SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Sat 2 February, 2019. Kick Off: - 15:00
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 9:15
Station Bar – 9:30
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 10:00
Thornwood Bar – 10:05
Prices:
£20 for adults
£10 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
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 09:00
Esquire House – 09:20
Maryhill Community Halls – 09:35
Non-Members fares:
£24 for adults.
£14.50 for concessions.
To reserve seats, please e-mail or call 0141 632 3604 before 9:00 pm.
This Saturday sees the Jags travel north to the Highlands for their Ladbrokes Championship tie against Inverness. With the team travelling for an overnight stay in Aviemore before the game Thistle gaffer, Gary Caldwell, spoke exclusively to ptfc.co.uk just before he jumped on the bus for the long journey north.
With temperatures around Glasgow plummeting this week there has been a certain amount of disruption for many Glaswegians and it has provided certain logistical issues for Gary Caldwell and his side. That being said, the Jags gaffer insists the side’s preparation has not been affected.
“We’re all looking forward to the game and Inverness have told us they have no concerns about the weather which is great news. It has been very cold this week – I doubt that has escaped peoples’ attention – but it hasn’t disrupted our preparation at all. We trained indoors earlier in the week and the players have worked hard even when the surface hasn’t been ideal at times.
“We travel up on Friday which makes a difference because we are only half an hour away rather than three and a half hours away when it comes to Saturday morning. It also allows the players to get the best possible preparation in terms of sleep, nutrition, hydration and all the other things that a professional athlete needs so it is a real bonus for us.”
Thursday brought a close to the January transfer window and with a significant number of ins and outs at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill, Caldwell is very happy with the business done by the Club.
“We set the target before January started of coming out of the window a stronger side than we were when we went into the window and I think we can definitely say that is the case. We have strengthened the core of the side with a goalkeeper, a centre back, a central midfielder and two strikers coming into the Club. On top of that we’ve got some great creativity in Joe Cardle and some additional versatility at the back in the form of Jack McMillan.
“It’s often easy to fixate on the final day of the window and judge a team’s entire business on those 24 hours. Having said that I said right from the start that I hoped to be judged on the whole January transfer window and I think over the piece we have had a good month. Yes, in an ideal world we may have added an extra striker on deadline day but I am very happy with what we have and how we shape up going into the rest of the season.
“It was a fantastic team effort over the last 30 or so days with everyone at the Club contributing to make sure our business was a success.”
Looking forward to this weekend’s opponents, the Thistle boss will not be taking anything for granted and he knows that, despite a tough midweek match, Caley will be well up for the tie.
“They’re a team that are definitely dangerous going forward but there are weaknesses there to exploit as well – that’s probably why they’ve had a lot of draws. We know the threat they bring but I feel we’re ready for the challenge. Games up in the Highlands are never easy, we’re in good form though and are still unbeaten in 2019. We want to take that run into February and keep building momentum going forward.
“They had a tough game against Ayr midweek and it’s never easy to play matches in such a close timescale. We know they’ll be working hard not to let that affect them though and we need to do what we can to make it work in our favour.”
Finally, Caldwell offered an update on the injury situation.
“It looks like Joe Cardle will definitely miss this week. His injury wasn’t as bad as we first thought so we’re hopeful he will be back soon. That was a relief for us as Joe has been excellent since he came to the Club. We’ll need to deal without him on Saturday but I’m confident the other players will step in.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Aidan Fitzpatrick, James Penrice and Jags gaffer, Gary Caldwell, are available to Jagzone subscribers – log in now to see them.
Jagzone members will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
Can’t make it to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 2:45pm on Saturday.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Partick Thistle looked to continue their unbeaten start to 2019 as they travelled north to take on Inverness at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. The Jags picked up their first Championship win of the New Year a week ago as they overcame Queen of the South thanks to goals from Joe Cardle and Miles Storey but faced another stern test in the form of the fourth-placed Caley Jags on Saturday afternoon.
Gary Caldwell made two changes to the side which got the win over Queens with the goalscorer, Cardle, missing through injury while Kris Doolan dropped to the bench. Conor Hazard maintained the spot between the sticks behind a back five with debutant, Steven Anderson, at the heart of it. On either side of the new Jags number five were Jack McMillan and Steven Saunders with James Penrice and Christie Elliott operating as wing-backs.
Stuart Bannigan and Craig Slater anchored the midfield in behind Blair Spittal with Miles Storey and Aidan Fitzpatrick acting as inverted wingers. On the bench for the away side were Jamie Sneddon, Sean McGinty, Andrew McCarthy, Gary Harkins, Lewis Mansell, Souleymane Coulibaly and, the aforementioned Kris Doolan.
In a tepid opening 15 minutes the only notable effort came when Liam Polworth fired a powerful shot towards goal from 25 yards. The Caley number seven scored an excellent goal against Ayr in midweek but saw this shot saved comfortably by Conor Hazard.
The game then burst into life in the 19th minute when Blair Spittal forced Cammy Mackay into a terrific save. It came from Craig Slater’s corner which was cleared to the edge of the box. Spittal then opened his body, moved the ball onto his left foot and unleashed a shot that looked destined for the back of the net but deputy ‘stopper Mackay tipped it over the bar for another corner.
From the resulting set piece, Slater decided to take it short to Stuart Bannigan. The Jags skipper laid it back to Slater and he whipped it into the danger area where Steven Anderson was lurking. And sure enough, on his first appearance for his new club, the experienced Scotsman bundled the ball home to make it 1-0.
Just five minutes later, it was 2-0. Aidan Fitzpatrick was the goalscorer and it was a goal of his own making. It all began with Brad McKay held onto the ball for too long in the middle of the Caley half, allowing Fitzpatrick to pinch it from the number 22. Thistle’s 17-year-old winger then broke through on goal, slotting past Cammy Mackay to net his first league goal as a senior player.
In the 29th minute, it could have been three as Cammy Mackay was forced into action again by Craig Slater. The Thistle midfielder moved infield from the right flank and took aim with his left foot. His effort dipped and swerved but was well-read by Mackay who tipped it over the bar.
The away team then had another chance to extend their advantage on 33 minutes. A ball in behind the hosts’ defence found Aidan Fitzpatrick as he ran into opposition territory before getting his head up to pick out a pass. He slotted the ball into the path of Blair Spittal who had made a late run into the Caley box, however, the ex-Queen’s Park man dragged his attempt wide of the far post.
That’s how things stayed going into half time as the visitors held their two goal lead. After a fairly balanced start to the game, Steven Anderson’s goal boosted the Maryhill men, leading to them dominating proceedings from then on. Aidan Fitzpatrick’s second all came from his hard work and gave Thistle an invaluable cushion. A Caley double substitution at half time was evidence of how they had failed to get to grips with the game.
Like the first half, it took 15 minutes for a chance to present itself during the second period. It fell to Miles Storey after the Englishman received the ball from a throw-in. He turned his man and got into the goalmouth area but was challenged well by Kevin McHattie before he could get his effort away from point blank range.
Gary Caldwell’s side would be rueing their missed chances with 13 minutes to go as Inverness pulled themselves back into the game through Darren McCauley. The goal came from a good forward pass into the midfield by Brad McKay before it was spread to Joe Chalmers on the left wing. He then tried a cross into the Thistle box which Steven Anderson got a foot to, turning it off his own post. The ball then rebounded straight to the waiting McCauley who had a simple finish to make it 2-1.
In the closing stages of the game, Andrew McCarthy and Kris Doolan were brought on in place of Steven Anderson and Miles Storey as the Jags went to a four-at-the-back. Even with the impressive Anderson off the field for nearly ten minutes, the away side were able to hang on and take all three points.
The victory keeps the Jags above Falkirk and moves them to within a single point of Alloa who they face in their next league fixture. Before that, the Maryhill men travel to Methil for a Scottish Cup tie with East Fife – a quarter-final place on the line. Kick-off is 15:00 at Bayview with entry pay at the gate.
PARTICK THISTLE TEAM: Hazard, Elliott, McMillan, Anderson (McCarthy, 81’), Saunders, Penrice, Bannigan, Slater, Spittal, Fitzpatrick (Harkins, 70’), Storey (Doolan, 89’).
UNUSED SUBS (PTH): Sneddon, McGinty, Coulibaly, Mansell.
INVERNESS CT TEAM: Mackay, Rooney (Trafford, HT), B. McKay, McCart, McHattie, Welsh, Chalmers, McDonald (Donaldson, HT), Polworth, Austin (McCauley, 68’), White.
UNUSED SUBS (ICT): MacKinnon, Tremarco, D. McKay, McGregor.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk
For the first time since May of last year, Partick Thistle won a league game away from home this afternoon as they beat Inverness 2-1 in the Highlands. The Maryhill men scored twice in quick succession during the first half with debutant, Steven Anderson opening the scoring before Aidan Fitzpatrick doubled the visitors’ lead.
Thistle let their clean sheet slip in the 77th minute as Darren McCauley pulled one back for the Caley Jags but the hosts were unable to find a second, meaning the away side left with all three points. Jags boss, Gary Caldwell spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the end of the match:
“We’re very pleased with the result of course; Inverness is always a difficult place to come. We’ve not won away in the league all season so it’s a big result in that respect as well as from a points perspective.
“I think we deserved the win too. We were excellent in the first half and probably should have been a bit further ahead. Then, in the second half, the boys showed their dig and gave absolutely everything for the three points.”
Gary was particularly pleased with the attitude shown by all of the players throughout the 90 minutes.
“The mentality is definitely changing. Wins help that and I think you can see the players growing with confidence each week. It allows them to play to their full potential and there have been some great individual performances within the team over the last couple of weeks.”
With four new signings in the starting line-up today, Caldwell was delighted with the contribution of the Jags new boys.
“They’ve been terrific since they arrived at the Club. We wanted to improve the squad during January and I think you can see we’ve done that. In the games since the turn of the year we’ve been getting better and better which is now starting to show in our results.
“Steven Anderson was a great example of that today. He was throwing himself in front of absolutely everything and although he couldn’t finish the game today, he’ll only improve with the more minutes he plays.
“The same goes for Jack McMillan and Steven Saunders who have slotted in perfectly and were defending with courage this afternoon which is exactly what you need on days like today.”
Gary finished by reiterating his point from last week about ignoring results elsewhere and focusing on producing the best Partick Thistle results possible.
“For us, we are looking at ourselves before we look elsewhere. If we want to climb the table, we need to keep picking up points. We’ve shown positive signs over the last few weeks but we can’t stand still; we need to continue that form until the end of the season.”
A more in depth video interview with Gary Caldwell is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Stuart Bannigan and Jack McMillan – log in now to see them.
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.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk
Sat 2 February, 2019
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Thistle try to clear and the ball comes back off the post into the path of McCauley who knocks it in
Inverness have another free kick 22 yards out, Chalmers takes but Spittal again heads clear.
Spittal heads clear before gathering and passing out.
Inverness have a free kick 20 yards out which Chalmers takes but it's blocked before Thistle clear.
Storey receives from a throw in and turns inside but he is tackled by Donaldson before he can get a shot away.
Saunders is booked for a tug on the shirt
A high lunge from Trafford on Slater sees him go into the book.
Thistle lead 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Steven Anderson and Aidan Fitzpatrick.
The ball breaks to Blair Spittal at the edge of the area but his shot is over the bar.
Fitzpatrick latches onto a long ball and slides in Spittal but his effort is dragged past the post.
Slater forces another good save from MacKay from distance.
Aidan Fitzpatrick dispossesses the defender before striding forward and slotting under MacKay
The corner comes in and drops to Anderson at the back post who stabs the ball in to give Thistle the lead.
The corner comes to Spittal at the edge and he forces MacKay into a great save to stop Thistle going ahead.
Hazard gets down well to save an effort after some Inverness pressure
Storey gets a ball in from the right, it comes to Spittal but his shot is blocked.
Thistle line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Miles Storey partners Aidan Fitzpatrick up top with Blair Spittal in behind.
Inverness win a corner but it's over everyone and out for a Thistle throw in.
Craig Slater gets the match underway. Thistle in Red and Yellow shooting away from the Jags support in the first half.