cinch Championship
Tue 22 March, 2022. Kick Off: - 19:05
East End Park
Fixture information:
Ticketing Information:
Thistle head to East End Park on Tuesday evening to face Dunfermline Athletic in cinch Championship duty.
The game kicks off at 7:05pm.
Thistle fans can buy tickets for this fixture online.
To buy tickets online, visit dafc.co.uk/awaytickets/.
Tickets are priced as below:
Adult – £20
Concessions – £14
A concession is classed as over 65s, students and people aged between 18-20 years old*
Child(under 12) – £6.
Thistle supporters will be located in the North East Stand.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 15:15
Station Bar: 15:30
For seats call Duncan 07979496154 or e-mail
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 16:45
Thornwood Bar – 16:50
Prices:
Adults – £14
Concessions – £8
Booking is essential and priority will be given to former members and regulars. Seating will be limited and face-coverings must worn: this follows instructions from the coach company.
To make a booking phone or e-mail Alistair on 07817612563 or Alternatively phone or e-mail Iain on 07779668357 or
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 16:45
Esquire House, Anniesland – 17:05
Maryhill Community Central Halls – 17:20
Fares:
Full fare – £12
Concessions – £7.50
Please remember that the wearing of a face covering is mandatory at all times when on the North-West bus and will remain so until government guidelines are changed.
Partick Thistle will look for an immediate reaction to their 4-0 defeat by Hamilton as they travel to East End Park for some Tuesday night cinch Championship action. The Jags can jump back into third place with a win as they play their final game in hand of the recent fixture backlog. Dunfermline, winless in six games, haven’t scored in their last three games against the Maryhill men having scored four in one match at Firhill at the beginning of the season. Jags assistant manager Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the contest:
“It’s ideal for us because Saturday’s result was such a sickener that you just want to get stuck into the next game and we’ve only got to wait three days. As a unit, we all know that the Hamilton game was unacceptable so now we’ve just got to do our best to get past it and get back on track.
“It’s one that you want to just forget about but at the same time we have to look over it and try to learn from those mistakes to make sure they never happen again. We don’t want to go overboard though because we’ve had a stretch of four or five months where mistakes like those have been extremely rare.
“We’ve lost games this season and last season but I don’t think we’ve been as well beaten as that to be honest. It started badly and we didn’t react to that so we can have no complaints at all about the result. There’s still a lot to play for though so we can’t let it hang over us.”
Despite the heavy defeat to Stuart Taylor’s side, Archie did mention one positive from the afternoon – Ben Stanway making his league debut for the club.
“It was an awful day overall but we were pleased to get Ben onto the pitch. He’s been in training with the first team for some time now and he’s definitely earned the right to be in the matchday squad.
“It wasn’t exactly the ideal situation for him to come on to but getting his first chance to play some Championship football will have been a useful experience for him. Now we want him to kick on and give us reason to play him some more.”
Now, looking ahead to the game against Dunfermline in Fife, Archie says he’s expecting a difficult game against a team who are desperate for points.
“They’re bottom of the table at the moment but from what I’ve seen they potentially could have had more points than they’ve got from a few games recently. That was certainly the case for them against Morton last Friday when they were dominating the game but couldn’t quite find the finishing touch.
“They keep the ball quite well which is what you expect from a John Hughes team and on what should be a good surface at East End Park, we’ll be looking to do the same. It’s a game in hand for us but there’s some pressure on it because of the last two results.”
There was a long list of absentees on Saturday afternoon with a number of key players missing for the game against Accies and we got Archie to give us an update on each of them.
“So, firstly, Alex Jakubiak looks like he’s going to miss out. He injured his groin in the warm-up on Saturday and had to pull out less than ten minutes before kick-off which was a blow. We’re hopeful that he’ll be back available for Kilmarnock but he probably won’t be involved tomorrow.
“Brian Graham and Connor Murray were both ill last week so they have a chance for tomorrow but it depends on how they feel when they wake up. They’re both guys who’ll be keen to play a part if they can but we have to consider their health and whether they’d really be able to give 100% if they’re not feeling well.
“Richard Foster has been managing a knock for while now but it looks like he could be available for Dunfermline. He fought through the injury to play at Cappielow and that set him back a bit but he’s been feeling a bit better the last couple of days.
“Scott Tiffoney is another one who’s been dealing with an injury for a while and obviously he’s missed a number of games for us now. He did some training towards the end of last week and got another good session today so he should be in the squad tomorrow which is a boost for everyone.
“Kyle McAllister is the last short term injury that we’ve got at the moment. He felt an issue in the warm-up against Queen of the South and went back to St. Mirren to get it looked at. Since then the physio at St. Mirren and our physio Jordan have been working together to get him back and we’re looking at a couple of weeks out for him.”
An exclusive video interview 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 Dunfermline Athletic, starting at 6:35pm – click here to tune in.
This game is being broadcast live on the BBC Scotland channel.
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.
Off the back of successive cinch Championship defeats to Greenock Morton and Hamilton Accies, Partick Thistle were looking to bounce back as they played their final game in hand against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park.
The Jags and the Pars hadn’t met since the end of November when a Ross Docherty stunner separated the teams in the Scottish Cup.
Ian McCall made two changes that had lost heavily to Hamilton three days prior with Scott Tiffoney and Richard Foster returning from injury to take the places of Kyle Turner and Tunji Akinola.
Following their humbling defeat at the hands of the Accies, Thistle would have been looking for a good start and they got it with Ross Docherty firing them in front after five minutes. Ciaran McKenna advanced down the right flank and delivered into the Pars’ box where Robbie Crawford couldn’t quite control the ball. It deflected out towards Docherty and the Jags’ skipper coolly curled a right-footed shot past Deniz Mehmet to put his side one up.
That positive start didn’t last long however as Dunfermline struck back in the 10th minute. Matthew Todd picked up a loose ball wide on the right and swung a dangerous ball in towards the Thistle six-yard box. Lewis Mayo had positioned himself well to get to the ball first but as he attempted to make a clearance, it spun up off his leg and into the back of the net.
The visitors could have found themselves back in front very soon after that equaliser as Juan Alegria had a chance to get his first goal for the club. A Stuart Bannigan corner made its way through to the back post where the Colombian was stationed and although he couldn’t control with his first touch, Kevin Holt was able to poke the ball back to him. He tried to squeeze a left-footed shot past Deniz Mehmet from a tight angle but the ex-Dundee United goalkeeper was able to make the save.
Thistle were then dealt a heavy blow as Dunfermline took the lead after 22 minutes. Dom Thomas took on Robbie Crawford on the left wing and found some space to get a cross in. He picked out the unmarked Matthew Todd who turned from creator of the first goal to scorer of the second, heading past Sneddon with ease from close range.
The home side continued to apply the pressure as the Jags struggled to get to grips with their opponents and that pressure brought a third goal with 27 minutes on the clock. Again coming down the left-hand side, as some slick passing culminated with Dom Thomas setting up Josh Edwards for a shot on goal. With Ciaran McKenna in front of him Edwards forced his shot past the defender and through Jamie Sneddon’s legs to give John Hughes’ side a two-goal cushion.
It could easily have been four half-time as former Jag Steven Lawless went close to adding to the lead. Kevin O’Hara raced down the right flank and cut the ball back to Lawless who tried a first time shot. Thankfully for the away side, Sneddon was able to get an arm to the ball and then scramble on top of the rebound.
After that spell of near-constant defending for the Maryhill men, they finally got back on the front foot as they first half drew to a close. Firstly, a Ross Docherty shot tested Deniz Mehmet from 30 yards though the goalkeeper saw it all the way and was able to turn it behind for a corner with relative ease.
Then, on his return from injury, Scott Tiffoney started to get involved. A deep cross from the right made its way to the winger on the left and he took on a pair of Dunfermline men at the edge of the box, sneaking between the two of them. He then tried to beat Deniz Mehmet at his near post but again the ‘stopper was on hand to deny the Jags.
Coming out for the second half, there was nowhere near as much action as there was in the first 45 minutes. Dunfermline were content to sit on their two-goal lead while the Jags struggled to create anything that threatened to reduce the deficit. Shots from distance from Scott Tiffoney and substitute Stephen Hendrie were about as good as it got for Thistle in a disappointing second period.
As the visitors committed more and more bodies forward, Dunfermline were able to strike a fourth on the counter-attack. They won the ball back on the edge of their own box and Dan Pybus worked some space to fire a ball long for Dom Thomas to chase. With only Tunji Akinola goal-side, Thomas was able to sprint away from the chasing Steven Bell and fire past Jamie Sneddon at the near post.
With that, the game ended 4-1 as the Jags suffered a third consecutive league defeat for just the second time this season. That left them in fourth place a point behind Inverness and three above Raith Rovers. Up next is a trip to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Saturday at 3pm.
Tue 22 March, 2022
cinch Championship 
East End Park
It's another miserable 90 minutes for Thistle as they concede four for the second game in a trot.
Todorov takes the ball round Sneddon but finds the angle too tight to find the net.
Three minutes of additional time to be played. Three minutes too many from a Thistle perspective.
It's hardly been a wave after wave of Thistle attack but they somehow leave themselves massively exposed at the back as Dunfermline counter and Thomas lashes a shot high past Sneddon to inflict further misery on Thistle.
Mehmet is able to grab hold of the ball ahead of Mayo.
Turner's corner goes towards the back post where the referee spots a push and Dunfermline have a free kick.
Crowd: 3,380
A Hendrie volley is a long, long way wide of the Dunfermline goal.
A long ball goes forward that Murray is never likely to win and there is no Thistle player pressing to win the second ball. It's a stroll at the back for Dunfermline at the moment.
Dunfermline howl for a penalty as O'Hara crashes to the ground inside the box but instead of getting a penalty O'Hara is booked.
Tiffoney cuts in from the left and from the corner of the box tests Mehmet with a low shot. It looked to be going wide in any case but the home keeper makes a fairly routine save.
Docherty heads the corner clear.
Thistle make the perfect start to this game with a goal after 4 minutes but for the second game in a row they find themselves in big trouble and trailing by two at the break.
They have offered more as an attacking force than they did against Hamilton but they have been exposed time and time again at the back and in truth could easily have conceded more than three first half goals.
Bannigan's corner is cleared.
A Tiffoney cross nearly finds the back of the net.
Sneddon is called into action again, this time saving from Polworth.
Tiffoney has been fairly quiet so far but he is close to hauling Thistle back into this game but sees his shot blocked by Mehmet. You do feel that Thistle need something before the break and they are pressing as the half-time whistle approaches.
Dunfermline are once more able to comfortably deal with what Thistle can offer from thee set piece.
Docherty forces a good stop from Mehmet with a shot from outside the box.
This corner goes deep and although Ambrose hesitates in clearing it's easily dealt with.
Bannigan's corner is cleared at the front post.
It's nearly a fourth for the home side and it really should be four. It's O'Hara on the right this time that opens up the Thistle defence. He squares for Lawless who sees his shot saved by Sneddon and is unable to force the loose ball home.
It's painful viewing for the Thistle fans as they see Thomas carve open the Thistle defence before finding Edwards who sends a low shot past Sneddon.
Dunfermline are in front now and it is far, far too easy. A cross comes over from the left and Todd should not have the space he has in front of goal to head past Sneddon.
Dunfermline have been on the front foot since their equaliser and they aren't far away from taking the lead. Lawless finds O'Hara on the left hand side of the box and shot isn't too far wide of Sneddon's left hand post.
Alegria tries to force the ball home at the back post before Tiffoney drags a shot wide of goal.
It's a short-lived Thistle lead and it comes with the home fans already starting to get restless. Todd crosses from the Dunfermline right and Mayo slices the ball past his own keeper as Thistle can't build on their good start to the game.
Dunfermline attempt a short corner but make a real mess of it and it is a Thistle goal kick.
That's the start you want. A cross from the Thistle right isn't cleared by the home defence and it falls nicely into the path of Docherty who leaves the keeper with no chance with a crisp finish.
Foster has to clear a low Todd from the Thistle box.
It's Dunfermline that get this game underway.
Thistle will aim to go back to third in the league with three points at East End Park but are up against a Dunfermline side desperate for points at the other end of the table.
Ian McCall's team selection shows two changes from the side that started against Hamilton but is again limited in terms of options with neither Brian Graham and Alex Jakubiak fit enough for selection.
There is god news, however, with Scott Tiffoney returning from injury and he slots straight back into the starting eleven with Richard Foster also stepping back into the team having missed the weekend's fixture.
Kyle Turner and Tunji Akinola are the pair that drop down to the seven man Thistle bench.
Former Jag, Steven Lawless starts for the home side who also list ex Jags Rhys Breen and Reece Cole among their 9 substitutes.