Saturday 9th November, 2013 at 2:23pm
Tomorrow’s game with St Mirren is something of a rarity for Thistle in this season’s Premiership; a Saturday at 3pm kick-off. It’s a rarity too in that it is the first top flight meeting between Partick Thistle and St Mirren at Firhill for over 31 years. Given the short distance between Paisley and Glasgow a large travelling support is anticipated at Firhill tomorrow which should add to the occasion with the match almost falling under the category of a derby fixture.
The two teams have already met this season; Thistle running out deserved 2-1 winner at St Mirren Park back in August with Kallum Higginbotham and Ross Forbes both scoring inside the game’s final ten minutes. St Mirren were at that time at something of a low ebb but their fortunes have picked up since then. So much so that a win tomorrow would take them to within just two points of Thistle with the benefit of two games in hand. That they have a second game in hand is due to their home match with Ross County being abandoned with St Mirren leading 2-0 and well on the way to all three points. That is sure to have been a hugely frustrating experience for St Mirren but they will have taken confidence from an excellent, albeit curtailed, performance.
Meantime Thistle boss Alan Archibald, speaking to [link:HOME] after Friday’s training session, is looking for a big improvement from Monday’s display at Aberdeen;
“Monday’s game was very frustrating for us. While we saw a lot of the ball we didn’t, especially in the first half, ask enough questions of Aberdeen; we didn’t create enough in their half. We changed things in the second half but they were just that bit more clinical than us. They also have a very experienced back four and you can see the difference that makes. They don’t find themselves in poor positions and they don’t make mistakes. I know that we have a young team but they need to learn and learn quickly.”
Alan continued;
“We’re looking forward to getting back in action again on a Saturday afternoon. I’m hoping that we will start the game well tomorrow and if we can produce anything like the performance we did at St Mirren then I will be very happy. I would say that was probably the best that we have played this season.”
Finally the manager was able to give us the all important team news ahead of tomorrow’s game.
“Gary Fraser is available to us tomorrow. He has served his automatic two game suspension after being sent off for the under 20s against Dunfermline. He’s got his hearing on November 14th and it is likely that he will receive a further ban then.”
Alan went on;
“Both Conrad Balatoni and Steven Lawless missed Monday’s game at Aberdeen but they should be fine for tomorrow. We’ve a doubt though surrounding Sean Welsh. Sean has been carrying a groin injury for a few weeks now and with the international break next weekend we will take the opportunity to have that properly looked at at the start of next week.”
Partick Thistle Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
1 1 3 4 9
Scorers Season 2013-2014
Kris Doolan 5
Steven Lawless 3
Aaron Muirhead 3
Christie Elliott 2
Conrad Balatoni 1
Ross Forbes 1
Kallum Higginbotham 1
Stephen O’Donnell 1
Last Game
Scottish Premiership
Monday November 4th 2013
Aberdeen 4, Partick Thistle 0
St Mirren Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 1 2 7 10
Scorers Season 2013-2014
Paul McGowan 3
Kenny McLean 3
Stephen Thompson 3
Gary Harkins 1
John McGinn 1
Last Game
Scottish Premiership
Saturday October 26th 2013
Dundee United 4, St Mirren 0
Last Meeting
Match Details
Scottish Premiership
Saturday November 9th 2013
Partick Thistle v St Mirren
Prices
Admission Details
(Please note the age restriction for the North Stand has been extended to include 12-15 year olds for tomorrow’s game)
Programme: £3
Match Officials
Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referees: Brian McGarry and Graeme Leslie
Fourth Official: Alan Muir
Other Premiership Fixtures
Aberdeen v Hearts
Hibernian v Inverness Caledonian
Motherwell v Dundee United
RossCounty v Celtic (12:45)
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock
