Tuesday 23rd September, 2014 at 6:54pm
It’s fair to say it wasn’t a game that will last long in the memory on a horrible Tuesday night at Firhill but as manager, Alan Archibald, said after the game, it was all about getting through to the next round.
“We’re just glad to get through really, I thought it was a bit flat to start off with. We started off brightly enough but it kind of faded away. Overall just delighted to get the victory really.
“By the second half it really looked like one goal would probably win it and I started to get worried that it wasn’t going to be us. We wasted a few opportunities and made the wrong decision at times but, at the end of the day, we’re just happy to be in the next round.”
Summer signing, Nathan Eccleston, scored the winning goal having come on as a second half substitute.
“Nathan just got in the right place at the right time. It was great work by Christie Elliott too who came on and was very very positive. He took a shot and Nathan was there to finish it off – we’re delighted for both of them.
“It’s great to see Nathan get off the mark so fast. We brought him in because we needed options up front, we only really had Dools and Ryan that could play up there, and Nathan gives us something a bit different. He isn’t quite match fit yet so we thought we’d give him some more game time and, to be honest, he got more than we thought he would but we hope he’ll take great confidence from it.”
With Thistle through to the quarter finals now, Archie doesn’t see any reason why the Jags can’t go on to feature in another final.
“In a competition like this, especially if you get a home tie, there’s nothing to say you can’t go on and reach a final. With different teams getting to the final in the last few years it gives teams like us great encouragement and it’s something we’ll take into the next few games.”
