Aberdeen v Partick Thistle – 30th August 2014

Aside from a couple of wins during John Lambie’s third spell as Thistle manager Pittodrie hasn’t been too happy a hunting ground for Thistle over the years and that trend continued in this game with the home side more than worthy 2-0 winners at the end of a match in which Thistle contributed little.

Three changes were made to the Thistle starting eleven from last weekend’s Premiership encounter with Hamilton. Dan Seaborne returned, Christie Elliott marked his 100th Thistle appearance with a start and there was a slot at left back for new signing Jake Carroll.

Aberdeen’s first effort on goal in this match came inside the first minute but Paul Gallacher, given the nod in goal ahead of the now free from suspension Scott Fox, was able to watch Goodwillie’s effort trickle wide of his right hand post.

The Thistle keeper, however, was altogether more hard pressed to keep out a Goodwillie header in the 16th minute after the Aberdeen striker was allowed a free header at a corner kick.

Less than a minute later it was the turn of Mark Reynolds to enjoy the freedom of the Thistle penalty box as Thistle were once more posted missing at a corner kick. This time it took a well placed Jake Carroll to keep the scores tied when he cleared off the line.

Aberdeen continued to dominate the game and Gallacher was called into action again in the 26th minute when he pushed away an effort from Niall McGinn and Jake Carroll was forced into making an important clearance after Nicky Low had almost walked his way past the Thistle defence.

Twice Abdul Osman had to clear dangerous crosses behind for Aberdeen corners and Paul Gallacher was required to tip a Reynolds header over the bar as Aberdeen pressed and pressed for an opening goal that they just couldn’t find in the first half.

At the other end Thistle offered very little during the opening 45 minutes with Stuart Bannigan and Kallum Higginbotham dragging efforts from distance wide of goal as Aberdeen keeper Langfield had a largely untroubled first 45 minutes.

Having survived the opening half without the loss of a goal it was frustrating in the extreme for Thistle to concede the opening goal less than 90 seconds after the restart; Nicky Low’s effort from just outside the Thistle box beating Paul Gallacher’s dive and finding the bottom of the Thistle net.

It was almost 2-0 in next to no time. A cross to the back post picked out Logan but he headed wide when he looked set to score.

It took until the hour mark for Thistle to offer much in the way of resistance and in his last contribution before being substituted, Christie Elliott saw his effort from just outside the Aberdeen box not go too far over the bar.

A minute later Jamie Langfield was required to make his first save of note when he had his hands stung by a fierce Higginbotham shot as Thistle started to offer hope that they might yet take something from the game.

Those hopes, however, were well and truly extinguished when Niall McGinn was able to double Aberdeen’s advantage in spectacular fashion in the 66th minute.

For a period it looked as if Aberdeen would add further goals before the end of the game and they were very close to a third goal in the 85th minute with Paul Gallacher doing extremely well to touch a Barry Robson free kick on to his left hand post.

Gallacher had to look lively too to just beat Goodwillie to a through ball before the final whistle brought some welcome relief to the Thistle fans who made the long trip to Aberdeen for little reward.