Match Report

Partick Thistle v Rangers – 7th May 2017

Sunday 7th May, 2017 at 8:38pm

Going into the split, Partick Thistle faced five challenging fixtures. Last weekend, the Jags played the first of the five against Hearts at Tynecastle. Thistle went ahead twice but a late Struna equaliser meant Alan Archibald’s men returned to Maryhill with just a point and not all three. Today, the Firhill side took on Rangers at home as they looked to take points from the Gers for the first time this season.

Daniel Devine was unavailable for the clash after being sent off in last weekend’s game in Edinburgh. However, the Jags were boosted by the returns of Liam Lindsay and Abdul Osman to the starting line-up as well as Mustapha Dumbuya’s return from injury but he could only make the bench. As well as Devine coming out of the squad, Andrew McCarthy dropped to the bench for today’s game. The Thistle management staff deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation for the meeting.

In the 13th minute the Jags took the lead through Kris Doolan. Steven Lawless gave Christie Elliott the ball on the right wing and the full-back curled a ball into the six-yard box where Kris Doolan had found space and he headed home from close range beating Foderingham at the near post.

The home side had a chance to double their lead 18 minutes in. Jags captain Abdul Osman’s cross was met by Niall Keown but the loanee couldn’t get his head over the ball and his attempt cleared the bar.

After that chance, the hosts should have made it two a minute later. Callum Booth’s cross from the left fell to the feet of Ryan Edwards who was stood five yards out. The Australian managed to get a shot of sorts away but Rangers ‘keeper Wes Foderingham closed him down well and turned the attempt behind.

The visitors’ best opportunity of the first half came in the 39th minute. James Tavernier whipped a free-kick into the box finding Danny Wilson. The defender tried to direct the ball goalward but his headed effort went wide of the far stick.

The teams went into the interval with the score at 1-0. Thistle had created the better chances of the two sides but Rangers still had plenty of the ball. Joe Dodoo and Martyn Waghorn were struggling to create anything on the wings and Kenny Miller was having to drop deep to even get a touch of the ball. Rangers would need to show some more creativity if they were to get anything from the game.

Kris Doolan would get the second period underway and the first chance of that second 45 would fall to the veteran marksman. Callum Booth was able to find space on the left to cross as Thistle countered. His delivery found the unmarked Doolan but the forward couldn’t find the target with his towering header.

The hosts had another great chance to double the deficit through Steven Lawless with 18 minutes to go. Kris Doolan’s cross from the right flank found Steven Lawless who rose highest to head on goal. He looked to have lifted it over Foderingham but the Englishman tipped it over the bar.

In the 76th minute, Pedro Caixinha made the bold decision to take holding midfielder, Jason Holt off for winger Barrie McKay and it was a move that would pay off come the 83rd minute. Barrie McKay was fed the ball in the Thistle box and he dummied a shot, evading Liam Lindsay and poked home past Tomas Cerny, making it 1-1.

As the teams played through the four minutes of added time, it seemed that things were going to end level but it wasn’t to be. In the final minute of the game, Kenny Miller picked up the ball and ran down the right of the Thistle box before lifting a ball into the danger area. The ball was met by Joe Garner who headed down past Tomas Cerny making it 2-1 as the Firhill faithful experienced a nightmarish case of deja-vu.

Just after the game kicked off again, the referee blew for full time as Thistle suffered yet another loss to their city rivals, Rangers. The Jags were made to rue the missed chances they had throughout the game as Garner struck late to grab the three points for the Ibrox side.

Thistle return to action next Saturday as Alan Archibald’s side travel to Perth to take on St. Johnstone with kick-off at 15:00.

THISTLE TEAM: Cerny, Booth, Lindsay, Keown, Elliott, Osman, Barton, Edwards (McCarthy, 89’), Lawless, Erskine (Azeez,86’), Doolan.

THISTLE SUBS (N/U): Ridgers, Dumbuya, Amoo, Nisbet, McLaughlin.

RANGERS TEAM: Foderingham, Beerman, Wilson (Barjonas, 71’), Bates, Tavernier, Holt (McKay, 76’), Windass, Waghorn (Hill, 53’), Dodoo, Miller, Garner.

RANGERS SUBS (N/U): Alnwick, Halliday, Dallas, Atakayi.