Sat 17 October, 2020
SPFL League One 
Broadwood Stadium, CumbernauldAlistair Love (70)
SPFL League One
Sat 17 October, 2020. Kick Off: - 15:00
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
In line with Scottish Government guidelines, this match is a closed doors match.
Any live streams and streaming arrangements for Thistle away games are provided and delivered by the home club with no involvement from the Partick Thistle F.C. media team.
Matchday Coverage:
Live Stream
Any Thistle fans who wish to watch our opening League 1 match against Clyde can purchase a pay-per-view pass, priced at £12, from https://clydefc.univtec.com/outside/register
If you require any assistance with your purchase or watching Saturday’s stream, please contact
For full information on how to purchase your pay-per-view pass, click here.
Audio Commentary
Audio Commentary will be available for supporters on JagZone.
Due to entry arrangements at Broadwood, our JagZone audio show will start a little later on Saturday afternoon, getting underway at 2:45. Tune in to hear Michael Max and Christopher Dobie take you through the ninety minutes of action.
We’ll have another half-time Jags interview with a member of the first team squad to get their thoughts ahead of the League One season.
Pre-Match
JagZone: JagZone subscribers will be able to watch an exclusive interview with a member of the Thistle management team. We’ll also grab a chat with a member of the Jags squad.
Free To Read: There will be written previews published on ptfc.co.uk from a member of the Jags management with a player also providing their thoughts ahead of the clash at Broadwood.
In Game Coverage
There will be no text commentary available on ptfc.co.uk. Key updates will be available via our Twitter channel – @PartickThistle
Post Match
JagZone: JagZone subscribers will be able to watch an exclusive chat with Thistle gaffer Ian McCall shortly after the full time whistle.
A full game replay will follow at 10pm with comprehensive highlights package, alongside our “Just The Goals” collection, to follow at midnight.
These timings are due to SPFL holdback restrictions
Free To Read: Read the written thoughts of a member of the Thistle management team shortly after the full time whistle. Reaction from a Jags player will also follow.
A written match report will also be published within 48 hours of the full time whistle.
Match Programme
Clyde are producing a 48 page match programme for this fixture.
The programme is available to order for delivery for £4.50(cover price £3 with £1.50 for postage and packaging).
Any Thistle supporters who wishes to order a programme for Saturday’s game should contact to purchase their copy. Orders will be processed and dispatched upon receipt of payment.
Half Time 50/50 draw
Tickets are on sale for our 50/50 draw which will be conducted at half time during Saturday’s match. Tickets are available to purchase until 3:30 on Saturday afternoon.
Click here to purchase 50/50 tickets
During a unique but exciting season we are looking forward to bringing you extensive matchday coverage throughout the campaign. Due to the current exceptional circumstances, our coverage may change or be impacted if a member of our media team is required to self-isolate at short notice. We thank you for your understanding and patience around this situation.
Partick Thistle start their 2020/21 league campaign with a trip to face Clyde at Broadwood this weekend after more than seven months without a league game. The Jags have already returned to competitive action with three Betfred Cup ties against St. Mirren, Queen’s Park and Queen of the South but now look to start the League One term against Danny Lennon’s Bully Wee. Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally, spoke to ptfc.co.uk to preview the clash in Cumbernauld:
“We’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. We’ve had a decent start with the Betfred cup but tomorrow is the real thing; this is what we’ve been preparing for so the boys and the staff are really looking forward to it.”
The Jags have amassed five points from their trio of cup games and Scally says the minutes the squad have been able to get in those matches will be invaluable going forward.
“It’s been great to be able to get those games and boost the team’s fitness and sharpness. Also, the way the games have gone has been pleasing for us too. We’ve tried a few different things in terms of formations and personnel and we feel like that aspect of it has been extremely useful for us.”
The Jags have created a good number of opportunities in each game they’ve played so far and Neil says that’s been a source of encouragement for the management team.
“Yeah, we’ve done really well in long spells and looked dangerous going forward. I think even in training, we look really sharp and our ball retention has been first class. The biggest thing is that we transfer that into games and in the first three we’ve had you can see we are transferring those qualities.”
The Maryhill men have kept clean sheets in their last two fixtures and Scally says that defensive solidity has been a focus in pre-season.
“We want to be very strong at the back and be able to build off clean sheets meaning we don’t have to score two or three goals to win a game every week. We’re not going to be at our best every week and if there’s a game where we’re struggling to score, we want to have that base at the back.”
Thistle have already reaped the benefits of their strong squad with Joe Cardle and Mouhamed Niang coming off the bench to contribute to goals against Queen’s Park and Scally says that depth is going to vital throughout the year.
“We feel as if every player we have in the squad is capable of coming on and contributing to the team. It’s something that’s a little bit different compared to last season where we feel like we’ve got lots of different options for how we can play and there’s also plenty of competition for places. It makes it very simple for the players; if you play well you keep your place but if you don’t then you’ll come out of the team.”
Neil gave us an update on the condition of Tam O’Ware who picked up an injury in our friendly defeat by Hearts a couple of weeks ago.
“Tam is just rehabbing the injury at the moment. That’s another reason why our big squad is so important. Last year, if Tam had picked up an injury we would have been struggling to plug that gap but now we have a good number of options in each position and for central defence in particular, we have Rhys Breen and Ciaran McKenna, both of whom are able to step in.
“It’s going to be an intense season and we’re going to have injuries and suspensions so we have to be able to trust every player to come in and play. That’s true of any season and we feel like the squad we’ve built here is one that’s ready to reach our goals.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally and Jags number 1, Jamie Sneddon are now available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for this weekend’s clash with Clyde. Due to entry arrangements at Broadwood, our audio show will begin at the slightly later time of 2:45pm – click here to tune in.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of the opening league match of the season on JagZone this Saturday evening.
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.
Partick Thistle’s new League One campaign began with a trip to Cumbernauld to take on Clyde off the back of their three Betfred Cup group stage games.
Thistle were without their number nine, Brian Graham, who had been sent off four days prior against Queen of the South and Zak Rudden who sustained a knock through midweek meaning Salim Kouider-Aissa started his first game for the club in what was the only change to the side which started at Palmerston Park earlier in the week.
The contest started off slowly with chances few and far between in the opening stages with Ally Love going closest with a shot from 25 yards which flew comfortably wide of the target.
It was the 36th minute before the game saw its first clear-cut chance with the away side going close. Barry Cuddihy was caught napping at the edge of the box by Joe Cardle and the number seven dribbled across to the left wing before cutting inside and bending a cross into the danger area. Salim Kouider-Aissa was the man attacking it and the ex-Queen’s Park forward got there ahead of his marker, however, his headed attempt was past the near post.
Five minutes later the hosts had their first proper sight of goal as their star man squandered a good chance. Kris Syvertsen chipped the ball towards the edge of the box where Ross Cunningham was able to knock it into the path of David Goodwillie in the box. Making his 100th league appearance for Clyde, he was aiming to make it league goal number 67 but Jamie Sneddon stood tall to block his right-footed strike and turn it away for a corner.
Goodwillie was looking to break the deadlock again three minutes after the half-time restart as Syvertsen fed the ball through to the ex-Aberdeen striker but Jamie Sneddon was out quickly to tackle him as the attack reached the box.
Two substitutes then combined for the Jags as they sought the opener. Richard Foster won a header in the defensive half which made its way to Blair Spittal who was able to just knock it on, over the Bully Wee backline. Blair Lyons gave chase and managed to muscle Tom Lang off the ball before getting his shot away. He looked to lift it past Clyde ‘keeper, David Mitchell, but he was able to block and gather.
Ian McCall’s side came even closer to going ahead in the 65th minute as they hit the woodwork. Blair Spittal delivered an in-swinging free-kick into Clyde’s 18-yard box and Ross Docherty flicked it goalwards. The number 23 saw his header rebound off the upright and then in the goalmouth, Salim Kouider-Aissa’s stooping attempt cleared the crossbar.
There were Thistle claims for a penalty as Kouider-Aissa took a boot to the face while trying to score but the referee awarded a corner kick though the striker would end up having to go off as a result of the incident.
That missed opportunity proved costly for the Maryhill men as the home side hit the front five minutes after. The build-up was similar to that which created a chance for Goodwillie late in the first half and it carved out an opening for the frontman again. Syvertsen lifted a pass into a central area ten yards outside the box and Cunningham was able to head down towards Goodwillie. This time, last season’s League One top goalscorer decided to cut inside and try the left-footed shot. Thankfully for the visitors Jamie Sneddon was equal to it, however, it ricocheted into the air towards Ally Love who was able to volley it back across goal and into the bottom corner.
Thistle now found themselves needing a goal without a recognised striker to go to. They pushed for that equalising goal but struggled to carve out any meaningful chances. The best sight of goal they had came through Blair Spittal as, after seeing his first shot blocked, he was able to fire towards goal from 20 yards on his left side but Mitchell easily saved that shot.
As the Jags’ search for a leveller got more desperate, Darren Brownlie was sent forward to join the attack and the team were left exposed at the back. Clyde counter-attacked on a few occasions with Jamie Sneddon producing three great saves to keep the score at 1-0 with the most impressive of the lot coming as Goodwillie squared the ball to Chris Johnston and the ‘stopper was able to get an outstretched right arm to his shot from closer range.
Despite Sneddon’s heroics, Thistle fell to a 1-0 in game number one of the new league campaign with that 70th minute strike from Ally Love proving the difference.
Thistle suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Clyde this afternoon as they got their League One campaign underway at Broadwood. The hosts’ goal came through Ally Love in the second half as the wideman reacted quickly after Jamie Sneddon denied David Goodwillie with Love volleying into the bottom corner to give the Bully Wee the advantage. Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the full-time whistle:
“We weren’t good enough; it’s as simple as that. Clyde were the better team and were full value for the points. We didn’t move the ball well enough or quickly enough and ultimately, we barely tested their ‘keeper which is the most frustrating thing.
“It’s really disappointing that we didn’t translate the way we were attacking during the cup into this game. We looked really dangerous for good spells in the Betfred Cup but that wasn’t on show today. We lacked guile in the final third and, especially after they went one up, we needed to show a bit more to break them down.”
Thistle’s closest effort to scoring came when Ross Docherty glanced a header off the post before Salim Kouider-Aissa picked up an injury as he tried to scramble home the rebound.
“I thought it was in from Doc to be honest and as Salim went to nod it home he has taken a sore one. Salim has a broken nose from that incident in the goalmouth which is a real shame. Obviously, it meant we had to play a good chunk of the game chasing a goal without a recognised striker making things really difficult because we lacked that focal point.
“In the absence of having another striker to bring on we tried to get as much creativity on as possible with the likes of Blair Lyons and Blair Spittal but even then we couldn’t carve them open and you can only credit Clyde for the way they defended their lead once they got it.”
With the Jags pushing forward, Clyde had a number of opportunities to put the game to bed but some fine saves from the Thistle number 1, Jamie Sneddon, kept the side in the game right until the end.
“Jamie’s saves were brilliant and, to be honest, he kept us in it. Towards the end of the game they were creating more because we put Darren Brownlie up front and really going for it meaning Jamie had to make some really good stops which he did brilliantly.”
It’s a return to Firhill for Thistle next weekend as the league campaign moves onto a clash with Airdrieonians.
“We’ll have Brian Graham back for the Airdrieonians game which will be a real boost but we’ll have to assess Salim’s condition to see if he’ll be available for us next week or if he will have miss out. Overall, we have to be more daring in attack and look to really take control of things because we were much too passive on the ball for most of the game today.”
More reaction interviews with Thistle gaffer Ian McCall and midfielder Ross Docherty will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of the opening league match of the season on JagZone this evening.
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.
