SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Sat 11 January, 2020. Kick Off: - 15:00
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Prices:
Adults: £20
Concessions (over 65s and students): £15
Juveniles (under 16): £5 *
*supporters under the age of 16 can apply for a free season ticket at the Jackie Husband Stand ticket booth before the game.
Travelling Support
Away fans will be housed in the Colin Weir Stand.
JagZoneLIVE v Dundee United
Our audio commentary service, JagZoneLIVE, will be providing full audio coverage as Thistle take on Dundee United in the Ladbrokes Championship.
The build-up to the game with our commentary team will begin at 2:45pm, 15 minutes ahead of kick-off, before they bring you full coverage of the fixture as Thistle look to get back to winning ways against the table-topping Tangerines.
To listen to the broadcast, simply log in to your Jagzone account, click on the audio commentary tab and press the play button on the player.
JagZoneLIVE is only available to JagZone subscribers so sign up here to listen to the show.
Match Programme v Dundee United
Dundee United are the first visitors to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill in the 2020s
Our matchday programme for the game will be available for just £3.
Included in the programme will be:
Copies of our matchday programme will be on sale around the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill ahead of kick off.
If you can’t make it along to the game, copies of the programme can be purchased online from our programme supplier, Curtis Sport, here.
PlayerZone v Dundee United
Stuart Bannigan and Jamie Sneddon will appear in tomorrow’s PlayerZone.
Head to the Aitken Suite after the match for the chance to meet them.
Half-Time Draw
It will be Des McKeown performing the half-time draw at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
You can buy your draw tickets from our sellers around the ground ahead of the game.
Partick Thistle play their first home game of 2020 as they welcome Dundee United to Maryhill this weekend. The table-topping Tangerines have beaten the Jags twice already this season by the odd goal but Thistle will be hoping to cause an upset and continue their push to get away from the Championship’s bottom two spots. Thistle manager, Ian McCall, spoke to ptfc.co.uk to preview the match:
“I think if you look at the form table, we’re second but, to be honest, that’s not a table I take too much notice of because of where we are in the real table. It should be a good game though with two of the league’s form sides. We’ll have a noisy home support and I’m sure they’ll bring a few along too so I’m looking forward to it.”
In the two meetings between these sides so far this term there’s only been one goal in the game and Ian feels he’s seen enough in those games to be confident that his side can produce a result against United this week.
“I was at the first game as a spectator, the 2-1 game, and I thought Thistle played really well that night and then at Tannadice, I didn’t feel we deserved to be beaten, and Robbie Neilson agreed with me so we have that belief but we know we just need to get points so hopefully we can get the result to go with the performance this time round.”
McCall’s side have only lost twice in their last eight league games, a run which has helped them move closer to the pack of teams above them and the gaffer highlighted the importance of putting runs like that together in the Championship.
“The nature of the league is that we’re only seven points off fourth place and you saw Dunfermline win three or four games and shoot up into the play-offs. Now, we’re coming from a bit further back but if we can carry on the way we’ve been playing recently winning three out of five games then that’ll see us get into the top four.
“It’s not easy in this league though, keeping that form up. A good run in this league is winning three or four and as I’ve said that can really push you up the league. For us, we’ve not shot up the league recently but we are now right on the coattails of a few teams and are in a good position to hopefully push on.”
The manager is keen to strengthen both his squad and his starting line-up in January but says that it can be difficult to find the right players in the January market.
“Every manager will tell you it’s difficult to work in the January window. The loan market can be quite useful in that regard but I’d like to think we’ll be able to get two or three on longer term contracts who we want to be here so that at the start of next season we have a base of 13 or 14 players rather than seven or eight.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Joe Cardle and Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally, are now available to JagZone subscribers – log in to see them.
Jagzone members will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
Can’t make it to the match? JagzoneLIVE will bring you coverage of the full 90 minutes through our audio commentary service which begins begins at 2:45pm – you can listen in here.
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 © 2020. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Dundee United were the first visitors to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill of the 2020s as they visited Maryhill on a rainy January afternoon. The visitors ran out winners at the end of the ninety minutes, aided by a Lawrence Shankland hat-trick and Thistle gaffer Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk shortly after the full time whistle.
“I felt that for first 30 minutes it was the best we’d played at Firhill. I thought we were terrific for that opening spell. We had a couple of good chances that we should have taken, we didn’t and we were punished for it later in the game.
“We selected a very attacking team, which we were slightly hamstrung into doing and that left us a little bit open at the back. If you don’t get the first goal in the game then it makes it a lot harder.”
Thistle created a couple of opportunities in the opening spell of the game and the gaffer felt not taking those chances was the key to the game.
“They played a high line which we got behind a lot. Some of the runs we couldn’t time correctly but other times we were right in and we had a couple of great chances falling to Dario Zanatta and Kenny Miller that we need to take.
“We should have been ahead in the game but after that United picked us off. In the second half we were very poor and been punished by a clinical striker who could be playing for any team in Scotland. It was a very tough 45 minutes for our supporters.”
The opening goal arrived from a corner kick and Ian was disappointed around the manner that first strike arrived.
“It was disappointing to concede from a set piece. If it had been a bit of outstanding skill or a bit of brilliance then it would be easier to take. We knew the threat they have and you need to mark them closely and we didn’t do that. The most frustrating thing was that there is a lot to like about how we played for the first 30 minutes, which is a third of the game. We couldn’t build on our promising start.”
While the manner of the defeat was extremely disappointing the gaffer is keen to get back on a good run in the league as quickly as possible.
“We’ve been on a good run, it’s only our third defeat in eleven games. It’s a sore one to take because we are at Firhill and we want to show our fans just what we can do. The second half were a non-event after the two goals in the last few minutes of the first half killed the game.
“The fans came out in numbers today, there was over 4,000 at Firhill which was great to see, especially on a day that was so bad weather wise. We’re frustrated that we couldn’t send them home happy to let them enjoy the rest of their weekend.”
A more in depth video interview with Ian McCall is available to Jagzone subscribers now as well as reaction from Mitch Austin – log in to view.
Jagzone subscribers will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
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 © 2020. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Sat 11 January, 2020
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
It's an afternoon to forget for Thistle who after being the better side while the score remained tied at 0-0 were simply brushed aside by United once they had taken the lead.
Siegrist can't hold Cole's shot and Miller is on hand to pounce.
McGinty gets back to deny Mochrie a shooting chance after his initial error gave the United sub the opportunity.
Penrice shoots from the edge of the box. Siegrist though is equal to his low effort and although he has to dive to complete the save it is a fairly routine one all the same.
Crowd: 4,101
Cole lifts the free kick towards the back post where McGinty is unable to connect with it.
Austin is foued as he tries to advance into the box and Thistle have a free kick near the edge of the box just in from goal line.
Zanatta pushes the ball to Miller to his left whose shot strikes the legs of a United defender.
Glass shoots over the bar from just outside the Thistle box. Thistle already looking eagerly forward to the full-time whistle. It's been dreadfuly poor since half-time.
Shankland again as Thistle capitulate. It's another powerful finish past Fox but again the Thistle defence is posted missing.
Austin is quickly involved in the action but his cross is cleared.
And that will be game over. Shankland's finish low into the corner is a good one but he was simply allowed to advance with the ball unhindered before shooting.
Thistle are able to spread the ball out to the righht but Williamson allows the ball to get away from him and it goes out for a throw.
Siegrist is again able to take charge and claim Cole's corner.
Thistle are struggling to make any headway at the moment.
Not too far out but it is a poor effort. Cole gets the ball over the wall but also well ove the crossbar.
Miller is fouled about 30 yards from goal and just left pf centre. Too far out for a Cole effort direct at goal?
Siegrist makes a confident catch from Cole's free kick.
Thistle make a change at the break.
Free kick for Thistle in from the touchline early in the second half.
Thistle will feel unfortunate to be trailing at the break never mind trailing by two. They were the better side for much of the first half with Siegrist saving well from Zanatta and Miller while the score remained tied at 0-0.
It was defensive frailities though that allowed United to firstly steal the lead and then, just before the break, double their advantage leaving Thistle with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Sporle is there to touch home from about a yard out as the Thistle defence is opened up.
Thistle elect not to swing the ball into the box and play it wide to Miller who goes a fraction too early and is caught offside.
Thistle win a rare free kick midway inside the United half and a chance to get the ball into the box.
Saunders is across quickly to whip the ball away from Glass. Their goal seems to have given United a confidence they didn't have prior to that.
Far too easy for United as Shankland steps away from his marker to steer a header into the corner of the net.
Zanatta is close again for Thistle this time with a header from a Cardle cross that is just a little too close to the United keeper.
Thistle are close once more to an opening goal but Siegrist denies Miller at the back post.
Glass has another effort at goal for United but this time his shot from the edge of the box is wide of Fox's right hand post.
Thistle are the closest yet to opening the scoring with Siegrist making a good stop with his legs to deny Zanatta.
Glass is able to hold off the attentions of Penrice but although his shot is cleanly struck Fox sees it all the way and is well positioned to complete the save.
Cardle's pass finds Zanatta as Thistle break. Support is slow in getting forward and when Zanatta does cross Miller slips as he tries to connect with the cross.
Thistle have been the better side so far but neither team has had a real glimpse of goal.
Saunders well timed challenge wins him the ball and he passes to Bannigan who again tries to find Zanatta on the left. This time the ball skips off the turf and out of the reach of Zanatta.
Bannigan's excellent crossfield pass finds Zanatta wide on the left but the flag goes up for offside against Zanatta.
A Williamson cross is cleared as far as Miller at the edge of the United box but Miller can't set his body right for a shot and his effort is well wide of target.
Jones' pace looks to give him the edge in a chase for the ball with Connolly but the referee spots a foul from the Thistle striker and United earn a free kick.
Sporle gets cross over from the United left but Saunders is there to head clear.
Cole's corner is headed clear but Thistle regain possesson of the ball and try and build again.
Jones does well near the left hand corner of the United box. He is able to find Penrice inside to the left of him. Penrice has room for a shot but there is no power in it.
Cole's free kick hangs in the wind and nearly drops for Cardle to have a shot but he has a wild swing at the ball.
Thistle have a free kick just in from the right tuchline about 12 yards out.
Connolly is able to get a glancing header to a Clark free kick but it is an easy save for Fox.
Cole takes the corner but Siegrist is quickly off his line to make a confident catch.
Thistle appeal for a penalry as Cole's shot hits a United defender but have to settle for the game's first corner.
A nice ball forward from Saunders finds Jones but finds Jones in an offside position.
Dundee United kick the game off and Thistle will be shooting towrds the John Lambie Stand in the first half.
League leaders Dundee United are the visitors to Firhill on a wet January afternoon. Despite the heavy rain that has fallen over the course of much of the last 24 hours the playing surface is in good condition and an excellent game of football is in prospect.
Ian McCall has made two changes to the side that started at Alloa last weekend. Tam O'Ware missed that game through illness but the Jags captain returns today with Sean McGinty dropping to the bench.
The other change sees Dario Zanatta, a sub at Alloa, given the nod to start ahead of Craig Slater who occupies a place on the bench for today's game.
Welcome to today's text commentary covering the Ladbrokes Championship fixture, Partick Thistle v Dundee United.
Kick-off is at 3pm.