SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Sat 16 March, 2019. Kick Off: - 15:00
Falkirk Stadium
Ticket details:
Away fans will be located in the Imperial Cars North Stand. Entrance will be pay at the gate via Turnstiles 11 & 12 – cash only.
Prices are:
Adult: £20
Conc: £13 (over 65, full-time student, ambulant disabled, carer*)
Under 18: £7
Under 12: £0 (maximum four per paying adult)
*Proof must be provided
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 11:15
Station Bar – 11:30
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 13:15
Thornwood Bar – 13:20
Prices:
£12 for adults
£6 for concessions
All Jags fans are welcome but booking is essential.
For seats please contact Alistair on 07817612563 or email
For general enquiries please contact Iain on 07779668357 or email
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 13:15
Esquire House – 13:35
Maryhill Community Halls – 13:50
Non-Members fares:
£12 for adults.
£7.50 for concessions.
To reserve seats, please e-mail or call 0141 632 3604 before 9:00 pm.
It was training as usual on Friday as the Thistle players were put through their paces in the final stages of preparation for Saturday’s huge Ladbrokes Championship match against Falkirk. It’s been a busy week for the Jags first team but the stakes don’t get much higher than this Saturday.
It was with this backdrop then that Partick Thistle manager, Gary Caldwell sat down with ptfc.co.uk to discuss how preparations were going and to look forward to Saturday’s contest.
Gary started by addressing the question of just how big Saturday’s match is in the overall contest of Thistle’s season.
“I think every game recently has been important and this is no different. We’ve applied ourselves very well in recent games and we will go into Saturday with great confidence. Having said that we do understand that the position we are in and the position Falkirk are in make it extremely significant in both our seasons.
“Every game from now until the end of the season is a cup final and we have to approach every match in exactly that way. Our attitude for every match between now and the end of the season will be we need to go and win it, nothing will change in that respect.”
With the match against Ayr postponed until April due to Thistle’s William Hill Scottish Cup exploits, the next three matches are Falkirk away, Inverness at home and then Morton at Cappielow. Three games in which the Jags must be targeting three points.
“I completely believe that we are genuinely capable of beating any team in this league and I think we’ve shown that since the turn of the year. I base that on our own performance and not the other team’s. I think if we have that belief and confidence then on any given day we can win if we go out and perform.”
It was heartbreak for Thistle fans on Tuesday as, despite a spirited and determined display at Tynecastle the Jags fell short of the semi final berth they so desperately craved. That being said, Caldwell is adamant that the defeat will do naught but spur his side on.
“We never like to lose games of football but we can definitely take confidence from the two games against Hearts. They should be a top four team in this country and we matched them over 180 minutes. Elements of our performance were the best I’ve seen since I have been at the Club and that is across the team.
“We played with a real spirit and pushed Hearts right to the last minute. On another day we could well have been the ones looking forward to a cup semi final. We have taken confidence from the performances and now we must take that into the league.”
Thistle’s recent form has seen them move two points clear of Alloa at the bottom of the league and a win could see the Maryhill Men move as high as seventh. Despite how tight the league is Caldwell knows the club’s ultimate fate is in his own players’ hands.
“There are several reasons why we are where we are but it is the reality and we need to do something about it. The players have performed very well since the turn of the year and that is reflected in the points return. We need to keep working hard and we need to keep this run going between now and the end of the season.”
Finally, the Jags boss offered an update on the fitness of his group, starting with his side’s overall recovery from Tuesday night.
“Recovery from Tuesday night has been excellent. The players and staff have really bought into the recovery process and recognise how professional we need to be in order to be ready to train and play games in close succession.
“The overall fitness of our group is much improved though and I think that is reflected in the play. That being said, it has been an arduous run of games unfortunately that comes at a cost. In this case that is reflected in the fact we do have a couple of concerns. Both Christie Elliott and Steven Anderson have both picked up small knocks on Tuesday night so we will need to monitor them. They both did some light training today and we will give them every chance to play their part on Saturday.”
More exclusive preview interviews with James Penrice, Blair Spittal and Jags manager, Gary Caldwell, 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 Falkirk Stadium? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 2:45pm on Saturday.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
It was a trip to the Falkirk Stadium for Gary Caldwell’s Partick Thistle side as the Jags looked to secure a win which would take them above the day’s opponent, Falkirk, as well as Queen of the South, whose game scheduled to be played at the same time as Thistle had been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
There were two changes made to the team which started the Jags’ William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Hearts four days prior with injuries causing both of those alterations. Both Christie Elliott and Steven Anderson missed out; Elliott had picked up an ankle knock at Tynecastle while Anderson was forced to miss the game as he recovered from a concussion. Conor Hazard started in goals once again with Sean McGinty filling in for Steven Anderson alongside Jack McMillan and Steven Saunders in the back three. Blair Spittal deputised for Christie Elliott at right wing-back with James Penrice on the opposite flank. Stuart Bannigan and Craig Slater sat at the base of the midfield in behind Joe Cardle. Scott McDonald was given the nod up front again after two goals in two games alongside Lewis Mansell who was making his first start in the league as a Jag. On the bench for the Maryhill men were Jamie Sneddon, Shea Gordon, Gary Harkins, Aidan Fitzpatrick, Miles Storey, Kris Doolan and Ally Roy.
In Edinburgh on Tuesday, it took Thistle 16 minutes to take the lead but against the Bairns it didn’t even take that long. Stuart Bannigan’s knockdown allowed Blair Spittal to hit a brilliant long ball down the channel in the 10th minute, sending Lewis Mansell into the Falkirk box. The number 30 waited a few seconds as support made its way forward before firing a low delivery towards the back post where Scott McDonald was waiting. The Australian had to use his thigh to direct the ball on target but he did manage it and with Harry Burgoyne caught under the ball, it found the back of the net off the underside of the bar meaning the ex-Motherwell man now has three in as many appearances over eight days.
There was a big chance for the visitors to double their advantage after 23 minutes as James Penrice almost grabbed a rare goal. Once again the build began with Blair Spittal as he fed the ball to Joe Cardle on the Thistle right. Cardle then hit a cross into the box on the turn which was aimed for Lewis Mansell. The striker couldn’t direct the ball goalward under a lot of pressure but the ball carried through to the arriving Penrice at the back post. He tried a forceful effort on the half-volley but his attempt lasered over the bar by a few yards.
There was a third chance to get a second with 11 minutes to play in the first half as Steven Saunders sought his first league goal as a Thistle man. The defender was up for a Craig Slater corner and the number 17 delivered it right into the six-yard box where Saunders pounced. The centre-half tried to glance the ball into the far corner but he missed the back post by a yard or so as another chance went begging for the travellers.
Those missed opportunities would come back to bite them too, as Ian McShane levelled matters in the 43rd minute. Stuart Bannigan’s clearance fell to Paul Dixon half way inside the Jags half and despite some poor control the Bairns were able to move towards the Thistle goal with Deimantas Petravicius receiving the ball on the left. He drilled a terrific ball into the danger area where Ian McShane had ghosted into an excellent position and the former St. Mirren man fired the ball home, through Conor Hazard’s legs.
There was a chance for Falkirk to take an unlikely lead ahead of the break as Petravicius again delivered an accurate ball into the Thistle box, this time in the air. He found the head of Paul Paton who had the goal at his mercy as he looked to flick the ball into the corner, however, the ex-Jag glanced his attempt wide of the far stick.
Thistle re-established their dominance on the game in the second half and probably should have regained the lead on 56 minutes. James Penrice was the creator here as he lifted a well-weighted ball to the back post where Scott McDonald had found a yard of space. The on-form attacker only needed to hit the target and it would have been a goal but his header went down into the turf and bounced up over the bar.
Just after that chance, Miles Storey came on in place of Joe Cardle before Aidan Fitzpatrick came on for Lewis Mansell with 21 minutes to play.
Scott McDonald had another chance as a corner routine meant he found himself in space around the penalty spot as Craig Slater drilled the ball into his feet. The finish was not an easy one evidenced by the fact that the veteran goalscorer couldn’t hit the target from 12 yards or so.
Gary Harkins replaced Blair Spittal late on as Thistle continued to push for a winner but it wasn’t forthcoming and the Jags had to settle for a point in Falkirk once again. The game should have been won in the first half but missed chances came back to bite Gary Caldwell’s side as five slack minutes cost them at the end of the first half.
Up next for Thistle is a Firday night clash with Inverness under the floodlights in Maryhill. Kick-off is 19:05 from the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
PARTICK THISTLE TEAM: Hazard, Spittal (Harkins, 81’), McMillan, Saunders, McGinty, Penrice, Bannigan, Slater, Cardle (Storey, 57’), Mansell (Fitzpatrick, 69’), McDonald.
UNUSED SUBS (PTH): Sneddon, Gordon, Doolan, Roy.
FALKIRK TEAM: Burgoyne, McGhee, McKenna, Edjenguele, Dixon, McShane (MacLean, 65’), Paton, Osman, Keillor-Dunn (Jarvis, 65’), Petravicius (Kidd, 84’), Rudden.
UNUSED SUBS (FLK): Mitchell, Todorov, Robson, Waddington.
Partick Thistle travelled to the Falkirk Stadium this afternoon to take on Ray McKinnon’s Bairns in a big away match for the Maryhill Men. The game started ideally for the Jags with Scott McDonald bundling the ball home from five yards after just 10 minutes, however, despite controlling the first half, Thistle ended up going into the break level as Ian McShane struck just before the interval to restore parity.
Both teams pushed for a winner but no one could find an all-important second goal meaning it was honours even at full time in Falkirk. Jags boss, Gary Caldwell, spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the final whistle:
“We totally dominated that game; especially in the first half. The game really should have been over by half time but we let them back into things and then in the second half, we’re the only team trying to win the game.
“I made some attacking changes but we still couldn’t find that cutting edge or that quality. At the end of the day, we gave out our all and had a go which is what we’ll continue to do.”
Having taken the lead through Scott McDonald, Caldwell was disappointed that his side didn’t hold onto their lead as they closed out the first half.
“There was a bit of naivety in our defending at times. We didn’t really show composure when we were clearing the ball and that meant they were coming straight back at us when we got the ball away.
“It was only a five or 10 minute spell just ahead of half time but you can’t afford to let a team come at you like that for any length of time and in the end it cost us the win. At that point we should have been well clear but then suddenly they were back level.”
Nevertheless, the gaffer is looking to take the positives from the day’s game as his Thistle team now begin preparations for a Friday night match against Inverness at the energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
“Considering the performance, it’s very disappointing not to get the win but we have to look at it as a point earned. We can only move on from the match now and look to show a similarly positive attitude against Caley next week but with a touch more ruthlessness at the end of our play.”
To finish, Gary gave us updates on the condition of Christie Elliott and Steven Anderson both of whom missed today’s game through injury.
“For Anderson, he had a concussion. He did some light training yesterday but the doctor said that you need six days to recover for that so he wasn’t able to play today but should be back for Inverness.
“As for Christie, he had an ankle knock and a groin problem which he just didn’t recover from in time. We gave him every chance of making it but he confirmed that he wouldn’t play this morning so that’s why he was out. We hope to have him back for Friday but we’ll have to see how much training he can do.”
A more in depth video interview with Gary Caldwell is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Scott McDonald and Sean McGinty – log in now to see them.
Highlights will be added at midnight and will be free for Jagzone subscribers.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Sat 16 March, 2019
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
Falkirk Stadium
A corner is played to the penalty spot to McDonald but his effort is over the bar.
Thistle break and the ball finds Penrice but his cut back is cleared.
Penrice puts a great ball in and finds McDonald. he nods down butm it bounce up over the bar.
McShane hits the outside of thr post from a knock down.
Falkirk get down the Thistle right and McShane puts the cut bacl under Hazard
A Slater corner is headed just past the post by Saunders,
Slater fires a fierce effort towards goal, The keeper spills but the flag goes up against McDonald.
A good move between Spittal and Cardle before they try to find Mansell. It falls to Penrice at the back post but his shot is over the bar
Mansell tried to get h better of Edjenhuele but can't quite keep th ball in play.
Mansell get down the right and sends a great ball over and Scott MCDONALD bundles the ball over the line.
Cardle cuts inside and fires a shot goalwards but it's easily held.