Sat 31 October, 2020
SPFL League One 
Balmoral Stadium, AberdeenRory McAllister (90)
SPFL League One
Sat 31 October, 2020. Kick Off: - 15:00
Balmoral Stadium, Aberdeen
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
Our hosts, Cove Rangers, are offering a live stream option for away fans priced at £10.
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.
The JagZoneLIVE show will get underway at 2:30pm with all the build-up to kick-off. 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 on the season so far and what’s to come.
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.
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.
Cove Rangers are this weekend’s opposition for Partick Thistle who are looking to build on last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Airdrieonians at Firhill. The Jags secured their first three points of the league season against the Diamonds but now take on the early leaders Cove, who have six points from a possible six so far. Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally, spoke to ptfc.co.uk to look ahead to the trip north:
“It’s one of a number of really tough fixtures we’ve got in this opening run but that’s what you expect in this division. They’ve obviously done exceptionally well the past few years so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Scally says that after getting the victory over Airdrieonians, the squad are in good spirits ahead of their next game.
“Any time when you’ve won at the weekend, you can feel the atmosphere is completely different on a Monday compared to the atmosphere when you’ve lost. Everyone enjoys things a bit more and it’s just a better place to be for everyone so we now want to make sure we’ve got that feeling at the start of every week.”
Towards the end of the game against Airdrieonians, the Jags had to doggedly defend their box with high balls and long throws aplenty from the visitors but Neil was pleased with the way the team managed to see the game out despite that late pressure.
“You don’t want to be defending like we were at the end of that game but sometimes it becomes necessary and the boys did well in dealing with what was thrown at them. Teams in this league aren’t afraid to go direct and there are lots of aerial battles right throughout a game but especially when your opponents are chasing the game as the case was at the weekend.
“I think if you look at the team, we’re quite well placed to handle those situations. The boys in central defence are great in the air and you saw Brian Graham coming back from up front and doing his bit too.”
Thistle’s two goals against the Diamonds were both well-worked with the first coming from some good running down the right and the second coming as a consequence of speedy back-to-front play by the team and Neil hopes the team will now kick on and start taking their chances more frequently.
“It goes without saying that you’re going to have to score a lot throughout the season so it was good to see Brian get off the mark and then Blair Spittal producing that brilliant strike. They were two good goals but, to be honest, we don’t care how they go in. The key is that we’re scoring and winning games and that was a good start last week.”
Scally then gave us all the team news ahead of our trip to Cove, including updates on the Jags who missed last Saturday’s contest.
“Jamie Sneddon and Ciaran McKenna are no further forward. They’re still being evaluated so we don’t know exactly what the time frame is for them but they definitely won’t be available this weekend.
“Zak Rudden is due to have an operation in midweek so he’s another that’ll miss out. It’s a big blow for us and him because we’re expecting big things from Zak but it’s one we just have to deal with and hopefully his recovery goes to plan and he’s back as soon as possible.
“Ross Docherty and Brian Graham were doubts last week but came through the full 90 minutes so they’ll be available again this week which is massive for us because they’re two of our most experienced players and they have an abundance of quality in their respective roles.”
Kieran Wright and Rhys Breen were called up to the starting XI against Airdrieonians and played their individual parts in the win and Neil says the management team were encouraged by the duos performance.
“They’ve got plenty of talent, the two of them, and I think they just lack a bit of experience which will develop as they play more games. They’ve decided to go out on loan because they want to learn and they’ve got plenty of players around them who they can learn a lot from so hopefully there’s plenty more to come from those two.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally and Rhys Breen 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 Cove Rangers – 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 travelled north to take on Cove Rangers in their third match of the League One season off the back of their 2-1 victory over Airdrieonians a week earlier. Cove had also won on matchday two, beating Peterhead 2-0 at Balmoor.
Ian McCall made just one change to the side which beat the Diamonds at Firhill with Mouhamed Niang coming in to replace Connor Murray who took a place on the bench alongside Mason McCready, Ryan Williamson, Charlie Reilly, Joe Cardle, Blair Lyons and Salim Kouider-Aissa.
The conditions were troublesome in the early exchanges with neither team able to play much desirable football. As such, it was 17 minutes before we saw a shot on goal. A Kieran Wright goal kick landed midway inside the Cove half and it eventually fell to Blair Spittal. The midfielder managed to bring the ball down and shoot but, on his weaker left side, he fired it straight at the goalkeeper.
The first sight of goal for the home side came just before the half hour mark as Leighton McIntosh was fed the ball down the left channel. The ex-Blyth Spartans wideman saw no options in the centre and opted to shoot from a tight angle but Wright was well-positioned and able to catch simply.
Going into the second half the wind was still making it difficult for either side to play much passing football but Cove did find a slight opening 10 minutes after the restart. Adam Livingstone picked up possession under little pressure 20 yards from the Thistle goal and was able to chop past Richard Foster before shooting. Much like Blair Spittal in the first half, his left-footed shot was tame and saved easily.
In the 57th minute, Stuart McKenzie was called into action again as James Penrice charged forward from left back, receiving the ball from Ross Docherty as he did. The number three looked to beat the ‘stopper at his near post but McKenzie was able to bat it away.
Thistle produced the best chance of the match so far when Blair Spittal went for goal from a free-kick after an hour. Docherty had been fouled a couple of yards outside the box, as centrally as possible. Spittal stepped up and bent a shot towards the top corner but once again McKenzie was on hand to deny the visitors as he tipped the attempt over the bar.
The game then settled back down and seemed to be petering out to a draw until some late action. Firstly, Brian Graham received the ball in the Cove box and held it up for a moment before shifting onto his right foot. The striker then looked to curl a shot into the corner of the net but despite beating the ‘keeper, he saw his effort headed off the line by Harry Milne.
Then at the other end, the key moment came. A heavy touch by Ross Docherty in the Jags’ box allowed the hosts to steal possession and then it fell to substitute, Rory McAllister, with the veteran marksman able to lift the ball over Kieran Wright and into the back of the net.
It meant a late dagger from Paul Hartley’s men with no time to respond for the travelling Firhill outfit and Cove claimed all three points with Falkirk at home the next fixture for Thistle.
It was late heartbreak for Partick Thistle as an injury-time winner from Rory McAllister saw them fall to defeat at Balmoral Stadium this afternoon. After an uneventful first half Thistle had come close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions; most notably when Blair Spittal had a free-kick tipped over the bar and when Brian Graham’s attempt was cleared off the line by Harry Milne. However, it was the hosts that managed to score with McAllister the matchwinner in the 92nd minute. Jags boss, Ian McCall, spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the full-time whistle:
“It was a horrible game for both teams. We didn’t look in any bother in the second half and dominated after half-time with their ‘keeper making a great save and then we saw one stopped on the line and then they get a goal right at the end of the game because of a mistake.
“It’s a really sore one to take. Whether we deserved to win the game, I’m not sure, but if anyone did deserve to win it was definitely us but we didn’t and we have to move on.”
Cove’s goal came deep in to added time when the game seemed destined for the draw and McCall was disappointed with the nature of the goal.
“We had been in control of things and we just gifted them a winner without them having to earn it or cut us open at all. Ross Docherty has put his hand up for the error but he was excellent apart from that. Overall, we just have to take it on the chin.”
It was a game of few chances and the gaffer says that came down to the weather conditions with the blistering wind having an effect on proceedings.
“I don’t think it was ever going to be a great game of football with the weather, and that didn’t suit either team, but we had a few good openings. Also, we got into some really good crossing positions but our delivery was really poor and we didn’t take advantage of the set piece opportunities we had either.
“Despite that, I think the attitude was excellent and to a man they worked their socks off. If we had managed a 1-0, I don’t think it would have flattered us but ultimately it came down to one single moment where they’ve been able to capitalise on our mistake.”
McCall had been pleased with the way his side limited Cove throughout the 90 minutes which made it even more difficult to see his side concede late on.
“I can’t remember them having a chance before the goal to be honest, not a clear one anyway. If we come off with the draw then you can say well done, the attitude was great because it wasn’t really a game of football but we then gift them a winner. Now, we have to regroup and get a win next weekend and then build a run from there.”
A further reaction interview with Thistle gaffer Ian McCall will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of today’s match 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.
