SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Sat 22 September, 2018. Kick Off: - 15:00
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Fixture Information:
Admission Details:
This fixture is a GENERAL ADMISSION fixture
HOME ticket prices:
Spectators looking to use the Jackie Husband stand will require to purchase a ticket from the portable ticket office next to the Jackie Husband reception.
Cash gates in operation for the John Lambie and Colin Weir Stands.
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – FREE
A concession is qualified as a person between 17 and 18, over 65 or a student with a valid matriculation card.
AWAY ticket prices:
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – £5
Football returns to Maryhill for the first time in three weeks as Partick Thistle take on Queen of the South at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill. A poor first 45 minutes away to Inverness cost the Jags dearly last Saturday as they were beaten 3-2 by the Highlanders, however, now they must focus on their next challenge as the Doonhamers visit Glasgow. The Palmerston Park outfit have started the season in good form, losing just once in five league games but after firing a blank for the first time this season last weekend, they’ll be keen to ensure their positive beginning doesn’t slip away as the season progresses. For Thistle, they want to continue their 100% home Championship record which has seen them beat Falkirk and Greenock Morton already this term. Jags boss, Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the clash.
We began by asking Archie just how challenging this Saturday’s game is going to be against the league’s fourth-placed team.
“Queen of the South are a very good team with plenty of quality so we know this will be a really difficult game. They have a number of players who can do a lot of damage and they’re a very organised team defensively. Everyone will point to Stephen Dobbie as the main man but they have other guys like Lyndon Dykes and Gary Harkins who can also cause a lot of problems so it will be a very tough fixture in a number of ways.”
The Doonhamers have averaged more than 2.5 goals a game so far this season and the gaffer knows that his defence will need to up their performance from last week if they hope to keep out this weekend’s visitors.
“They’ve been in great goalscoring form this season and I’ve mentioned some of their most dangerous players so if we want to keep them out, we’ll have to improve defensively. At Inverness, we gifted them goals and we can’t afford to do that against this team. Last week it was a goalkick, a corner and a mistake leading to a penalty, all of which are avoidable but we know we can be better than that. Against Morton three weeks ago we were very good defensively so we know we have it in us; it’s just about being more consistent.”
Although the Queen of the South players pose obvious problems for Thistle, having played against them earlier this year, Alan and the squad have a good idea of what they’re coming up against.
“The game against them this January will be good for us because it means we’ve got a bit of experience against them and their style of play. Dobbie was playing that day and we kept him to ranged shots but they gave us a really good game so we expect the same tomorrow.”
Despite the disappointing performance in the Highlands, Archie felt that the second half showing gives his team something to build on this week.
“There were some really good bits of play on our part. Obviously, it’s difficult to take any positives from that game because we lost and performed so poorly in the first half an hour but in terms of the attack, I thought we looked dangerous. We had a few good chances, missed a penalty and scored twice so the forward players shouldn’t be too disheartened.”
We also spoke to Archibald about two other positives from last week, Stuart Bannigan and Jai Quitongo. Bannigan came on in the first half and got nearly an hour of time on the pitch, during which he impressed hugely while Jai Quitongo made his first senior appearance since January as he made his Jags debut, adding an extra layer of dynamism to the Thistle attack.
“We didn’t want to push Stuart into a start when he possibly wasn’t ready. Since pre-season, he’s only played about 75 minutes of football including the Reserve game he played in so to rely too heavily would have been risky. In the end, we made the decision to bring him on and his quality was there for all to see. We actually had a bounce game lined up for him on Tuesday but he didn’t need to play in that because of what happened at the weekend. It was great to get Jai back playing again too because he’s a very talented lad. He’s had two knee operations and I think he’s so keen to be playing that he’s maybe rushed himself back in the past, to the detriment of his physical condition so for us it’s about managing his return but you could see from his short time on the park that he’s an exciting player to have available.”
Finally, we asked about Souleymane Coulibaly and the recent development in his situation following the Club’s official update on Monday.
“It’s one that’s now out of our hands and we just have to wait on a decision. We knew that this was a very possible scenario when we got involved so it’s just about biding our time now and hoping the ruling goes our way. There’s been no financial cost for the Club but hopefully it goes in our favour and hopefully it happens quickly.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Chris Erskine, Niall Keown and Jags gaffer, Alan Archibald, 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 Energy Check Stadium at Firhill? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 2:45pm on Saturday.
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Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Partick Thistle returned to Maryhill for their first home game in three weeks as they played hosts to fourth placed Queen of the South earlier today. The Jags sat in seventh place ahead of play this afternoon, two points behind the visitors in what remains a remarkably tight Ladbrokes Championship. The Doonhamers were looking to bounce back after firing their first blank of the new league season against Ross County in a goalless draw last weekend.
Alan Archibald made two changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Inverness last Saturday with Cammy Bell retaining his place in goals behind an unchanged rear-guard consisting of Christie Elliott, Niall Keown, Sean McGinty and James Penrice. Having played almost sixty minutes last Saturday, Stuart Bannigan replaced Brice Ntambwe making his first start since Thistle played Ross County in the Highlands last September. Craig Slater started alongside the number eight with Chris Erskine just ahead of the pair. Miles Storey moved to the left wing with Blair Spittal on the opposite flank while Kris Doolan led the line, replacing Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo in the line-up. Mutombo dropped to the bench and was joined there by Jamie Sneddon, Daniel Jefferies, Max Melbourne, Brice Ntambwe, Aidan Fitzpatrick and Jai Quitongo.
The hosts started on the front foot but were hit by a stiff sucker punch after four minutes as the visitors netted through their first notable attack of the game. Andrew Stirling received the ball on the Doonhamers’ left and cut inside past Christie Elliott before laying the ball off to Stephen Dobbie. The marksman then fired a low effort into the back of the net, beating Cammy Bell at his near post as he made it 21 goals for the season.
The game then fell into Thistle’s hands. The away side sat off the Maryhill men with the Jags dominating possession, however, they were struggling to pierce a resolute Queen of the South defence. Chris Erskine, Niall Keown and Blair Spittal all had half-chances in the proceeding minutes but it wasn’t until Kris Doolan got in on the action that the home side drew level. After 32 minutes, it was Sean McGinty stepping out of defence which set in motion the passage of play that ended with the equaliser. McGinty fed a terrific pass to Blair Spittal in the Doonhamers’ box and the number seven fired a low delivery across the face of goal. Waiting in the middle was Jags striker, Kris Doolan who simply tapped home from a couple of yards. Having grabbed his first of the season last weekend, Doolan now moves onto two for the new league campaign as he levelled things on the day.
Unfortunately for the home side, Queen of the South retook the lead shortly thereafter. With Thistle pushing for a second in the immediate aftermath of their goal, Queens hit sharply with a slick break. Gary Harkins received the ball in the Thistle half and, although James Penrice caught up with the ex-Jag, he was able to find Josh Todd who skipped forward and found the far corner with a well-reversed finish.
However, the game had suddenly descended into madness and the Jags were quickly level again but this time it was Blair Spittal turning the ball home. Kris Doolan laid the ball to Chris Erskine and the number ten touched the ball into the Queens’ box with Christie Elliott running onto it. Elliott then played a low cross into the six-yard box which was blocked by a blue jersey but the ball fell to Spittal nevertheless and the midfielder slammed home from close range, via a deflection.
Feeding off the confidence of a goal and an assist in the first 40 minutes, Spittal then grabbed another in the 41st minute but this one was far more remarkable than his first. A clearance fell the ex-Dundee united man’s way and he took a touch past his marker. He then opted to take a shot which rifled into the top corner, beating Alan Martin all ends up as the Jags took the lead for the first time of the game.
After four goals in 15 minutes, the referee ended the first half with the score 3-2 to Thistle. The hosts had come back from a goal down on two occasions to lead at the break and the goal that completed the fightback was a worthy one with Blair Spittal’s drive sure to rival Jack Storer’s in the goal of the season contest come the end of the Championship campaign.
As the second half started, it was clear that Queen of the South weren’t going to go down without a fight but Thistle were the side with the better chances following the interval as Blair Spittal went close to a hat-trick goal in the 58th minute. The Scotsman picked up the ball 20 yards from goal following a quick free-kick and shot for the near post. The effort rippled the net which had many in the Thistle support thinking it was 4-2 but they quickly realised that the ball had hit the side rather than the back of the net.
There was another excellent opportunity to extend the Jags’ lead on 70 minutes as Kris Doolan struck the woodwork. Miles Storey started the attack, breaking from his own half and reaching the corner of the pitch. He then intelligently found Kris Doolan with a reversed pass but when the attacker ran forward and shot across goal, the attempt rebounded off the far post.
The away side’s first troubling shot on target came with 15 minutes to play as a high ball into the box found Lyndon Dykes who was challenging with Craig Slater but the headed effort was adeptly tipped over the bar by Cammy Bell.
Shortly after that, Alan Archibald made three quickfire substitutions as Andrea Mutombo, Brice Ntambwe and Jai Quitongo came on for Chris Erskine, Stuart Bannigan and Kris Doolan respectively.
There was one chance left in the game but it wasn’t for the pressing Doonhamers. It came when Thistle caught their opposition out with a quick break as Blair Spittal drove a ball forward for Miles Storey to run onto. The number 19 had acres of space to sprint into but also had options to his right with Andrea Mutombo and Jai Quitongo making supporting runs. He chose to go himself but at the vital moment his legs seemed to give out on him with Alan Martin able to come out and smother his attack.
The game would then end with the Jags claiming all three points and moving above Queen of the South into sixth place, within four points of league leaders Ayr.
The win makes it three from three at home in the Championship this term and sets Thistle up nicely for a Friday night trip to Dunfermline this coming week. Kick-off is 19:45 at East End Park.
THISTLE TEAM: Bell, Elliott, Keown, McGinty, Penrice, Bannigan (Ntambwe, 80’), Slater, Spittal, Erskine (Mutombo, 76’), Storey, Doolan (Quitongo, 85’).
UNUSED SUBS (PTH): Sneddon, Melbourne, Jefferies, Fitzpatrick.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH TEAM: Martin, Marshall, Semple, Doyle, Mercer, Jacobs, Stirling (Frizzell, 65’), Todd, Harkins, Dykes, Dobbie.
UNUSED SUBS (QOS): Leighfield, Watson, Murray, Bell, Norman, Harvey.
Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Following consecutive away games over the past two weekends, Partick Thistle returned to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill as they took on Queen of the South in the Ladbrokes Championship. The Doonhamers came to Maryhill in fourth place, however, a win for Thistle would take them above their opponents and that’s exactly how it played out. The visitors actually took the lead through Stephen Dobbie after four minutes before Kris Doolan drew the hosts level. Gary Naysmith’s side then retook the lead thanks to Josh Todd but a quickfire Blair Spittal double saw the Jags 3-2 at the break and that’s how the game finished following a cagey second 45. The win moved Thistle into sixth place in a tight Championship table with six matches played. Jags boss, Alan Archibald discussed the game with ptfc.co.uk after the final whistle.
Archie began by telling us how pleased he was to finally see his team come from behind to take all three points from a game.
“We’d started on the front foot but then they make their first move into our half and get a goal which was too similar to last week for my liking. It’s a simple ball forward that we don’t deal with and they punish us as we’d expect them to. In the end, we showed plenty of character to come back from a goal down, not once but twice. The boys will take great confidence from that and I’m delighted for them.”
He went on to compliment the Man of the Match, Blair Spittal, on his outstanding display which included an assist and two goals.
“Blair worked really hard today and he deserved his two goals. I think the one he got at the end of the game last week gave him that little bit of extra confidence which helped him shine. Obviously, people will highlight his second as the standout but I was pleased with all of our goals today. We moved the ball well and did brilliantly to open the space which led to us getting into the lead.”
Although the gaffer was pleased with his side’s attacking play, he still felt there was plenty room for improvement in the backline.
“Defensively, we’re just giving goals away and we can’t afford to do that every week. The first goal is very avoidable and the second is a simple counter attack. If we can stop the individual errors then that would give us a great base to build on. To be fair to the defence though, we looked pretty solid in the second half and they didn’t get many clear cut chances. It was good to see us just grind a result out like that against quality opposition.”
Alan ended by praising Stuart Bannigan, who started his first game in almost a year this afternoon, controlling the midfield well before coming off in the 80th minute.
“When he came on last week, you could see how he changed the game. He’s such a popular guy and he’s an excellent player too so everyone wants to see him back out on the pitch regularly. I think he tired a bit in the second half and that coincided with Queen of the South getting a bit more control of the game. Overall we’re delighted to have him back and we hope this will be the first of many starts for him this season.”
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Christie Elliott and Blair Spittal. Log in now to see it as soon as it is available.
Highlights will be added shortly and will be free for Jagzone subscribers.
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Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Sat 22 September, 2018
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Thistle make it three wins at home from three in the league with a nervy 3-2 win over Queen of the South.
All the goals came in an action packed first half, Thistle twice coming from behind to lead 3-2.
Kris Doolan struck the inside of the post in the second half but Thistle had to withstand plenty of Queen of the South pressure in the second half although they created few, if any, clear openings.
Thistle should make the points safe as Storey breaks. He has Mutombo clear to the right and gets caught iin two minds between shooting and crossing and ends up doing neither.
Thistle have a throw near the Queens corner flag on the right hand side.
A Jacobs cross presents Bell with no problems.
Into injury time and Queens have a throw deep inside the Thistle half.
Dobbie drags a shot well wide of the Thistle goal.
Harkins nearly finds the net direct from the corner but Bell manages to claw the ball away before it crosses the line.
Quitongo looks for a foul as he tries to break clear but the referee is uninterested in his pleas.
Thistle Man of the Match: Blair Spittal
A Jacobs effort goes wide of Bell's right hand post.
A McGinty tackle halts a Queens thrust towards the Thistle goal.
Todd is able to rob Elliott of the ball and sets up Dobbie for a shooting chance and his shot thumps off the body of Keown.
McGinty is there to head a free kick to safety.
Keown's outstretched foot prevents a through ball finding Dobbie in space.
Bell makes a clean, confident catch from Fizzell's corner.
Bell is forced to tip a Dykes header over the bar.
Frizzell's free kick is right on top of Bell who gets enough of a hand on the ball to get it clear before a defender completesthe clearance.
Slater's tug on Mercer gives Queen of the South a free kick in from the right touchline.
Thistle are so close to a 4th goal. Dobbie's corner is cleared and Thistle break throufgh Storey. He's forced wide but is able to find Doolan whose shot comes off the inside of the post amnd rebounds clear.
Thistle clear the corner and force Queens back towards their own goal.
Harkins' free kick is headed clear but Thistle are careless in possession and Queens get the ball back. This time Harkins' cross is flicked wide by Semple.
Bannigan's foul on Frizzell gives Queens a free kick deep inside the Thistle half.
McGinty loses the ball as he comes forward and Thistle are expose until Elliott steps across to clear.
Half a chance for Jacobs but Bell saves low down near his left hand post. The shot may have been going wide in any case.
Erskine eventually works himself into a position for a shot but his effort from outside the box drifts wide of Martin's left hand post.
Slater's back on the pitch and looks okay.
There's no free kick for a challenge on Slater whose now receiving a spot of treatment on the pitch.
Thistle elect not to deliver the free kick direct into the box and nearly reap the rewards of that approach with Spittal's effort hitting the side netting.
Storey is caught late as he tries to force his way towards goal and Thistle have a free kick midway inside the Queens half.
Slater''s corner is headed clear.
A misplaced Penrice pass places Thistle under pressure until McGinty heads clear.
Harkins' corner is too deep for Dpoyle although Queens continue to press after winning a thrpow on the other sode.
Time for everyone to catch their breath as Thistle, twice behind, lead 3-2 at the break.
Dobbie opened the scoring for the visitors in their very first attack and it took Thistle until the 32nd minute to level througfh Kris Doolan.
Queens though were back in front a minute laterr when Todd converting as Thistle were caught on the break.
The goals were coming at a fair old rate at this stage and Thistle were level again after 37 minutes when Blair Spittal fired home from 6 yards.
The same player had Thistle in front just thfree minutes later with a stunning effort from the edge of the box.
Pick that out Blair Spittal. The ball falls to Spittal a few yards outside the box and he hammers the ball into the roof of the net. Stunning strike.
storey's through ball nearly finds Doolan but Queens clear.
we're level again. Elliott's low cross is partially cleared and falls to Spittal,who fairly lashes the ball home.
Erskine's effort is deflected wide.
Having worked hard to get themselves back level Thistle almost immediately fall behind again. Thistle fail to make anything from a Slater corner and subsequent Penrice cross and are caught on the break. Harkins squares tp Todd whose low shot beats Bell.
That's an excellently worked equaliser. McGinty's pass finds Spittal. His low, driven cross is fired home by Kris Doolan.
It's an easy catch for Bell from Dobbie's corner and he tries to launch a quick Thistle counter attack.
Spittal, cuts in from the right and after striding forward for a few yards sends a shot from the edge of the box over the Queen of the South crossbar.
A low Penrice cross nearly falls to a Thistle player but the ball is cleared.
A Dobbie effort from 20 yards out is always on the rise and clears the thistle crossbar with some comfort.
An Elliott shot hits off the shins of Doolan and goes clear.
Slater takes the corner but the referee spots a foul from Keown as he attempts to get on the end of the corner.
Penrice takes the free kick and is headed clear. He gathers the ball again thopugh and this time his cross finds Doolan whose header doesn't trouble Martin in the Queens' goal.
Pnrice is a litle lucky to get a free kick after slipping on the Firhill pitch but Thistle have a frree kick and a chance to get the ball into the box.
Slatyer's chipped [apss finds Elliott in space on the right. His low cross spinds off Erskine and is gathered by Martin.
The Thistle goal is under threat again but this time Slater is on hand to clear a Harkins cross.
And bang on cue Queen of the South go up the park and score in their first attack. Stirling passes to Dobbie to his right and Dobbie's crisp show finds the corner of the Thistle net.
Thistle have seen virtually all of the ball in the opening couple of minutes and look confident moving the ball about the pitch.
Thistle this afternoon put a 100% home league record on the line with the visit of an in form Queen of the South side.
Alan Archibald's starting eleven this afternoon shows two changes to the side that started last Saturday at Inverness. In come Stuart Bannigan, making his first start since returning from injury, and Kris Doolan who officially scored his first goal of the campaign at Imverness.
Dropping to the bench are Brice Ntambwe and Andre Mbuyi-Mutombo.