Betfred Cup
Tue 25 July, 2017. Kick Off: - 19:45
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Fixture details:
Admission Prices:
Adults – £12
Concessions – £6
A concession qualifies as a person aged under 16, 65 or over or disabled.
Disabled Supporters Information:
The cost of admission is £6 which includes a carer. Airdrie have not requested the names of fans in advance.
Wheelchair fans will be located at the front of the main stand and will be directed to the entrance from the reception area.
Car parking is available around the stadium. In particular there are spaces for blue badge holders close to the entrance to the Main Stand and these are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 18:35
Station Bar – 18:45
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 18:30
Thornwood Bar – 18:35
Prices:
Members:
£6 for adults
£3 for concessions
Non-Members:
£10 for adults
£5 for concessions
All Jags fans are welcome but booking is essential.
For seats please contact Alistair on 07817612563 or email
For general enquires please contact Iain on 07779668357 or email
Jordanhill Branch Membership Information:
Jordanhill Branch Membership covers all published pre-split Ladbrokes Premiership league away games, except the visit to Ibrox where no bus will run.
Members will benefit from reduced rates for any away cup games.
As in previous seasons, membership can be paid in one installment or over the course of the season. However, we appeal for consistent payments as the buses require to be paid for on each away match day.
Membership costs are as follows:
Adult – £200
Student/Retired/Unemployed – £115
School Attenders – £80
Parent & Child – £240
For more information please contact Iain at
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 18:00
Esquire House – 18:20
Maryhill Community Halls – 18:30
Prices:
£11 for adults
£7 for concessions.
For seats non-members should e-mail
North-West Branch Membership Information:
Non-members intending to travel regularly should consider joining the North-West since the benefits are considerable.
The North-West will run a bus to every away Betfred Cup, Ladbrokes Premiership and Scottish Cup fixture played outwith Glasgow in season 2017-18.
No need to book seats for each game, your place is guaranteed!
A fixed fee (full fare £270, concession fare £150) can be paid in installments throughout the season. This fee has been held at the same level as in 2016-17.
To become a North-West Branch member please e-mail
Thistle head to Lanarkshire to take on League One side Airdrieonians in the latest round of the Betfred Cup.,
With confidence high in the camp, the squad are ready for their third Betfred Cup group tie and manager Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk shortly after the final training session on Monday afternoon.
“We’re ready for the game against Airdrie. The players are all still on a high after Saturday’s victory against St. Mirren. That result has brought us back into the group but we know we need to follow it up with another two results against Airdrie and Stranraer.
“Airdrie will be a very tricky game for the squad. We played them last season and deservedly won the game, but it was very tight and we only edged past them 1-0.”
The trip to the Excelsior Stadium brings Thistle’s first encounter with artificial surfaces this season and the manager knows it won’t be an excuse during the ninety minutes.
“We train on artificial surfaces throughout the year so we are very familiar with them. The surface at Airdrie is a little different to the one we use at Lesser Hampden but we’ll be ready to play on it. The artificial surfaces are usually good at letting you get the ball down and pass it, which is a real advantage for us in the style of football that we like to play.
With Abdul Osman missing out due to suspension the gaffer knows that he will have to change his team, but it’s just another opportunity for someone else to put themselves into the selection picture.
“Abdul will miss out through suspension which means we’ll have to bring a body in to midfield. We know that both Ryan Edwards and Andrew McCarthy are very capable replacements and whoever we select will be looking to stake their own claim for a starting slot moving forward.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Christie Elliott as well as Jags gaffer Alan Archibald are now available to Jagzone subscribers. Log in now to see them. Jagzone members will also be able to watch highlights of the game.
Can’t make it to Airdrie? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 7:15
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Alan has committed, will you join him? 2017/18 season tickets are still on sale.
Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
With the Ladbrokes Premiership season approaching unforgivingly and an injury list that must feel never-ending Alan Archibald has a lot on his plate at the moment, however, all his attention over the past few days has been on his side’s trip to the Excelsior Stadium to take on Airdrieonians in their third Betfred Cup game of the season and his hard work and rigorous planning has paid off. Thistle came out 2-1 victors against the Diamonds as the Jags took one step closer to qualifying for the next round as one of the competition’s best runners up. Goals from Kris Doolan and Blair Spittal were enough for the Jags to come out on top despite a resurgence of sorts from Airdrie in the second half that included a Dean Cairns goal in the 54th minute. After the match, Alan spoke to ptfc.co.uk to give his thoughts on the evening.
With tonight’s game ending up as a very different contest to Saturday’s demolition of St. Mirren, Archie hopes that his side will learn from the different scenarios that they’ve found themselves in so far in the Betfred Cup.
“It was a very different type of game to Saturday’s and a lot of that was down to shape. Airdrie changed their shape and we have to learn to deal with mid-match alterations made by our opposition. I didn’t think we adapted well enough, we played into their hands at times. We were trying to play intricate, one-touch play and it just wasn’t the right situation for that sort of play but it gives us more practice going into the season and it gives us a chance to look at how we reacted to certain things. We’ll analyse it, we’ll watch through it and talk to the boys about what we see.”
Although his team failed to keep a clean sheet against lower league opponents, Archie isn’t stressing as he knows with Niall Keown still to come into the fray and time left in the transfer window, the current backline isn’t necessarily the finished product.
“We had young James Penrice playing centre-half which wasn’t ideal but we thought it was worth it to get Adam Barton back into the midfield as he hasn’t really had a chance to get back to grips with that positon since last season. I thought James did ever so well as I thought Andy Ryan was trying to give him problems all game long. That being said, I was disappointed with the goal. It’s always angering to concede from a set piece but hopefully that won’t become a regular occurrence.”
Despite his team scoring just twice opposed to Saturday’s five, the gaffer was still pleased with how the attacking players operated tonight.
“The forward thinking players were good again this evening. Their link-up play was good but they just need to pick the right moments and recognise when it’s best to try some interplay and when it’s best to just hang onto the ball. When they do find the right time, they can really put teams to the sword.”
Alan was also quick to express his pleasure regarding his team’s reaction to their disappointing draw with Livingston, winning both games since that fixture.
“We’re in a pretty good position now. After we dropped those points at Livi we knew that it was going to be in their hands and credit to them, they’ve won every other game. Now with the best runners up spot within our grasp, we know what we must do. We have to win against Stranraer on Saturday and that’s plenty of motivation right there.”
As the Thistle boss mentioned, the Jags next face Stranraer at Firill on Saturday with kick-off at 15:00.
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald will be available shortly to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Kris Doolan. Log in now to see it as soon as it is available.
Jagzone subscribers will soon be able to rewatch the full 90 minutes
Highlights will be added shortly and will be free for Jagzone subscribers.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Alan has committed, will you join him? 2017/18 season tickets remain on sale.
Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Tue 25 July, 2017
Betfred Cup 
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Thistle have won here at the Excelsior but it was much nervier than it needed to be. Goals from Kris Doolan and Blair Spittal in the first half gave the Jags a comfortable lead at half-time, however, a goal from Dean Cairns in the second 45 meant Airdrie were still well in the game in the closing minutes.
Fortunately, 2-1 was how it finished and Alan Archibald's men now know that a win on Saturday will be enough for only a best runners up place in the next round as Livingston also won tonight meaning they will top the group.
Alan Archibald's men now look to Saturday and to Stranraer as the final hurdle of the group stage. Kick-off is at 15:00 at Firhill.
Airdrie's corner finds a Diamonds head but the attempt is directed straight at Cerny.
Penrice brings the ball forward from defence and shoots from 35 yards. His effort has plenty of power but is too high and clears the bar.
Nisbet gets in behind his marker and finds Doolan at the front post with a low cross. Doolan tries a side-footed flick but it hits the side netting.
Lawless crosses into the box, finding Spittal. He takes a touch then shoots but his shot takes a deflection and goes wide with the 'keeper also getting a hand to it. The resulting corner is headed wide by Adam Barton.
Ryan Conroy's corner is met by the defender and he heads confidently back across goal, into the corner.
Kris Doolan gets the second half started for Thistle as the quest for Betfred Cup qualification continues.
Chris Erskine nips through the Airdrie defence before shooting. His attempt is saved by Ferguson but when the home side fail to clear, Spittal slams home from around 10 yards.
Lawless and Doolan play a quick one-two and Doolan then fires on goal with a volley. It's tipped over the bar by Ferguson.
A Kieran MacDonald cross finds Cammy Russell in the centre. The Diamonds' number 10 heads off the bar and the danger is cleared.
Airdrie have a free-kick 35 yards from goal and Ryan Conroy takes. His effort is on target but Tomas Cerny gets down well and pushes it away from danger.
Andy Ryan turns away from Penrice, 5 yards outside box and curls a shot at Cerny's goal. The Czech 'keeper gets to it easily and collects at the second attempt.
The ball comes to Booth on the left, 35 yards out and the defender opts to shoot. His shot looks dangerous but rises just too much, going over the bar.
Lawless sees a shot from the edge of the box saved. Doolan gets to the rebound and hits it back into the centre. It bounces to Booth but he sees his attempt blocked and the danger is cleared.
The ball drops to Ryan Conroy 30 yards from goal and the midfielder unleashing a ranged effort on the bounce. Cerny parries and collects as Airdrie create their first half-chance of the game.
Callum Booth fights his way to the by-line before lifting a cross towards the back post. Chris Erskine meets it with a header but it hits the woodwork.
Blair Spittal lofts an excellent ball into Chris Erskine who finds himself in behind. The number 10 then unselfishly squares it to Kris Doolan who slots home into the bottom corner.
Steven Lawless finds Ryan Edwards on the edge of the box. The Australian turns onto his right side and shoots but it's straight into the goalkeeper's arms.
Thistle showing energy on the break from an Airdrie free kick but Chris Erskine is caught in an offside position as Christie Elliott picks him out.
Andy Ryan gets the game underway with an Airdrie kick-off.
On a sunny Tuesday evening in Airdrie, it's time for Partick Thistle's third Betfred Cup game of the season. The Excelsior Stadium is the setting as Thistle take on Airdrionians with qualification for the knockout stages of the competition at the forefront of everybody's minds.
The Diamonds come into the clash having won one of there two Betfred Cup games so far. A 3-1 win against Stranraer got them off to an ideal start in their opening match of the group stages but a 2-0 loss to Livingston at the weekend means it's all or nothing for the North Lanarkshire side.
The Jags team was looking close to full strength on Saturday at Firhill but the team is slightly worse off for tonight's game. Abdul Osman is suspended after picking up two yellows against the Saints three days ago. Stuart Bannigan finds himself on the bench with Alan Archibald reluctant to play the midfielder so soon after returning from a 15 month long injury. Niall Keown remains unavailable through injury.
Ryan Edwards and James Penrice come into the team in their place. James Penrice will slot in at centre-half alongside Daniel Devine in a back four while Adam Barton moves into the midfield to play with Ryan Edwards at the base of the midfield unit. Apart from that, it is as was for the Thistle line-up with that dangerous attack looking to inflict more damage tonight at the Excelsior.
The warm-ups are over and kick-off is close.