recent game against Kilmarnock, Archie felt there were some positives to take from the game.
“Look, we didn’t get any points which is what we need at the moment but performance-wise we did feel it was a step up from the previous couple of games. We started the game positively and had a bit of control in the midfield but then we gave away a silly foul from a long punt and Kyle Lafferty produces a brilliant free-kick which is obviously a setback.
“We then get into half-time and want to put them under pressure in the second half but instead we got out and concede in something like 20 seconds and there are no excuses for that – it was such an avoidable goal to lose.
“That made things very difficult for us because Kilmarnock are a solid defensive team but, that being said, I think if we’d got our goal a bit earlier then it would have been interesting. Even with that, we didn’t deserve to win and we need to improve on that if we want to get something against Arbroath.”
Despite a disappointing run of recent results, with the team still sat in the play-off places, Archie says the team need to remember that there’s still a lot to play for.
“We’ve tried our best to relay that to the players this week. When you lose a few in a row it can feel like the world is ending but it’s still in our hands to go and finish in the play-offs. Obviously, there needs to be that improvement that I’ve mentioned but we’ve shown earlier in the season that we’re capable of competing with anyone in the league so hopefully we can get back to that.”
If Thistle are going to get back to winning ways this weekend then they’ll need to inflict just a fifth defeat of the league season on Dick Campbell’s Arbroath and Alan says the squad know exactly how hard that task will be to complete.
“We’ve played Arbroath three times this season so we know what to expect at this point and that is a team with a bit of everything. They’re strong, experienced and stubborn defensively but they’ve also got plenty of attacking talent and ability in the team.
“They’ve maybe not been as consistent over the last couple of months but they’ve still only lost three or four games all season so we’re under no illusions about how difficult it will be to get all three points.”
Over the past couple of weeks a variety of absences have left Thistle short of numbers in the matchday squad and, although there are still some problems with injury and illness, Archibald is expecting a couple of players back.
“The first one is Lewis Mayo who was away on international duty. He’ll come straight back into the squad as well as Robbie Crawford who was ill. Robbie’s has been back in training so we’re pleased to have both of them available again.”
Exclusive video interviews with Stuart Bannigan and Thistle assistant manager Alan Archibald will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch today – log in to view.
JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for our clash with Arbroath, starting at 2:30pm – click here to tune in.
We will be providing a pay-per-view option, priced at £12, for any supporter who wishes to watch a livestream of the match – click here to purchase.
We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of the fixture on JagZone following the game.
Article Copyright © 2022. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Following four defeats on the bounce, Partick Thistle welcomed Arbroath to Firhill for the second time this season as they looked to get their play-off push back on track.
The most recent of their losses was at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock as Kyle Lafferty scored twice to beat the Jags, meanwhile Arbroath were battling back from 3-1 down to get a 3-3 draw against Raith Rovers at Gayfield Park.
Ian McCall made three changes to the side which started against Killie with a couple of players returning to the squad having missed the trip to Ayrshire. Firstly, Lewis Mayo was back available after being away on international duty and he replaced Ross Docherty at the base of the Thistle midfield with the skipper absent for just the second time this league season. Brian Graham was also back, having missed three games through illness, replacing Juan Alegria up front. Cammy Smith was also recalled to the starting line-up in place of Connor Murray who dropped to the bench.
The last time the teams met Thistle found themselves behind early on but the Maryhill men started this contest in much better fashion, edging the early goings. Even so, chances were few and far between with a blocked Brian Graham shot being the best of the first half hour.
The first significant effort of the game arrived after 32 minutes when Ciaran McKenna advanced down the right flank to deliver a cross to Brian Graham at the back post. The Thistle top scorer tried to head back across goal into the bottom corner, however, Derek Gaston was able to fall on the ball to keep the scores level.
There was another headed chance for the number nine with three minutes to go of the first half with Kyle Turner the provider this time. The midfielder swung in a right-footed free kick from the left which Graham glanced towards goal. Unfortunately, his touch only helped it over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
A minute later Arbroath were inches away from an opener as first half substitute David Gold struck the post from the edge of the box. Colin Hamilton’s long throw was chested down by his namesake Jack, allowing Gold to have a first-time strike from 18 yards. The number seven’s effort seemed to be heading for the corner of Jamie Sneddon’s net but it just curled to much and rebounded off the upright before being cleared.
The home side’s aerial threat caused Arbroath more problems three minutes after the second half restart as Kevin Holt almost added to his recent Firhill goalscoring credentials. A Kyle Turner corner from in front of the tunnel area was floated in towards the number three and he ran onto it to power a header goalwards but just like Graham from Turner’s earlier delivery, Holt could only send his attempt over the bar.
Gaston was called into action for a second time on the hour mark as Brian Graham tested him with yet another header. This time it was Stephen Hendrie setting the striker up with a fantastic cross from deep on the left wing which Graham leapt to meet, powering a header towards the bottom corner. Gaston was equal to it though as he was able to push the all around the post for a corner.
The visitors’ attacking threat was severely limited for most of the second half, though there were a couple of nervy moments with ten minutes to go for Thistle. Firstly, a mix-up in defence gifted Arbroath the ball with a momentary numbers advantage but clever defending from Kevin Holt forced Jack Hamilton wide and the number 20 flashed a shot comfortably past the post.
Secondly, Hamilton became the creator as he teed up Luke Donnelly for volley on goal from just inside the box, but Jamie Sneddon got his bod behind the shot and collected at the second attempt.
There was to be no late drama at Firhill as the game finished goalless, a result which moved Thistle three points clear of Raith Rovers albeit with a game more played.
Up next for the Jags is a Friday night clash against Queen of the South. That one is a 7:45pm kick-off on 8th April.
The management team’s written previews and reactions are presented by The Jags Trust. You can keep up to date with the latest from The Jags Trust by visiting their website, www.jagstrust.com.
Partick Thistle got their April started with a battling 0-0 draw against Arbroath in the cinch Championship at Firhill today. The Jags came into the game off the back of four consecutive defeats but managed to stop the rot as they held the Smokies in a tightly contested game. The away side’s best chance of the game came in the first half as David Gold struck the post from the edge of the box while Thistle’s closest moments came in the air as Brian Graham saw a header saved by Derek Gaston and Kevin Holt powered one over the bar from eight yards out. Jags boss Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the game:
“There wasn’t too much in that game in all honesty but I did think that if anyone deserved to win, it was us. Brian’s had two or three decent chances with the best one being saved well by Gaston but then Holty also has a good one which on another day might go in.
“Overall, we’re pleased to get a point on the board because we’re up against a good Arbroath team who have a lot of quality and don’t lose often. Last time we played them here they were all over us and deserved to win but we didn’t let that happen this afternoon which was great.”
After a tricky defensive run, Thistle got back to keeping a clean sheet against Dick Campbell’s side and the gaffer was happy with the organisation the team showed against the league’s joint-top scorers.
“It’s something that had to improve and we’d already shown this season that we’re capable of being a really good defensive team but, for whatever reason, we went back to making silly mistakes over the past few weeks.
“Today it was much better and I thought the back four were really solid. Jamie wasn’t given much to do and that’s credit to the work of the guys in front of him which includes Lewis Mayo. He was playing in midfield which isn’t his natural position and he was the best player on the park in my opinion.”
Brian Graham was making his return from illness as he played around 85 minutes of today’s game and McCall was delighted to see the number nine back out on the pitch.
“Brian’s efforts today were incredible. He really has been struggling and it’s limited his training massively but he said to us that he wants to play and that’s just what he’s like. We’ve obviously missed him in the games that he’s missed but to be able to get him back was huge albeit he wasn’t playing at 100%.”
Now, the Maryhill men prepare for a trip to Dumfries next Friday night to face Queen of the South and the manager says the team have to go there with a positive attitude.
“We now need to go and improve again against Queens. Drawing against Arbroath will be a good point if we can go and add three more on Friday but we know that won’t be easy. We are hopeful that we’ll see a couple of the guys who were missing today back and we’ll get more training into the legs of the guys who’ve missed time which means we’ll hopefully be going to Palmerston Park in good shape.”
Further reaction from Thistle manager Ian McCall and Tunji Akinola will be available to watch on JagZone tonight – log in to view.
We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of the fixture on JagZone later tonight.
Article Copyright © 2022. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Thistle end a run of successive defeats but can only manage a goalless draw with Arbroath.
Into whatever time referee Newlands adds on.
Another flutter of anxiety for Thistle as the ball sits up for Donnelly inside the Thistle box but this time his shot is straight at Sneddon.
Anxiety for Thistle as Donnelly is able to push the ball to Hamilton who sends his shot wide of goal.
McKenna heads McKenna's corner clear.
Turner's corner is cleared. He gets the ball back and that cross too is cleared.
Thistle are so close to taking the lead. Graham is on the end of a Hendrie cross and it takes an excellent save from Gaston to get the ball round the post for a corner.
Half a chance for Arbroath and Jack Hamilton but Hamilton's shot is wide of Sneddon's left hand post.
Crowd: 2,810.
Great chance for Thistle and that probably should have been a goal. Turner's corner finds Holt unmarked but on this occasion the defender can't keep his header down and it clears the bar.
First glimpse of a chance in the second half. Graham manages to divert a Turner free kick towards goal but his header is straight at Gaston.
All square at the break.
Thistle have perhaps shaded the opening 45 minutes with Brian Graham coming close with a couple of headers but it has been Arbroath that have been closest to a first half goal with a Gold shot coming off the post.
Turner's corner is cleared.
The ball is whipped away from Graham at the back post just when it looks as if he might convert a Tiffoney cross.
We're into first half injury time. That is likely to be fairly substantial following the injury to Chris Hamilton and Arbroath manager Dick Campbell being sent to the stand.
Substitute Gold nearly has a near immediate impact on the game as his shot beats Sneddon but comes back off the post and bounces clear.
Turner whips the free kick into the Arbroath box and Graham is unlucky to see his header just clear the crossbar.
Tffoney is caught and Thistle will have a free kick wide on the left hand side.
That's the nearest either side has come to a goal. McKenna lifts over a cross from the right for Graham but Gaston is able to get down and save Graham's header.
Sneddon gets a strong fist to McKenn'a corner to get it clear. The ball is returned deep towards Sneddon's back post but he claims that ball safely and cleanly.
Graham is able to twist his head to get on the end of a Tiffoney cross but Gaston is quickly off his line to take charge and claim the ball.
Graham is able to gather a Bannigan cross. He has two stabs at a shot at goal and both attempts are blocked by an Arbroath defender.
Shouts for a Thistle penalty, mainly from the crowd it has to be said, as O'Brien appears to have his arms around Mayo inside the box.
Thistle are starting to apply some pressure after a quiet start to the game.
With just five games of the regular season remaining including this afternoon's encounter with Arbroath, we are well and truly at the business end of the season.
Recent form hasn't been great and Ian McCall has made three changes to his starting eleven as Thistle look to get back to winning ways.
Lewis Mayo returns from international duty with the Scotland Under 21 squad and Cammy Smith moves from the bench to the staring eleven for this one. There is also a welcome return to action for leading scorer Brian Graham.
There is a more experienced look to the Thistle substitute bench as well. Connor Murray and Juan Alegria start this one on the bench where there is also a slot of a returning Robbie Crawford.
On the debit side, Ross Docherty misses out this afternoon with the aforementioned Kevin Holt wearing the captain's armband in Docherty's absence.