cinch Championship
Sat 7 August, 2021. Kick Off: - 15:00
East End Park
Ticket information and Live Stream
No Thistle fans will be allowed to attend Saturday’s cinch Championship fixture against Dunfermline Athletic.
A live stream of the match will be available through ParsTV for £12 for Thistle fans to follow the game. To purchase the stream, you must register with ParsTV which you can do here: https://parstv.co.uk/register
Passes will be on sale until 2:45pm tomorrow.
In-Game Updates
Live updates will be available on our Twitter page throughout the game.
50/50 Draw
You can enter our digital 50/50 draw by purchasing tickets online.
Tickets cost £1 each to enter.
Entries will close at 3:30pm on Saturday 7th August 2021
Post-Match
Following the game, we’ll have reaction from the Thistle camp available to watch on JagZone.
There will also be match highlights and a full game replay on JagZone later.
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.
After beating Queen of the South 3-2 on cinch Championship opening day, Partick Thistle are now looking to make it two wins from two as they travel to East End Park this Saturday to face Dunfermline. They’ve already played the Pars once this season with Peter Grant’s side emerging as 4-2 victors when the teams met in Premier Sports Cup action at Firhill four weeks ago so the Jags will be keen to make sure they get a more favourable result this time around. Thistle manager Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the fixture, beginning by reflecting on last month’s cup tie against the Pars:
“It was an action-packed game the last time we played Dunfermline; one of those ones where both teams had plenty of chances. We could have been two or three up before they even got their equaliser but we weren’t clinical and then one short spell of mistakes kills us towards the end of that first half.
“It was a game with two teams looking to score and particularly in that first half it made for quite a game. I expect similar this time round to be honest although we obviously want to cut out the mistakes that allowed them to score in that match.”
Ian says the team are excited about the weekend’s fixture after their positive start to the league season against the Doonhamers last week.
“Look, this is a game we’re looking forward to. It was great to get off to a winning start but we still feel we should have played better on the day. We’ve worked hard in training this week and we feel we’re getting closer to our best with every week that passes.”
The Jags have made some additions to the squad since that game with one of them being former Par Lewis Mayo who the manager has high hopes for.
“While he was at Dunfermline he moved about a bit and played games in midfield and at right-back but to be honest we see him as a centre-half and a very good one at that. I genuinely believe he’s got the ability to be the best centre-half in the Championship but it takes a lot of hard work to get to that sort of level. He got off to a good start last week and there’s hopefully more to come from him too.”
Another new face added to the Jags squad recently was Cammy Smith who made his Thistle debut off the bench against Queen of the South and the gaffer says he’s still building up his sharpness after his self-isolation period.
“Cammy’s someone who brings a lot of quality to the team but he was stuck inside for ten days and wasn’t able to do much in the way of training. He came in towards the back end if last week but he still needs more time to get to 100%. That’s why the two week break after the Dunfermline game will be so good because guys like him who haven’t trained as much can get up to speed.”
McCall ended by giving us an update on squad news ahead of our trip to Fife.
“In terms of squad fitness, there’s been nothing new this week so we’re still at full strength minus Darren Brownlie, of course. Last Saturday it was one of the guys off the bench that scored the winner so that shows the importance of having that squad and we’re glad to have just about everyone available at the moment.”
Exclusive video interviews with Ciaran McKenna and Thistle assistant manager Neil Scally will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch today – log in to view.
The home side are offering a pay-per-view option, priced at £12, for any supporter who wishes to watch the match – click here for more info.
We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of the fixture on JagZone following the game.
Article Copyright © 2021. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
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 made it two wins from two to start the league season for the first time in 8 years this afternoon as they won 3-0 at East End Park, adding to their opening day triumph over Queen of the South. Two first half corners bore fruit with Ross Docherty and Kevin Holt heading home to put the Jags in the driver’s seat at the interval before Ross Graham turned the ball into his own net from Cammy Smith’s cross to give the Maryhill men a three-goal advantage in the second half. Following the final whistle, Thistle boss Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk about the performance:
“We were fantastic across the board today and, to be honest, we could and should have scored more. We cut out the mistakes that we made when we last played them and looked comfortable for the majority of the game. It’s not an easy place to come but we were deserving winners.”
The gaffer had particular praise for Thistle’s central midfielders Ross Docherty and Stuart Bannigan who he felt stood out throughout the match.
“The pair of them were fantastic from start to finish. They controlled the game perfectly for us against a Dunfermline midfield that had a lot of quality and especially in that second half it just helped ease the pressure after they had a bright start coming out from half-time.”
Both the Jags’ first half goals came from corner kicks and the manager was delighted to see training ground work turn into goals on the park.
“Ross Docherty doesn’t get many but he took his really well this afternoon. I think people underestimate his aerial ability a bit and that run to the front post is something he does really well. To then go and get that second with Kevin Holt was great and seeing us take advantage of the number of set pieces we got was brilliant.”
Thistle managed to see the game out for their first league clean sheet and the manager said he was pleased with the way the side defended.
“It was a great effort from the boys today. As I mentioned, Dunfermline started the second half really well but, unlike the last time we played them, we limited the number of clear chances they got while they had a bit of momentum. Lewis Mayo was excellent and his pace is a real asset for us at the back.”
The team now have two weeks until their next match and Ian is keen to make sure they use this time wisely.
“It’ll give us an opportunity to work on some things with the boys in terms of formation because there are still things we want to improve. Also, there are some players like Cammy Smith and Scott Tiffoney who’ll benefit from that extra training without the game there. They both looked really sharp today but they still need some more time to get up to 100% and these two weeks should be ideal for that.”
Further reaction from Thistle manager Ian McCall and Ross Docherty will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch later – log in to view.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of today’s match on JagZone tonight.
Article Copyright © 2021. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Sat 7 August, 2021
cinch Championship 
East End Park
It's an excellent afternoon for Thistle.
Those Thistle fans not present this afternoon, or unwilling to pay for the home side's stream, will enjoy our highlights to follow.
Smith isn't too far away from a 4th Thistle goal with Mehmet pushing away his shot with MacIver unable to direct the rebound on target.
Thistle make a bit of a mess of the free kick but nobody is too fussed at the moment with Thistle cruising to victory.
Thistle have a free kick wide on the left and one last opportunity for a 4th goal.
Stone makes a confident catch inside his 6 yard box.
Stone spreads himself to prevent, with a little luck thrown in, to keep out a header from point blank range. Dunfermline came make nothing of the corner that follows.
Mayo takes charge to head clear.
No goal for Graham this afternoon but another great shift from the Thistle number 9.
Murray initially does well down the left. He gives it to Bannigan who in turn finds Smith and Graham, who was close to an own goal just a few minutes ago, is more 'successful' this time and knocks Smith's cross into his own net.
Turner's corner is cleared. Bannigan collects at the edge of the box and his shot goes wide of Mehmet's left hand post.
Graham's pass back nearly slips into the far corner of his own net.
A tired looking Rudden, who has put in a power of work this afternoon, is replaced by Murray.
They do get the ball into the box but the flag goes up for offside and Thistle have a free kick that Stone is in no hurry to take.
Mayo comes through the back of Wighton and Dunfermline have a free kick and a chance to get the ball in the Thistle box.
Despite, isolated, shouts of 'cheat' Tiffoney's afternoon is over and he is replaced by Cammy Smith. Tiffoney's defensive work which has been excellent might be missed as much as his attacking play.
Stone bowls the ball out of play for Tiffoney to receive some treatment.
Stone gets a hand to take a Torodov header over the bar for an unproductive Dunfermline corner. Thistle are inviting a little too much pressure at the moment though.
A low Macdonald shot from outside the box doesn't present Stone with any problems.
Stone puts the ball out for Docherty to get some treatment but Docherty gets to his feet. Dunfermline give the ball back to Thistle following a conversation between the referee and his assistant and much to the annoyance of the frustrated home fans.
Tiffoney is just unable to get his foot to a Foster ball through the middle.
Tiffiney collects an excellent pass from Foster but he can't find a team mate with an over hit cross from the left.
Turner shows some strength to win a ball at the edge of the Dunfermline box. He is initially prevented from shooting but after ignoring Tiffoney to his right he tries a second time and this time the ball drifts away from goal.
Stone gets a hand to a Wighton shot just as the Dunfermline fans are shouting 'goal'.
Bannigan returns the ball into the box after Turner's corner is cleared but Graham's shot is quickly blocked.
Edwards swings over a cross that Torodov can't keep in at the back post.
The home side have certainly started the second half in determined fashion and it takes a great defensive block to prevent O'Hara from find the net after excellent approach play from Dorrans.
The opening stages of the second half are going to be vital and Dunfermline immediately have Thistle under pressure with a cross from the right fizzing right across the face of the Thistle goal.
Thistle lead by two at the break and in truth it could and perhaps even should be a bigger lead.
Ross Docherty headed home a Kyle Turner corner after 6 minutes and Kevin Holt was at the back post to nod home another corner after 21 minutes play.
Graham can't get enough of his head to the corner and the ball drops wide for a goal kick.
Stone tips an O'Hara shot over the bar.
Turner's corner is too deep but collected outside the box by Bannigan who curls a superb cross that just requires a touch from Graham to produce a goal but Thistle's top scorer fails on this occasion to provide the finish required.
Mehmet spills a simple cross to his near post and Thistle appeal again for a penalty as Rudden goes to ground as Mehmet tries to atone for his error.
Poor corner this time for Turner but we can't complain about our conversion rate from corners so far this afternoon.
Graham is able to knock a Turner cross back towards goal but it is cleared. Turner collects the ball but his effort goes high over the Dunfermline crossbar.
Tiffoney burst into the box ahead of O'Hara. Tiffoney goes to ground as O'Hara's challenge comes in. Thistle appeal for a penalty and Dunfermline for a yellow card for a dive. Both pleas are unsuccessful and play restarts with a goal kick.
Thomas has an effort for Dunfermline from about 25 yards out that dips just a shade too late and clears Stone's crossbar.
Another Thistle corner and another Thistle goal. Turner's corner goes to the back post where Holt heads home to become the first Thistle defender in over a year to score a goal.
It's a poor free kick from Thomas that Thistle only partially clear until Bannigan steps in and tidies things up.
Bannigan clips the heels of Thomas and Dunfermline have a free kick wide on the right hand side. Thistle need to be switched on here.
Turner's corners are causing the home side a whole host of problems and this one finds Holt whose header doesn't clear the bar with much to spare.
Graham flicks Turner's corner towards the back post but Mehmet claims.
Foster gets in behind the defence down the left and his cross is cleared for a corner.
It's a poor corner this time and Dunfermline break quickly but the danger is eventually snuffed out at the edge of the box.
Thistle, and Rudden, are nearly presented with a gift of a second goal. Zak collects a misdirected headed pass back and looks set to get clear but a defender get back to clear.
And from the game's first corner Thistle take the lead. Turner, getting stick from the home fans, finds an unmarked Docherty who in turn finds the net with a well placed header.
Ghistle break through Docherty who finds Turner to his right and his cross is deflected behind.
The home side are on the front foot early on and Macdonald collects the ball on the right again and curls a shot well over the Thistle crossbar.
Macdonald sends over a cross from the right hand side but Stone collects at the edge of his 6 yard box.
A shade ahead of 3pm, Dunfermline kick the game off.
Thistle have made two changes to the side that started the league season with a 3-2 win over Queen of the South last weekend.
Harry Stone gets the nod to start in goal and scorer of the winning goal last Saturday, Scott Tiffoney, starts this weekend with Steven Bell dropping to the bench a move that will see a change in formation for Thistle.