William Hill Championship
Sat 27 September, 2025. Kick Off: - 15:00
East End Park, Dunfermline
Team News
Josh Clarke and Ben McPherson are available again having been ineligible for last week’s cup tie against Celtic.
Ben Stanway is carrying a minor knock and a decision on his involvement will be made on matchday.
Dan MacKay continues to progress towards an October return and Scott Martin took part in his first non-contact session this week.
Zander MacKenzie and Matthew Falconer will come out of the squad with the former heading out on loan to Queen of the South and the latter joining Linlithgow Rose alongside Nick Lockhart as part of a freshly-ratified Co-operation Agreement.
Tickets:
Thistle supporters will be situated in the Vertu Community Stand for this fixture, accessing the stadium via turnstiles 13 to 15.
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Prices:
Adult – £23
Concession* – £17
Under 18 – £11
Under 12** – £8
Carer – Free of charge
*Over 65s, disabled supporters, wheelchair users, unemployed and full-time students. Please bring proof of concession with you on the day as you may be asked for this on arrival.
**Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Important Information
There will be no cash gate in operation.
There will be three turnstiles open in Vertu Community Stand for this fixture.
The Kiosks in the Stand operate on a card only basis.
Supporters Buses
City Centre Branch
Pick up:
Station Bar : 12:00
For seats call Duncan 07979496154 or e-mail .
John Lambie Maryhill
Pick-up:
Jordanhill Railway Station – 13:30
Thornwood Bar – 13:35
Prices:
Adults – £21
Concessions – £15
Booking is essential.
To make a booking contact Iain on 07779 668 357 or .
North-West Branch:
When booking seats, it is essential that you state your pick-up point and category of fare (Full or Concession).
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 13:00
Esquire House Anniesland – 13:20
Maryhill CC Halls – 13:35
Fares for non-members:
Full – £21
Concession* – £15
One primary school age child may travel free of charge when accompanied by a fare paying adult.
*Eligibility for concession fares:
Partick Thistle got off to a blistering start against Dunfermline Athletic at the KDM Group East End Park with goals from Tony Watt and Logan Chalmers that laid the foundations for a 2-0 win against the Fifers.
The Jags’ were missing Ben Stanway from the starting line-up after the midfielder failed to fully shake off a knee injury with Oisin Smyth stepping in from kick-off for the first time since joining on loan from St Mirren.
On-loan Celtic players, goalkeeper Josh Clarke and defender Ben McPherson were also in from the first whistle after missing last weekend’s Premier Sports Cup tie against Brendan Rodgers’ side with Lewis Budinauckas and Cammy Logan making way.
Steven Lawless was absent with a toe problem picked up late in the week and with Zander MacKenzie and Matthew Falconer heading to Queen of the South and Linlithgow Rose on temporary deals this week the substitutes’ bench totalled only seven.
The hosts kicked off attacking the end that housed ‘Red and Yellow’ fans with the visitors awarded a foul on 30 seconds when Robbie Crawford was fouled close to the half-way line.
It was to prove a pivotal decision as Thistle took the lead 20 seconds later when the dead ball was knocked down into the path of TONY WATT who crisply despatched a first time shot home.
Dunfermline were stung by the visitors’ fast start and Clarke had to carefully watch a lobbed cross land on the roof of his net before rushing from his line and denying Chris Kane.
Ben McPherson cleared a dangerous cross before Thistle struck again on nine minutes with a wonderful effort from LOGAN CHALMERS who cut in from the right and sent one of his trademark left footed efforts high into the home net from 19 yards.
As Mark Wilson’s men attacked again Aidan Fitzpatrick wriggled free on the left only to see his dangerous cross deflected behind with the resultant corner reaching Lee Ashcroft who was unable to grab a third with just 15 minutes gone.
Dunfermline were not settling for being two behind and the Partick Thistle goal had an escape three minutes later when a Jefferson Caceres 8 yard effort bounced into the turf and looped over Clarke only for the shot-stopper to finger-tip the ball onto the bar with Kane inches out with his headed effort on the rebound.
Midway through the opening half Dunfermline had a glimpse of goal again as Rory Macleod popped up unmarked on the left-hand side of Thistle’s box however, he sent his shot wide.
Goalscorers Watt and Chalmers combined on the right with half an hour played to release McPherson who picked out Fitzpatrick with a deep cross to the left with the wide-man’s header back into the danger zone just failing to reach Watt.
The game continued to be played in an open fashion with Robbie Crawford the furthest forward Thistle player eight minutes from the break and as he looked to get on the end of a Chalmers cross however the ball was just too high.
On 40 minutes Macleod took aim from 20 yards with his shot nicking off a defender to win a corner that was worked to Caceres on the right and his low cross incredibly flew through four sets of Pars legs with Clarke’s goal remaining intact.
That was to be Caceres’ last positive involvement as 90 seconds from the half-time whistle he sent Dan O’Reilly to the turf 30 yards from Clarke’s goal and was immediately red-carded.
Half-time – Dunfermline Athletic 0 Partick Thistle 2
Robbie Crawford restarted proceedings with the first excitement in the second period coming on 50 minutes when Paddy Reading darted through the Black and White shirted defence only to have his progress halted by a sliding tackle with claims for a penalty waved away.
Shortly afterwards a fine hooked pass from Crawford found Fitzpatrick and via Watt the play was switched back to the right with the Dunfermline rear-guard relieved when McPherson’s low cross was blocked.
Thistle looked to make their extra man count with Ts’oanelo Lets’osa and Crawford both denied in quick succession and when Chalmers turned the ball on 59 minutes he was flagged for offside.
Four minutes after the hour mark Kyle Turner and Alex Samuel were brought on and Welshman Samuel quickly bore down on the home goal with referee Nicolson not interested for a second time in appeals for a penalty as he crashed to the ground.
With 68 minutes played Smyth found Fitzpatrick with a precise pass and the left sided attacker was only denied a symmetrical goal to the one scored by Chalmers when Billy Terrell stretched high to his right to push away the number 21’s fiercely hit shot.
The two wide men combined with 18 minutes to go when Chalmers picked out Fitzpatrick however this time he could not get a shot on target and fired wide.
On 75 minutes the hosts gave Thistle a reminder they were still in the game with a well-struck 18 yard shot from Shea Kearney that Clarke watched carefully as it fizzed away from his goal.
Another attack led by Fitzpatrick produced a chance as he cleverly picked out Crawford how side-stepped his marker and looked to find a corner only for Terrell to save well again.
Crawford was denied again with ten minutes left as he poked the ball past Terrell after Chalmers had a shot blocked only for John Tod to pop up and head clear.
As the game entered the final two minutes Terrell looked to be fortunate to receive only a yellow card after racing out of his box and taking the legs from under Turner who was all set to nip around him and find himself with an open goal.
Full-time – Dunfermline Athletic 0 Partick Thistle 2
Teams
Partick Thistle – Josh Clarke; Ben McPherson (Cammy Logan 75), Lee Ashcroft, Dan O’Reilly, Paddy Reading; Ts’oanelo Lets’osa (Kyle Turner 64), Oisin Smyth; Logan Chalmers, Robbie Crawford (Luke McBeth 86), Aidan Fitzpatrick; Tony Watt (Alex Samuel 64)
Unused substitutes – Lewis Budinauckas (GK), Thomas Horn, Liam Dolan.
Dunfermline Athletic – Billy Terrell, Kyle Benedictus, Charlie Gilmour (Keith Bray 64), Shea Kearney, Jefferson Cáceres, Alfons Amade (Matty Todd 73), Rory Macleod (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 64), Chris Kane (Barney Stewart 46), Andrew Tod (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 73), John Tod, Robbie Fraser.
Unused substitutes – Mason Munn (GK), Chris Hamilton, Ewan Otoo, Nurudeen Abdulai.
Referee – Duncan Nicolson
Sat 27 September, 2025
William Hill Championship 
East End Park, Dunfermline
Thistle build up a two goal first half lead and then manage the game superbly against a ten man Dunfermline in the second half.
Terrell collects.
Into added time at the end of the 90 minutes.
Chalmers hits the wall with the free kick.
Terrell fouls Turner outside his penalty box.
The corner is cleared.
Crawford is having no luck in finding a third Thistle goal. He again gets the chance to shoot but this time his effort is blocked with the ball spinning into the path of Terrell.
Logan this time who sets up Crawford for a shot from the edge of the box. Crawford can't get the ball on target and Terrell is untroubled.
Fitzpatrick lays a pass into the path of Crawford and his shot is pushed away by Terrell.
Chalmers tries to bend a shot beyond Terrell but on this occasion his shot is straight at the Dunfermline keeper.
Ritchie-Hosler is able to nip the ball away from Ashcroft. When the ball comes to Todd at the edge of the box he can't hit target.
Chalmers lifts an excellent cross towards the back post, Fitzpatrick though can't make the right contact and the ball goes over the bar.
The corner is cleared.
Fitzpatrick cuts in from the left and sends a shot towards the top corner of the Dunfermline net but Terrell gets a hand to it.
Ashcroft is able to head the free kick out for a throw.
Dunfermline have a free kick near the right hand corner of the Thistle box.
Samuel quickly involved in the action and when he goes down under a challenge in the box there are appeals for a Thistle penalty.
Chalmers has the ball in the net for Thistle but he is clearly offside.
In quick succession Lets'osa and Crawford see shots that look net bound blocked.
Fitzpatrick plays a lovely pass into the box looking for Watt but Terrell is able to get there first.
Crowd: 5,629 (851 away)
Andrew Tod tries to find the net from near the halfway line but Clarke is untroubled.
Terrell is quickly off his line to reach a Lets'osa pass ahead of Watt.
Change from Dunfermline at the break.
Two goals inside the first 10 minutes see Thistle lead at the break.
It's been anything but comfortable though with The Jags having to soak up a lot of Dunfermline pressure.
The sending off of Jefferson Caceres though as half-time approached might, might, have eased that pressure a little.
A lot of football still to be played in this game.
Dunfermline are down to ten men. I didn't see what happened but O'Reilly is left on the floor and there is a furious reaction from the Thistle players and little complaint from the Dunfermline players.
A low cross rolls right across the edge of the Thistle 6 yard box. Not for the first time it is a ball that is begging for a touch and not for the first time there is no touch.
Clarke gets a hand to a low drive after Smyth loses possession inside his own half.
Thistle successfully defend the free kick. Dunfermline pick the ball up again and Clarke can't make a clean catch as the ball is lifted into the box. he is fouled though in the view of the referee although the Dunfermline fans near us don't agree.
O'Reilly fouls Kane and Dunfermline will get a chance to load the Thistle box from the free kick. This feels like an important stage of the game. Thistle desperate to maintain their advantage.
A cross from the left only needs a touch in front of the Thistle goal to haul Dunfermline back into the game. That touch doesn't come and Thistle, who are under a lot of pressure, breathe again.
Kane's headed attempt at goal drops nicely for Macleod at the back post. He snatches at the opportunity that comes his way and his shot goes wide of Clarke's near post.
Kearney shoots wide from the edge of the box.
Thistle maintain their two goal advantage but I'm not entirely sure how. The ball comes off Clarke's bar and Kane looks certain to nod home the rebound from about a yard out but someone gets a block in and the ball goes behind for a corner.
Dunfermline clear the Fitzpatrick corner,
Wow. You will struggle to see a better goal all season. The ball is worked to Chalmers on the right and his shot high into the Terrell's right hand corner is a thing of absolute beauty. Makes his goal at Dingwall in the League Cup look like a toe poke!
Lets'osa has room for a shot a few yards outside the box but his effort is too high to threaten the Dunfermline goal.
Dunfermline close again as Thistle scramble clear a cross to the back post.
Thistle are nearly caught sleeping when Dunfermline work a short corner but the ball is cleared.
Clarke makes himself a big target to beat as Kane gets on the end of a Macleod pass and the Thistle keeper is able to keep the ball out as Dunfermline come close a quick fire equaliser.
Fifty seconds on the clock and Thistle are in front. Smyth flights a free kick deep into the Dunfermline box. O'Reilly heads on and Watt applies a controlled finish that leaves Terrell with no chance.
Dunfermline kick the game off. Thistle defending the goal where the Thistle fans are housed in the first half.