SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 9 December, 2017. Kick Off: - 15:00
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Supporter Information:
Ticket Information:
Admission Prices are as follows
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – £5
A concession is classed as a person under 21 years old, a person aged 65 or older or a student in full time education with a valid matriculation card.
There will be a cash gate in operation at Rugby Park on the day of the match.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 12:20
Station Bar – 12:30
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 13:30
Thornwood Bar – 13:35
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 enquires please contact Iain on 07779668357 or email
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 13:00
Esquire House – 13:20
Maryhill Community Halls – 13:30
Prices:
£12 for adults
£7.50 for concessions.
Saturday sees Alan Archibald take his side to face an in form Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, as the Jags look to get back to winning ways. It was ptfc.co.uk that spoke to Archie before training on Friday to see how preparations were going for an undoubtedly massive game.
“This time of the season has been a good period for the team in recent years but we know it won’t just happen for us, the results won’t simply fall into place – we need to work hard to get there. It will be a tough game on Saturday because their form has really picked up and they’ve obviously taken a bounce from that.”
With eight games in December the games come thick and fast for Thistle in the run up to Christmas and it’s fair to say that the Jags boss knows exactly what is required of his team between now and the end of the year.
“It’s a real crucial part of the season for us now and we all know that. It’s going to be busy but I think the next three or four games are all against teams around us in the league. We want to close the gap and it’s in our own hands to go and do that. We can only control our own performance and we can’t really worry about Kilmarnock’s form whether that be home or away.”
Although Kilmarnock’s home form has not been the best since Steve Clarke took charge their overall record in recent weeks is one of the best in the league. This, however, is not something that will distract Archibald.
“I actually saw them against Hibs and, even though they lost 3-0 which was surprising, they looked very good. They’ve definitely picked up in recent weeks but, as I say, we just need to focus on our own performance and take it from there. There was a lot about the way we played last Saturday that was pleasing even if we were a little bit lacking at times. We need to take those positives and build on them come Saturday.
“The biggest thing for us is being vulnerable and losing poor goals, we’ve definitely missed a bit of solidity this season. I think that comes from having a consistent team and being able to select the same people every week. Our actual performances I don’t think have dipped significantly since we won the couple of games and had a good week but winning is what counts and we need start taking points.
“It’s tight margins in this league and the first goal can be all important. I think you saw the importance of that first goal last week against Hibs, they scored, saw the game out and took all three points. It is a game of inches and most managers could write a book of the small things that have cost them games and points over the years. It’s no different for us and we need to start making sure those narrow margins go for us rather than against us. In that respect the next three or four games are vital.
“We can’t wait on our players coming back for our season to turn. Yes we’ve had injuries but some of them are too far away for us to rely on them getting back and changing our season. We need to focus on those players who are fit and get them working as a unit to win games. We are getting one or two back gradually but there will still be three or four out come January.
“In terms of our squad there isn’t too much change, unfortunately, Stuart Bannigan, Mustapha Dumbuya, Abdul Osman, Christie Elliott and Callum Booth are all still out. Martin Woods was fit enough for the bench last week and will be available again on Saturday which is really the only positive.”
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Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
After a narrow defeat by Hibernian to kick-off a busy December, Partick Thistle returned to action with a trip to Rugby Park. The Jags prepared to face Kilmarnock for the second time this season having already been beaten by the Ayrshire side in Maryhill. Heading into the clash, Thistle sat bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table, four points behind Dundee, Ross County and Kilmarnock after 15 games.
The team was much the same to that which started against Hibernian last week. Tomas Cerny remained between the sticks for Thistle behind a back four of Paul McGinn, Niall Keown, Daniel Devine and Jordan Turnbull – who continues to fill in at left-back. Ryan Edwards and Adam Barton retained the central midfield spots in behind the attacking midfield unit of Steven Lawless, Chris Erskine and Blair Spittal. The team’s only change came up front as Kris Doolan replaced Miles Storey, as the Englishman dropped to the bench.
Killie came out flying at kick-off with Eamonn Brophy going close in the first minute and they would be rewarded for their early pressure when Kris Boyd opened the scoring 11 minutes in. New Kilmarnock number 24, Youssouf Mulumbu drove into the Thistle box, past Turnbull, before delivering a low cross. Niall Keown stooped to head the ball but it ricocheted off Daniel Devine and fell to Boyd who slammed home from close range.
The hosts’ lead didn’t last long though, four minutes to be exact, as Chris Erskine netted a 15th minute leveller. Paul McGinn slotted a short pass into Steven Lawless from the Jags’ right flank and Lawless inadvertently laid the ball into Chris Erskine’s path. The number ten bundled his way into the box only for the ball to sit up in front of him. He the leathered a fantastic strike across goal, into the top corner notching his 52nd Thistle goal.
Unfortunately for the travelling Thistle contingent, Killie retook the lead just as quickly as the Jags found an equaliser with Eamonn Brophy making it 2-1 on 19 minutes. The home side won a free-kick 30 yards from goal and Kris Boyd was stood over it as he looked for a second. The other two players around the ball used a quick pass to set it up for Boyd and the number nine slammed an effort goalward. Tomas Cerny got down to make the save but the ball fell straight to Brophy who tapped home to give his side the lead for the second time.
The visitors came close to another speedy reply when Blair Spittal took a free-kick from 20 yards in the 23rd minute. Chris Erskine ran over the ball and Spittal fired a shot towards the goalkeeper’s side, looking for the bottom corner. His effort was on target but was tipped round the post by Jamie MacDonald.
Alan Archibald’s side had another opportunity to draw level in the 27th minute. Paul McGinn curled an inch-perfect ball into Kris Doolan who ran in on goal as Gordon Greer chased the striker’s shadow. Doolan had the option of Chris Erskine to his left but elected to shoot, however, he screwed his attempt well wide of the mark on his weaker right foot.
Both teams then had half chances leading into the break with Kris Boyd, Ryan Edwards, Eamonn Brophy and Blair Spittal all having sights of goal although none of them could get the fourth goal of the half and the game reached the interval at 2-1. A fairly equal first half, just edged by Kilmarnock. Although Thistle’s defensive frailties were still evident, the Maryhill men looked much improved going forward and had created a couple of really good chances that were passed up.
Thistle began the second half looking hungry and nearly got an equaliser just three minutes after the restart. Chris Erskine was trying to create something on the edge of the Killie area but was tackled. However, the ball fell to his teammate, Ryan Edwards, who let loose with a first time shot. His attempt was well-struck and powerful but rose just above Jamie MacDonald’s goal.
The early second half promise shown by the away side was dashed though when Kilmarnock made it three a minute before the hour mark. A long punt by Jamie MacDonald was poorly dealt with by Daniel Devine and that gave Eamonn Brophy the chance to attack Thistle’s goal. He rifled an effort on target which Tomas Cerny saved but the ball then bounced off Niall Keown and into the net as the ex-Reading met the misfortune of his first own goal in Thistle colours.
The hosts then increased their lead to 4-1 on 65 minutes. A Killie corner flew deep into the Jags’ area. It was then nodded goalward by a Kilmarnock head. The ball seemed destined for the goal but Eamonn Brophy made sure as he flicked it into the goal from no more than two yards out.
At this point, Alan Archibald made his first change of the match as Steven Lawless was replaced by Martin Woods. Archie would go on to bring on Miles Storey for Adam Barton and Conor Sammon for Kris Doolan in the 72nd and 76th minute respectively.
The changes did nothing much for Thistle’s fortunes, however, as the Jags conceded a penalty with twelve regulation minutes remaining. It was Jordan Turnbull who was caught grappling with Kirk Broadfoot and the defender picked up a booking which will see him miss the Jags’ clash with Hamilton on the 23rd of December. Kris Boyd was the man to take the penalty and the veteran goalscorer netted again, slamming the ball past Tomas Cerny from 12 yards.
Thankfully for the away side, that would be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as the game ended 5-1 to Thistle’s Ayrshire adversaries. The Jags are now four games without a win and continue to sit bottom of the league table although they are still only four points off two teams above them.
Alan Archibald and his squad now look towards Wednesday night when they have an immediate opportunity to right the wrongs of this afternoon as Motherwell visit the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill. Kick-off is 19:45 from Maryhill.
THISTLE TEAM: Cerny, McGinn, Keown, Devine, Turnbull, Barton (Storey, 72′), Edwards, Lawless (Woods, 65′), Spittal, Erskine, Doolan (c) (Sammon, 76′).
THISTLE SUBS (N/U): Scully, Nitriansky, Fraser, Nisbet.
KILMARNOCK TEAM: MacDonald, O’Donnell, Broadfoot, Greer, Findlay, Power, Mulumbu (Burke, 59′), Dicker, Jones, Brophy (Taylor, 83′), K. Boyd (c) (Erwin, 81′).
KILMARNOCK SUBS (N/U): Bell, McKenzie, Thomas, S. Boyd.
Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
A chaotic December began for Partick Thistle with last week’s narrow 1-0 defeat by Hibernian. The loss left the Jags four points off eleventh spot; at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table. Thistle returned to action this afternoon with a trip to Rugby Park and unfortunately it was another defeat for the Maryhill men although there was nothing narrow about it. A harrowing 5-1 loss at the hands of Killie represents the Jags’ heaviest pre-split league defeat since the 2013/14 season. Thistle manager, Alan Archibald, spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the game.
To begin, Alan expressed his deep disappointment in his side’s performance as his team slumped to yet another defeat.
“I don’t want to dress the game up. We lost 5-1 to one of our bottom six rivals. We were well in the game at half-time but the defending for the goals was ridiculous and you won’t win any football match defending like that. It doesn’t matter how you play when in possession if you defend like that without it.”
Archie spoke of his anger when the Jags conceded a soft third after a promising start to the second half.
“I thought we began brightly in the second half, bringing the game to them but then we lose another goal and it was probably the most frustrating of the lot. The goalkeeper just punts it up and we don’t deal with it, we look timid, and they capitalised.”
After the Killie third, Thistle fell out of the game, conceding twice more and looking toothless. The gaffer gave us his synopsis of the second 45 minutes.
“I think that we were lacking a leader on the park at that point. Someone who can put that belief back into the team when we concede. Nevertheless, the lads let their standards slip and some of the heads went down during the second half. Anyway, we’ve got Motherwell on Wednesday night and now all focus is on that game.”
Alan also gave us a brief update on the injury situation.
“We might have Abdul Osman back shortly although it’s not up to us. We need to get the all-clear from the surgeon for Abdul which is proving to be frustrating. It’s tough with so many injured players but pointing that out won’t change anything. We have to do our best with the players available and even with some key players missing, we shouldn’t be performing like we did today.”
As Alan mentioned, Motherwell are Thistle’s next opponents as they come to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill on Wednesday night in what will be another important clash. Kick-off is at 19:45 in Maryhill.
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Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Sat 9 December, 2017
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
The match ends 5-1 here at Rugby Park.
The Jags remain four points below eleventh place.
Erwin strikes wide from 25 yards.
Devine heads wide of the far post from a Woods free-kick.
Boyd confidently slams the penalty home.
Turnbull is punished for a foul on Broadfoot.
Boyd sets up Jordan Jones with a clever heel flick but the Northern Irishman curls a shot well over the bar.
Cerny scrambles to collect at the second attempt after saving Jordan Jones' cross-goal effort.
Jones scuffs a shot wide from 20 yards.
The corner finds Broadfoot who heads goalwards. It's going in but Brophy makes sure on the line.
Brophy gets the break of the ball in the box and shoots but he fires it into the ground and Cerny catches.
Spittal's low cross takes a touch off Broadfoot and skips just the far post.
Eamonn Brophy fires a shot on goal. Cerny makes a decent save but it rifles off Niall Keown and goes into the net.
Jordan Turnbull plays a one-two with Chris Erskine, latching onto the return as he enters the box. He scuffs a shot in MacDonald's arms.
Erskine is tackled on the edge of the box and the ball falls back to Edwards who strikes it first time from 25 yards. His shot is well hit but just flies just over the bar.
Kris Doolan gets the second half underway with the Jags now shooting towards the away support.
Jones beat McGinn to get to the by-line where he looks to cut the ball back. It finds Boyd but his touch takes him wide of the posts and a spinning effort hits the side netting.
After some excellent play by Stephen O'Donnell, Kris Boyd sees a shot from 20 yards blocked and it loops up for Tomas Cerny to claim.
Jordan Turnbull's whipped cross goes all the way through to Spittal on the far side of the box. The number seven chests it down and hits the shot but it flies just past the goal.
Boyd hits the half-volley from 25 yards but he gets under it and it soars high over the goal.
Edwards is dispossessed in the midfield under plenty of pressure and Killie break well. Brophy is fed the ball in the Jags' box and shoots l;ow. Cerny makes a good save then the ball is cleared.
A sensational through ball by Paul ,McGinn finds Kris Doolan, in on goal. The number nine shoots, ignoring Erskine's offer, but screws the shot well wide of the target.
Ryan Edwards receives the ball in space and hits it on the bounce. He meets it well but he gets too much on the strike and it sails comfortably over in the end.
Chris Erskine hits a low ball from the corner to Doolan who shoots. His attempt spins up off Turnbull and goes just wide of the near post.
Blair Spittal's low free-kick from 20 yards it tipped round the post by Jamie MacDonald.
A free-kick routine betwewen three Killie men allows Boyd to fire on goal. Cerny saves but it goes straight to Eamonn Brophy who taps home into the net.
A throw-in from the Thistle right comes to Lawless and he taps it on to Erskine. The number ten then wastes no time in leathering the ball home from around 15 yards.
Youssouf Mulumbu ran away from Jordan Turnbull on the Killie right before then hitting a low cross into the middle. Niall Keown got down to head it but it ricocheted back into the danger area and Kris Boyd slammed home from close range.
Devine blocks a Brophy cross from the Killie right.
Stuart Findlay is played into space in the Jags box and he tries to square the ball but he sclaffs it. The ball does fall to Eamonn Brophy but he blazes an attempt over the bar from close range.
Kilmarnock get the game underway as the Jags defend the stand where the travelling Thistle fans are housed.
Hello and welcome to the ptfc.co.uk live text commentary for Partick Thistle's trip to Ayrshire as they take on Kilmarnock.
A narrow 1-0 defeat by Hibernian last Saturday has left the Jags four points behind eleventh place, propping up the Ladbrokes Premiership table. Today's opponents Killie are one of three teams on 15 points, four above Thistle; Ross County and Dundee are the other two.
Thistle are without a win since October, when they beat St. Johnstone, with a defeat to Rangers and the aforementioned Hibernian loss since as well as a draw at Tynecastle Park.
Alan Archibald makes but a single change to last Saturday's line-up. Tomas Cerny starts between the sticks once again, behind a back four of Paul McGinn, Niall Keown, Daniel Devine and Jordan Turnbull who continues to fill in at left-back. Ryan Edwards and Adam Barton sit at the base of the midfield in behind the three-man attacking midfield unit of Blair Spittal, Steven Lawless and Chris Erskine. The one change that was mentioned earlier comes up front as Kris Doolan replaces Miles Storey. Interestingly, today's match will be the first game that Steven Lawless, Chris Erskine and Kris Doolan have all started since the opening day of the league season.
The team's are almost finished their warm-ups and the stands are filling up slowly. We'll have kick-off here in 15 minutes.