William Hill Scottish Cup
Sat 10 February, 2018. Kick Off: - 12:15
Celtic Park
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 11:00
Station Bar – 11:10
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
Jordanhill Branch:
To be confirmed
North-West Branch:
To be confirmed
Important supporter information:
This match is ALL TICKET and there will be no ticket sales on the day. Last sales are from The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill and will close at 4pm on Friday.
Please do not travel to Celtic Park if you don’t have a ticket for the match.
Celtic Park will be the venue for Thistle’s Fifth Round William Hill Scottish Cup tie this Saturday and while Alan Archibald admits he may have been hoping for a kinder draw, he also knows that in a cup tie anything can happen. Never one to shirk the so called magic of the competition Archie sat down with ptfc.co.uk on Friday to talk about Saturday’s clash with Glasgow rivals, Celtic.
Archibald said: “I think someone told me it’s 29 games since we beat Celtic which is too long by anyone’s measure. Granted there are games in there that we maybe should have taken victories from, especially since I took charge. We’ve had some decent performances at Celtic Park in recent seasons but ultimately it stands for nothing if you can’t take at least a point away from these games. Nowhere is that more true than in the Cup where you either get through or your journey comes to an end.
“Kilmarnock went and did it last week and I think that gives everyone a bit of hope that we can too – certainly that’s the way we’ll look at it. Obviously you’ve got to be wary of the backlash but we’ll look to take care of our own business. We know what to expect and we’ll need to deal with that when it comes on Saturday.”
The cup offers a bit of respite from Premiership business and it’s fair to say that Archibald and his squad are looking forward to the match, and the prospect of writing their own bit of Jags history.
“It’s certainly got a different feel about it and it brings a bit of refreshment when these cup games come along – you look forward to the William Hill Scottish Cup and to playing in it no matter who the opposition are. It’s a chance for these lads to make themselves heroes for generations to come and if that doesn’t motivate you then nothing will.
“I remember Tommy Smith scoring at Parkhead shortly after I first joined the club and even now everyone talks about that goal. That’s what we’ll be saying to the players, go make yourself a hero. That idea is even bigger in a cup tie so it could be absolutely massive.
“It’s a one off game and we just need to make sure we give everything. We’ll have a game plan to play to and if the players stick to that I think we have a real chance. It’s always going to be tough and we were a bit disappointed not to get a better draw but now we’ve just got to focus on ourselves and on giving the best account that we possibly can.”
Both Callum Booth and Steven Lawless missed Saturday’s trip to Fir Park as well as Tuesday night’s clash with Rangers, with Niall Keown also missing the Rangers game. Although Keown remains a doubt there was positive news on both Lawless and Booth.
“Hopefully we’ll have Steven Lawless and Callum Booth back but Niall Keown is still 50/50. Stuart Bannigan is still having issues and he’s away to see a specialist this week to get to the bottom of the issue that is persisting with his knee. We really want to get to the bottom of it because it’s almost two years the lad has been out now and he’s just desperate to get back playing.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Paul McGinn, Martin Woods 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 Celtic Park? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 11:45am on Saturday lunchtime.
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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.
Off the back of four league games in two and a half weeks, Partick Thistle returned to William Hill Scottish Cup action with a trip to Parkhead. Having defeated Queen of the South in the last round of the competition, the Jags faced a very different challenge as they travelled to take on the champions of Scotland.
Alan Archibald made four changes to the side who fell to defeat against the Gers during the week. At left-back, James Penrice dropped to the bench to be replaced by the returning Callum Booth who had missed Thistle’s previous two games with a knock. Adam Barton came into the side for Abdul Osman, who began the match on the bench having started five games since his return from injury. In the attack, Miles Storey and Conor Sammon came out of the starting line-up to take a place each on the bench with Chris Erskine and Kris Doolan replacing the duo up top.
Prior to the game, both sets of fans participated in a minute’s silence in remembrance of Liam Miller who came through Celtic’s youth system in the late 90s.
Playing away at the treble-winning Hoops, Thistle would be looking for a strong start to weather any early storm from their hosts, however, the Jags fell behind within 120 seconds. The goal came from a miskicked clearance by Baily Cargill who slipped as he tried to fire the ball up-field. As a result, the ball went straight to Scott Brown and the Celtic captain hit an early ball forward. Moussa Dembele brought the ball down and shot but saw his attempt blocked. The loose ball then fell to James Forrest who poked it home from close range.
Things got worse quickly for the Jags too as Celtic made it 2-0 on nine minutes. James Forrest picked up the ball in the centre of the park and made a driving run towards the Thistle box during which he was virtually unchallenged with the Jags’ defenders backing off the winger. Forrest then fired a shot on goal from around the edge of the box and the Celtic number 49 found the corner of the net.
Suddenly, having conceded twice in the opening ten minutes, it seemed as if Thistle were down and out, however, the Jags were gifted a route back into the game by Jozo Simunovic. The Celtic centre-half brought down a long ball and tried a backpass to his goalkeeper, Dorus de Vries. The defender’s pass was short, though, and the ever-alert Kris Doolan was there to lift it over the head of de Vries, grabbing his 112th Jags goal on his 350th appearance in the red and yellow of Partick Thistle.
The Jags came into the match after the Doolan goal but neither side really created much in the remainder of the first half as the game went into the break at 2-1. A shocking start may have left Thistle fans fearing a one-sided 90 minutes but since Kris Doolan’s goal, the visitors had matched their hosts. The Jags would be looking to continue their improved performance with the hopes of getting at least a draw from the game.
At the start of the second period, Thistle didn’t seem to have learned from their first half failings as Celtic netted a third within ten minutes of the restart. This time it was an excellent ball in behind the visitors’ backline which led to the goal as Kieran Tierney found Scott Sinclair with a threaded through ball. The winger then cut the ball back to James Forrest who wriggled away from his marker before slamming home from six yards out to restore his side’s two-goal lead.
Within ten minutes of the Celtic third, Alan Archibald made a pair of changes as he tried to get his side back into the game. Adam Barton was replaced by Abdul Osman in the midfield while Kris Doolan came off for Conor Sammon who scored twice in the previous round of the Scottish Cup against Queen of the South.
Scott Sinclair passed up an excellent opportunity to put the game to bed in the 77th minute as the number 11 saw a shot saved by Tomas Cerny. Scott Brown won a midfield duel with Martin Woods before then playing the ball in behind Thistle’s rear-guard with Sinclair bursting through. The former Aston Villa and Swansea man ran onto the ball and had a one-on-one with Tomas Cerny. He tried a shot but his effort was straight at Cerny who held safely.
One minute after that chance, Thistle made their final substitution of the day as Martin Woods made way for Andrew McCarthy.
The Jags were able to pull one back and make the closing stages interesting as Conor Sammon netted his seventh of the season on 83 minutes. Chris Erskine lifted a ball forward looking for the diagonal run of Sammon who was battling with Jozo Simunovic as he looked to reach the pass. Reach he did, though, and the Hearts loanee fired an excellent half-volley back across goal, finding the far corner and beating Dorus de Vries.
Thistle would have one last chance to draw level and take the game to a replay in added time through Australian midfielder, Ryan Edwards. Chris Erskine won possession on the away side’s left wing with a great slide tackle before whipping a tantalising cross into the six-yard box. His delivery found Ryan Edwards so seemed destined to simply tap home from a couple of yards out but the number 19 was denied by an exceptional defensive block by Kieran Tierney which allowed Dorus de Vries to collect.
That would prove to be the final opportunity of the game as Thistle now find themselves out of the William Hill Scottish Cup. As such, all focus is now on the league and the Jags return to league action with a crucial game against Dundee next Saturday. Kick-off is 15:00 from the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
THISTLE TEAM: Cerny, McGinn, Devine, Cargill, Booth, Barton (Osman, 55’), Woods (McCarthy, 78’), Spittal, Edwards, Erskine, Doolan (Sammon, 59’).
UNUSED SUBS (PTH): Scully, Dumbuya, Penrice, Storey.
CELTIC TEAM: de Vries, Lustig, Simunovic, Ajer, Tierney, Brown, Ntcham, Forrest (Kouassi, 87’), Musonda (McGregor, 65’), Sinclair (Edouard, 79’), Dembele.
UNUSED SUBS (CEL): Bain, Gamboa, Miller, Rogic.
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 moved out of the Ladbrokes Premiership’s bottom two spots last Saturday with a draw at Motherwell and the Jags looked to make progress in a different competition today as they took on Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup. It was never going to be an easy game but the Jags made things even tougher on themselves by conceding two in the opening ten minutes. Kris Doolan pulled on back for the visitors as he latched onto a poor Jozo Simunovic backpass. Celtic restored their two-goal advantage just after the break as James Forrest completed a hat-trick but a Conor Sammon goal within the final ten minutes had Thistle dreaming of an unlikely comeback, however, despite plenty of pushing, the Maryhill men were unable to get the equaliser and as a result now find themselves out of the Scottish Cup. Jags boss, Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk following a rollercoaster of a match.
Alan started by telling us that although he can look on most of the match positively, the dreadful start to the game can’t be ignored as it ultimately handed Celtic the win.
“I was impressed with the performance if I cast that first 15 minutes out of my head. We stressed to the players that Celtic would be fired up after losing last week and they would look to attack early. Of course, they have plenty of attacking talent and any team in Scotland would struggle to deal with them at full power but you can’t excuse conceding twice in the first ten minutes.”
The gaffer was impressed with the way his side rebounded from going two down and thought that they’re fighting spirit was commendable.
“They showed great character to get back into the game and once we calmed down and got ourselves bedded in, we looked competitive and we were attacking with real intent at certain points. Getting the goal back helped as it gave us that little boost we needed and going into the break with the game still to play for was brilliant because half-time felt a long time away at ten minutes in.”
Archie then touched on Kris Doolan and Conor Sammon. Both men are on form at the moment with Doolan now on two in his last two starts and Conor having scored five since returning from the winter break. Alan admits that it makes it difficult when selecting a frontline but says that having an option like Conor off the bench, as it was today, allows Thistle to push opponents to the final whistle.
“It feels unfair to leave either of them out but they’re both excellent professionals and they understand that there will be times when they’ll start and times when they’ll be on the bench. Kris had a lot of work to do today and took his goal well but I felt around the hour mark was the right time to bring Conor on so we could continue to hassle their defenders. Conor’s goal was a well-taken one as well and even though we lost today, it’s good to see the strikers continue their scoring with some vital games coming up.”
The manager then talked us through his view of Ryan Edwards’ late chance. The Australian got on the end of a great Chris Erskine cross and had it not been for some good defensive play, he might have taken the tie to a replay.
“It was excellent play by Chris Erskine on the left and a terrific ball in. Ryan gets himself into the six-yard box and that’s where you want him. At first I thought that maybe Ryan should have done better but I’ve seen it back and it’s great defending from Kieran Tierney who gets his leg across.”
With Thistle now out of the Scottish Cup, the Jags are entirely focussed on league action for the remainder of the season as they look to avoid the Ladbrokes Premiership’s bottom two positions. The Maryhill men are back in action next Saturday as Dundee come to Glasgow. Kick-off is 15:00 from the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Ryan Edwards and Conor Sammon. Log in now to see it as soon as it is available.
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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 10 February, 2018
William Hill Scottish Cup 
Celtic Park
The match ends in a Celtic win which means Thistle are out of the Scottish Cup nd it's league action all the way for the Jags.
A Chris Erskine cross comes into the six-yard box where Ryan Edrwards is waiting. He tries to nudge it in but a combination of the defender and goalkeeper keep the ball out.
There will be three added minutes this afternoon.
Cerny parries an Ntcham free-kick from a couple of yards outside the Thistle area.
Chris Erskine lifts the ball through to Conor Sammon who is battling with Jozo Simunovic. He then fires a first time half-volley which finds the bottom corner.
Scott Brown slots his namesake, Sinclair in behind the Thistle backline. Sinclair has a great chance to put the game to bed but he fires straight at Cerny who holds.
Callum McGregor shoots high and wide with a right-footed effort from 20 yards.
Dembele gets the ball on the left wing and cuts inside Daniel Devine. He then shoots low on goal but fires wide of the near post.
Celtic break after Abdul Osman loses the ball. Musonda tries to dink it thorugh to Dembele but it hits Cargill. There are shouts for handball but Cargill's hands were by his side. After that, Spittal robs Sinclair of the ball before skipping into the Celtic box, past Ajer. He then sees his shot blocked and subsequently cleared.
Sinclair finds Forrest with a cut back after a good ball into the box by Tierney. orrest then wriggles a way from his man and fires home at the near post.
No half time changes for`either side at the break with Kris Doolan kicking off the second 45 minutes.
Mikael Lustig is down receiving treatment following a 50/50 challenge with Callum Booth. A free-kick has been given Celtic's way but there doesn't seem to be further punishment for Booth. Lustig will continue.
Devine is booked after a coming together with Kieran Tierney.
A clearance from a Thistle corner falls to Spittal just outside the Celtic box. He fires a low shot on goal which skips up off the turf. Brown is there to block though and the danger subsides.
A poor Simunovic back pass allows Doolan to latch on. He then lifts the ball over Dorus de Vries to pull Thistle a goal back.
Ryan Edwards sees a left-footed shot blocked at the edge of the Celtic box.
Cerny turns a low Forrest shot round the post with anout-stretched right hand.
Forrest goes on an excellent run and fires an effort past Cerny from the edge of the box.
Tierney finds Dembele with a cross from the Celtic left but the Frenchman nods well over the bar.
Baily Cargill slips as he clears and Brown hits a first time pass forward.. The initial shot is blocked but it falls to Forrest who taps home.
After a well-observed minute of silence in memory of Liam Miller, the hosts get the match underway.
Hello and welcome to the ptfc.co.uk live text commentary for today's William Hill Scottish Cup tie between Partick Thistle and Celtic.
Thistle come to Parkhead four days after being beaten 2-0 by Rangers in the league meanwhile the Hoops are also oming off the back of a defeat after Kilmarnock triumphed over the Scottish champions last Saturday by a goal to nil.
Alan Archibald makes four changes to the side who fell to defeat against the Gers during the week. At left-back, James Penrice drops to the bench to be replaced by the returning Callum Booth who has missed Thistle's last two games with a knock. Adam Barton comes in for Abdul Osman, who rests on the bench having started five games in 18 days since his return from injury. In the attack, Miles Storey and Conor Sammon come out of the starting line-up to take a place each on the bench with Chris Erskine and Kris Doolan replacing the duo.
Both teams are now out warming up as Thistle look to make it back-to-back Scottish Cup quarter-finals with victory against city rivals, Celtic. Join us at 12:15 for live updates of all the action.