SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 26 August, 2017. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium
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As Thistle prepare to face Aberdeen at Firhill on Saturday, Alan Archibald took time after training to speak to ptfc.co.uk about preparations ahead of the match and, despite a poor start, the Jags gaffer remains confident his side can turn things around sooner rather than later.
“In some of the games we’ve played some decent stuff but at the end of the day we’re still sat on no points so I don’t want to deflect away from that aspect of it. It is frustrating because the games have been tight and we’ve only lost by the odd goal but we need to find a way of winning a game.
“I know we’ve had poor starts before but we’ve never not had points on the board at this stage of the season and we need to be careful that other teams don’t open up a gap. I don’t think you’ll get away with prolonged runs of bad results this season as the league has improved a lot. At the moment all the teams are still very tight though but we need to make sure that doesn’t change.”
Archibald has certainly strengthened his group of players over the summer but he insists that the league remains a tougher environment this term.
“Most clubs have strengthened well this summer – us included – but it makes the league a harder place to go and get results. It’s vital that we get as many points on the board as we possibly can at this stage because you certainly don’t want to be involved in that scrap at the end.
“We need to make sure we look after ourselves and focus on our own game. We’re working hard to keep the confidence up in every game and I’m sure that will pay off. We approach every match positively and Saturday will be no different.”
Few teams if any have had the start that Thistle have had in terms of fixtures but the gaffer certainly isn’t looking for excuses.
“We knew the fixtures we would be facing at the start of the season. Yes it’s a tough start but this is where we want to be. We want to be facing the best teams and creating a great atmosphere here at home. We need to make it as tough for Aberdeen as we possibly can and come out looking to win the game rather than looking to just not lose it.
“Aberdeen have had an excellent summer and, despite losing two or three of their best players probably look stronger than ever this year. Certainly middle to front they look very strong but I think that’s the same for most of the clubs in the league because, as I say, the standard of the league has improved a lot.”
Having previously stated that his transfer business was concluded a serious looking injury to Callum Booth means Archibald might have to return to the transfer market before the window closes.
“We thought we were finished but it looks like Callum Booth is going to be out for around 12 weeks having suffered a bad injury to his knee last week in Perth – he’s torn his posterior knee ligament – so we might go in for a bit of cover in that area.
“It’s a blow if you lose any player who plays most of the games for you and Callum is very rarely less than a seven out of 10 so of course it’s a blow but we have Christie Elliott who we can move about and we have Stuart Bannigan who can play there too so even if we don’t get anyone new in we do know we have the cover there at a push. The good news is that other than Callum Booth, Gary Fraser and Mustapha Dumbuya we have just about a full squad to choose from.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Conor Sammon, Christie Elliott and 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 from midnight.
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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.
Partick Thistle continued their search for their first Ladbrokes Premiership points of the season as they took on Aberdeen at Firhill this afternoon. The Jags have lost their opening three league games of the season and sat on no points coming into today’s clash. The Dons came to Firhill having won all three of their games so far this campaign, conceding just twice in the process.
Thistle lined up with Tomas Cerny in goals behind the centre-half pairing of Niall Keown and Jordan Turnbull who were starting their third game in a row together. The news that Callum Booth will miss around three months of action through injury means Milan Nitriansky came into the side as Christie Elliott moved to left-back. Abdul Osman also missed out through injury so Stuart Bannigan and Adam Barton were the deep-lying midfielders. Blair Spittal and Conor Sammon were the wide men while Chris Erskine filled the number ten role. Kris Doolan was the lone striker with Miles Storey missing out completely through illness.
Going into the game, Thistle would be looking for a solid start to stop the dangerous Aberdeen attack, however, the Maryhill men got off to a nightmare start. Shay Logan took a shot from 25 yards on the right but failed to catch the ball properly. Luckily for him, his shot fell straight to Ryan Christie who controlled well. He had time to pick his spot and slotted home past Tomas Cerny to give the visitors the advantage.
In May, Thistle conceded an early goal to the Dons and went on to concede six in an embarrassing defeat. Having fallen behind early, the Jags had to avoid collapsing in a similar manner to make sure they wouldn’t lose in a similar way again. Unlike on that day earlier this year, the Jags bounced back quickly. Blair Spittal fed the ball to Chris Erskine just outside the box. The number ten then set himself before unleashing a shot from 20 yards. His effort was low and accurate as it found the bottom corner of Joe Lewis’ goal bringing the teams level. The goal was important in the match’s context but it also had longer term significance. It represented the 50th time that Erskine had found the net for Thistle eight years after his first goal against Berwick Rangers in 2009.
The hosts weren’t content with pulling level either as they went ahead in the 13th minute. Blair Spittal whipped in a right-footed corner that was met by an Aberdeen man. The ball ricocheted back towards goal but Joe Lewis was able to deny an own goal. The rebound then fell to Kris Doolan who proceeded to tap home off the post from close range.
The gamed suddenly slowed after the Doolan goal as both teams struggled to keep the ball for long periods. Aberdeen had a couple of chances as did Thistle but neither team created anything clear cut until the 42nd minute.
With three minutes left of the first 45, Ryan Christie had the ball in the Jags’ box when under pressure from a Stuart Bannigan shove, he went down and the referee awarded a spot kick. Kenny McLean stepped up to take it and tucked it home confidently, sending Tomas Cerny the wrong way.
The away side had a chance to retake the lead on the stroke of half-time when Aberdeen’s goal scorers linked up. Kenny McLean lifted a ball into the box for Ryan Christie. The number 22 then acrobatically shot with Tomas Cerny slightly off his line. His attempt was looping and on target but the Czech ‘stopper, Cerny, got a hand to it and turned the shot behind.
The teams went into the break level after an exhilarating first 15 minutes the match fizzled out in the middle of the half but a flurry of action at the end of the first period brought the game back to life. Erskine scored his first goal of the new competitive season while Kris Doolan netted his first of the new league campaign.
The second half started almost as quickly as the first when the first goal was scored seven minutes in. Scott Wright picked up the ball on the far side of the box and moved inside onto his right foot. No one pressured the youngster and he curled a brilliant effort into the top corner beating Tomas Cerny all ends up.
Unfortunately for Derek McInnes’ Dons side, much like Aberdeen’s early first half goal, it didn’t take long for a reply to come. Two minutes after Wright’s excellent goal Thistle found the net from another corner. This time Blair Spittal’s corner was met by a Thistle head in Niall Keown. The centre-half directed the ball into the corner and grabbed the leveller, scoring his first Thistle goal. Following the third Jags goal, Ryan Edwards was brought on for Stuart Bannigan.
The game then went to a similar place as the first half in that there wasn’t much passing play and neither team was cutting the other open. The game looked like it might have been ending in a draw until the 84th minute. Ryan Christie picked up the ball on the Dons’ right flank and had space and time to bend a cross into the centre. The delivery evaded the attempted clearance of Jordan Turnbull and found Adam Rooney. The experienced striker then touched it on, beating Tomas Cerny with his header as the visitors took the lead for the third time of the game.
Alan Archibald took Blair Spittal and Chris Erskine off, replacing them with Kevin Nisbet and Steven Lawless as he looked for a late retort. However, any hopes of an equaliser were extinguished by the sending off of Niall Keown. The centre-half was shown a second yellow for a foul on Kenny McLean around the half-way line. On the day he picked up his first Thistle goal, he is sent off for the first time in a Jags jersey.
The game ended 4-3 to the travelling Dons as Thistle fell to yet another victory. Goals from Chris Erskine, Kris Doolan and Niall Keown helped Alan Archibald’s side stand toe-to-toe with the men from the Granite City but Adam Rooney’s 84th minute header was the difference maker as the Jags remain without a point.
The Firhill side now turn their attentions to a trip to Dingwall in two weeks. The international break sits between today’s match and that encounter so the Jags have plenty of time to prepare for their trip to face the Staggies. Kick-off is 15:00 on Saturday the 9th of September.
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.
After three straight league defeats to open the Ladbrokes Premiership, Partick Thistle took on Aberdeen as they looked for their first points of the new campaign. It wasn’t to be for the Firhill side as Aberdeen struck in the 84th minute through Adam Rooney to steal a 4-3 win. A better attacking performance was overshadowed by a slack defensive showing that saw the side concede four as well as seeing Niall Keown sent off. Thistle boss, Alan Archibald, spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the game to give his thoughts on the match.
The game was one of excitement and intrigue as the momentum swung from one side to the other a number of times during the match but for Archie the quality of the game just made it more disappointing when his side let in the all-important fourth goal.
“For the neutral, I’ve no doubt that it was a great game to watch but as a manager I watch it and see too much bad defending from our side. That was the most frustrating part of it. Maybe the fact that we haven’t got any points yet plays into it in that we possibly sit-off them a bit too much and drop deeper late on but we can’t let that happen.”
Although his side struggled to deal with Aberdeen’s attack at times today, the gaffer was pleased with his frontline who netted three today having scored just once in their previous three league matches.
“We were a threat all day. We’ve worked on set plays and it paid off today. Also, we responded brilliantly to falling behind early when we could have fallen apart so there’s still plenty of positivity among our group. We caused them massive problems but with no points for it, we still need to improve.”
In the dying moments of the game, one of Thistle’s goal scorers, Niall Keown, was sent off for a second bookable offence and Archie feels it may have been slightly harsh on the defender.
“I think he’s a bit unfortunate. Not long before his sending off, an Aberdeen player committed a similar foul and got away without a yellow so there’s a bit of consistency lacking there but we have to deal with that.”
Chris Erskine netted his 50th Thistle goal today and Kris Doolan got off the mark for the new league season. Alan said that he was happy to see them back on the scoresheet.
“They were a handful for Aberdeen at times and it’s good to see them among the goals. I didn’t realise it was Chris’ 50th.. It’s just good to see him continuing to score. The front four as a unit, did their jobs very well today.”
Archie and his squad now have two weeks until their next game as the international break separates them from a trip up north to face Ross County. Thistle travel to the Global Energy Stadium on the 9th September to take on the Staggies with kick-off at 15:00.
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Kris Doolan and Blair Spittal. Log in now to see it as soon as it is available.
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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.
Sat 26 August, 2017
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Firhill Stadium
McLean finds Christie with an excellent ball and the number 22 tries an acrobatic shot. He connects well and it's headed for the top corner but Tomas Cerny pulls out an excellent save to turn it behind.
The number seven converts from 12 yards.
Aberdeen are awarded a penalty. Unclear what for.
Blair Spittal launches a free-kick deep into the Aberdeen box. Doolan pulls away from Stewart, his marker, and meets it. His header is half way between the far post and a teammates run and as such goes out for a goalkick,.
Just a side-note but his goal today means Kris Doolan has scored against every Ladbrokes Premiership side Thistle have faced since promotion in 2013.
Stevie May recieves the ball on the left again and curls a shot on goal again. This time it's more powerful and with more curve but it's straight at Cerny again who saves and holds.
Following a corner, the ball drops to Ryan Christie. He fires a shot on goal which is going wide. It comes off Adam Barton and falls to Greg Stewart but the number 8 is offside.
Blair Spittal whips in a corner which is met by an Aberdeen man. It ricochets goalwards but Joe Lewis prevents an own goal. The ball then falls back to Kris Doolan who guides it home off the post from close range.
Penalty claim for Aberdeen.
Kenny McLean drives into the box, followed by Stuart Bannigan. The ex-St. Mirren man then gets a bit of space from Bannigan. The Jags man then sticks a leg in for a chsllenge and McLean goes down. A lot of appeals but nothing given.
Stevie May gets the ball in the attacking third and shoots as he enters the box. The striker's shot is skewed well wide.
Spittal feeds a ball into Chris Erskine. The number 10 sets himself and shoots, finding the bottom corner from 20 yards, netting his 50th Jags goal in the process.
Shay Logan shoots from around 25 yards. He doesn't cathc it well but it goes straight to Ryan Christie. The number 22 controls well and slots past Cerny.
Thistle turn possession quickly and Spittal finds space to shoot. His attempt is deflected behind for a corner.
Aberdeen steal the ball quickly and the ball is fed to May on the corner of the box. He curls a shot on goal but it's an easy save for Tomas Cerny early in the contest.
Chris Erskine gets the game underway for the Jags.
Hello and welcome to the ptfc.co.uk live text commentary for Partick Thistle's Ladbrokes Premiership clash.
Thistle come into this one with no points from their opening three league fixtures while the travelling Dons have taken maximum points from their first trio of matches.
The Jags start the game with Tomas Cerny in goals as Milan Nitriansky, Niall Keown, Jordan Turnbull and Christie Elliott form a back four. Stuart Bannigan and Adam Barton are the sitting midfielders, with Abdul Osman missing through injury. Conor Sammon and Blair Spittal are Thistle's wide men while Chris Erskine is the number 10. The lone striker for the Firhill side is today's captain Kris Doolan.
Steven Lawless, Daniel Devine and Ryan Edwards are the experienced outfielders on a bench with Dev squad talents Mark Lamont, Andrew McCarthy and Kevin Nisbet. Miles Storey isn't in the squad due to illness.
With kick-off now a couple of minutes away, the fans are still filtering and the Jags are preparing for their fourth league game of the season.Let's see if Thistle can grab that season-starting result.