Sat 3 October, 2015
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.David Amoo 15′
Mustapha Dumbuya 55′
Stuart Bannigan 64′
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 3 October, 2015. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.
Thistle return to Ladbrokes Premiership action with a game against 11th placed Dundee United knowing a win will lift Thistle out of the relegation spot.
“It’s a big game for the club. We’re focussing on winning the game, and we know that if we do that we’ll go above United in the table, so that is all the motivation the players should need. We’re at home and we need to reward our fans who are still turning out in great numbers.”
For the second consecutive week, Thistle face a team who have recently parted company with their manager and Archie admits that makes preparation a little tricky.
“We saw it last week with Motherwell and we’ll see it this week with Dundee United. It makes it difficult to plan how we defend them with there likely to be changes in the way they prepare for set pieces.
“We’re all focussed on Partick Thistle though, and we know where our strengths lie, so we’ll be looking to utilise them and have the upper hand in the game.”
It’s a massive game for Thistle with so much at stake and Archie is hoping for a large Jags turnout to roar the side on.
“Thistle fans always back us through thick and thin and I’m hoping as many of them as possible make the trip to Firhill tomorrow. I know there will be a pre-match giveaway with artist designed footballs, and we’re hoping to give them three points so they can enjoy the international break. “
Finally, Alan concluded with his team news.
“Gary Fraser is back running, so we’re hoping that he has put his issues behind him with regards to injury. Christie Elliott is still unavailable to us though”
Thistle entertained Dundee United in crucial Ladbrokes Premiership match with the sides occupying the bottom two positions in the division. Thistle were still seeking their first win of the season, and for the second consecutive week faced a side that had recently parted company with their manager.
Alan Archibald made three changes to the side which had lost narrowly to Motherwell, electing to introduce Mathias Pogba from the start, hoping the striker would add a bit more physicality to his side, as he looked to boss the United defence from the start. Robbie Muirhead dropped out due to being unable to face his parent club, meaning there was a start for David Amoo who netted his first Thistle goal last weekend. Frederic Frans missed out through injury allowing Liam Lindsay to return to the starting eleven and, in turn, giving manager Alan Archibald his 8th different starting defence of the season so far.
Thistle started in positive fashion with Dumbuya acquitting himself well against the United defender, and his cross was gathered by Zwick under pressure from Pogba. It set the tone for the afternoon with Pogba proving to be a handful for the United rearguard. After the big striker spooned a back post volley over the bar, Thistle took the lead. It was a slow patient move with 19 passes being played from Tomas Cerny collecting a loose ball. Bannigan switched the ball wide to Booth, who after a quick one-two fired over a cross which looped up into the six yard box. Amoo was waiting and outjumped Zwick to nod Thistle into the lead.
United nearly had a quickfire equaliser and Cerny had to produce a good fingertip save after a Dow shot seemed destined for the top corner of the net. Thistle were showing their dangerous side on the counter and Amoo was close to doubling his personal tally, but his low shot, after being played in by Lawless, was saved by the feet of the goalkeeper.
Bannigan was caught late 25 yards from goal, with Welsh hitting a splendid effort that was matched only by an equally good save from Zwick who tipped it over the crossbar. From Bannigan’s corner, Seaborne headed the ball goalwards, it struck the bar before hitting the goalkeeper on the foot. The ball bounced up and grazed the outside of the post before spinning behind for another corner.
A couple of minutes later saw United come close with Fraser smashing a volley off the frame of Tomas Cerny’s goal and rebounding out to safety. It was a game changing moment and Thistle reached half time of a very entertaining half with a goal advantage.
Thistle came out with the same intensity after the restart and pushed United deep with Pogba, once again, proving to be a crucial focal point in the team from an attacking sense. It was from a different source, however, that Thistle scored their second.
Dumbuya had been getting forward in support of Amoo all game, and when the winger slotted the ball into his path, he cut inside before firing a left footed effort across goal. Steven Lawless appeared to go for the ball, missing it allowing Dumbuya’s effort to creep into the far post.
It was a two goal lead the Thistle richly deserved, and although United looked dangerous in spells, Thistle’s defending denying the service into the box.
Thistle soon extended their lead to three when Pogba delivered a low cross into the box and Bannigan curled a right footed effort beyond Zwick. Thistle were in complete control and although the intensity of the game dropped significantly, Thistle could have added a fourth when Pogba drilled a low ball across goal, but Wilson didn’t show enough desire to poke the ball in at the back post.
All in all, Thistle more than merited their first three points of the season they leapfrogged Dundee United into 11th place.
As Thistle secured their first win of the season with a superb display at home to Dundee United, it was a very relieved Alan Archibald who spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the game.
“That was a result we really needed today. We played well and dominated the game. We have done that before in games this season and not got the results we have necessarily deserved but today everything came together and we came away with the three points.
“When we hit the bar again in the first half I did start to doubt our luck would come in but I thought the boys kept trying to play the game in the right way. The first goal was the difference today. In this league getting yourselves ahead in a game is vital and I think you saw that with the result and performance this afternoon.”
Mustapha Dumbuya put in a man of the match performance and Archibald was quick to sing his praises after the final whistle.
“I thought he was outstanding today and deserved his goal, even if there was a bit of luck involved. He’s not quite fully fit yet but he put everything into that game and was a real attacking threat from right back. He and Amoo are developing a nice partnership and I look forward to seeing more of it as the season progresses.
”Today’s result lifted Thistle off the bottom of the table and above their Tayside opponents, a fact that will give the manager and his players a real lift.
“That’s massive for us and we just need to make sure we go on and make the most of it from here. It’s always down heartening to come in on a Monday and read the papers when you’re bottom of the league. It is tough to keep the spirits up when your form is so poor so the result today is a massive lift.
“The hard work will continue over the international break – we aren’t daft, we know we’re down the bottom for a reason so we need to build on this next week. We need to focus on Partick Thistle and nobody else now to make sure we continue to movein the right direction and get ourselves away from the bottom of the table.”
