SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Sat 27 April, 2019. Kick Off: - 15:00
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Fixture Information:
Admission Details:
This fixture is a GENERAL ADMISSION fixture
HOME ticket prices:
Spectators looking to use the Jackie Husband stand will require to purchase a ticket from the portable ticket office next to the Jackie Husband reception.
Cash gates in operation for the John Lambie and Colin Weir Stands.
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – FREE
A concession is qualified as a person between 17 and 18, over 65* or a student with a valid matriculation card.
AWAY ticket prices:
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – £5
*Please note that bus passes are not a valid proof of ID for 65+ concession. Valid forms of ID for 65+ concession are: standard UK Driver’s license, passport, Birth certificate, VALIDATE UK proof of age card, NUS card, National ID card.
It’s a second outing against Ayr United in four days as the Jags continue to secure their position in the league for next season. A vital 1-0 win saw Thistle move up to sixth on Tuesday night and three more points could put relegation out of the picture entirely depending on what goes on elsewhere.
Despite the positives though, the message from the manager’s office is clear – things aren’t done yet. Thistle boss, Gary Caldwell sat down with ptfc.co.uk shortly after training on Friday to look forward to another massive game at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
“There is still a lot of hard work to do. we want to continue the run of form that we are on and we want to continue winning games right up until the end of the season. At the end of the season we’ll assess where we are in the league and look at the positives and the negatives from the season overall. It’s then vital that we take those into the planning for next season.”
With three games in the space of a week recovery will obviously be all important if the Jags are to take nine points from nine. While fitness is often an issue for teams at this stage of the season, Caldwell has no concerns.
“The players are refreshed and ready to go again. They recovered well after Tuesday night. The boys that played came in for a bit of light recovery on Thursday and those who didn’t worked a little bit harder. We were back at it on Friday and putting the usual hard work in to ensure we are ready to go when we come up against Ayr on Saturday.
“We are in the position now where we have a squad that we can rotate and make sure that everyone who starts a game is 100% fit and ready to do the job and give everything for the team. Our staff have a massive role to play at this stage of the season as well and it’s probably when we rely on them the most. They do everything for the player to make sure they can focus on their performance and nothing else.”
A rousing away support played no small part in Tuesday night’s victory and the Partick Thistle manager is certainly impressed with what he has seen since joining the Club in October. That being said, Caldwell is calling on Jags fans for one last push.
“It’s been excellent and since the turn of the year we have showed what a good team we really can be. Tuesday night was a high point for me though with the energy and passion from the supporters. The players and I felt a real connection with the supporters. I think that came as a result of them seeing a team that was passionate and hungry to do well and that was ready to do whatever it took to get the result over the line.
“We’d love them to come out in huge numbers again on Saturday and hopefully we’ll give them a performance to match.”
There was one noticeable casualty from Tuesday night’s victory with Scott McDonald being forced off the pitch with a nasty looking head knock in the lead up to the winning goal. There was some concern at the time for the prolific number 10 but Caldwell moved to allay those fears even if the recovery won’t come in time for Saturday.
“He is recovering but it was a bad one and he won’t be fit for Saturday. It was a serious head knock and we had to get him off for his own safety. He’s been back in the gym but you can’t take any risks with head injuries so we’ll just need to keep assessing him as the days go by. Other than that we’ve not picked up any other knocks which is really good news.”
A more detailed discussion with Thistle manager, Gary Caldwell, as well as a preview interview with Blair Spittal and Gary Harkins is available to Jagzone subscribers – log in now to see them.
Jagzone members will also be able to watch extended highlights and a full match replay of the game.
Can’t make it to The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill? 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.
Partick Thistle missed a chance to secure their place in next season’s Ladbrokes Championship as they were beaten at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill by Ayr United.
Things had looked good for the Jags when Shea Gordon put them 1-0 up early on but goals from Liam Smith and Aaron Muirhead on either side of the halftime break saw the Honest Men claim a comeback victory in Maryhill.
The result means that, although Thistle are now safe from automatic relegation, they go to Queen of the South next Saturday with ninth place still a possibility. Jags boss, Gary Caldwell spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the final whistle, beginning by discussing the 90 minutes overall.
“We started the game well and got in front early on but then suddenly, as a team, we decided not to play. We didn’t run, we didn’t do simple things and I told the players after the match, when you do that you’re going to lose.
“We have a week now to learn from today. We have to take responsibility as football players and prepare for what is a massive game. I’ve been involved in those last game of the season battles before and it’s tough so we’ll regroup on Monday and prepare those players for the game.”
Reflecting on what was a performance which fell well below the standards set in recent weeks, the gaffer struggled to pinpoint exactly what went wrong.
“I don’t really have words to describe that performance right now. It’s a really tough one to take because there was nothing Ayr did tactically that broke us down but we stepped back and let them into it and when you do that, it gives the opposition control.
“Again, we just have to dust ourselves down and learn from the game because we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas in any way at Palmerston next week.”
The Jags survival remains in their own hands which is one of the only positives to take from a dismal Saturday afternoon.
“That’s the only pleasing thing to come out of today. We’ve said for weeks that we will judge ourselves come the final whistle of the final game of the season and as things stand, we still have control of where we’ll be come that time.
“There’s a disappointment today, of course, but in football you have to bounce back and show resilience so we’ll be prepared for a big match next Saturday.”
A more in depth video interview with Gary Caldwell is available now to Jagzone subscribers as well as reaction from Jamie Sneddon and Christie Elliott – log in now to see them.
Highlights will be added shortly 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 27 April, 2019
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
It's going to go down to the wire as Thistle despite taking an early lead go down to a 2-1 defeat.
Going into the final round of fixtures results elsewhere mean that a point or better at Palmerston against Queen of the South will keep Thistle in the Championship for next seasson.
If Thistle lose to Queen of the South they will remain in the Championship only if Alloa fail to win at Ayr United.
Falkirk's defeat today means we can now not finish 10th.
Elliott's cross finds Mansell at the back post but Doohan is able to save.
Moffat's shot is saved by Sneddon.
Doohan clears from outside his box.
Ayr win a free kick just inside the Thistle half.
90 minutes have come and gone.
The free kick finds McGinty who tries to side foot the ball back towards goal but knocks it out of play.
Thistle free kick inside the Ayr half.
The corner is headed clear.
Fitzpatrick has his heels clipped and Thistle have a free kick near the left corner of the Ayr box.
There is a halt in play for Ayr's Geggan to receive treatment.
Mansell's header fron Bannigan's cross comes off the base of the post.
Time is starting to tun out on Thistle who still haven't created a chance of note in the second half.
The ball just won't stick at the feet of Doolan as Spittal's cross comes his way.
Miller's effort goes wide of Sneddon's left hand post.
Gordon is lucky to escape a booking for a foul on Geggan but it is an Ayr free kick deep inside the thistle half.
With Inverness now leading Alloa even a point for Thistle could make a huge difference but there is no sign of a Thistle equaliser at the moment.
Mansell does well to hild the ball up drawing a foul earning Thistle a free kick. He's some way from goal though and Thistle make nothing of the free kick.
Fitzpatrick lays the ball back to Doolan who can't get enough power in his shot to get it beyond Doohan.
Thistle are making no impact on an Ayr side that are in complete control at the moment.
Penrice's cross from the left is too high for Doolan. The ball falls into the path of Elliott but he can't keep his shot from a bouncing ball down and it goes over the bar.
Moffat's flick from McDaid's corner goes wide.
Spittal's low shot is wide of the post.
Sneddon saves low down from McCowan as Ayr threaten a thir4d goal.
Former Thistle player Aaron Muirhead escapes his marker at the corner, given away cheaply, and his effort flies past Sneddon and into the net.
Ayr are a whisker away from the lead but Sneddon is able to claw away a header from almost right on his goal line.
Spittal's free kick after a foul on Cardle is too high for McGinty at the back post.
Storey tries to flick Spittal's low cross towards goal but he can't make the right connection with the ball.
Thistle have been unable to build upon the early lead provided by Shea Gordon's 8th minute header.
The equaliser when it arrived after 29 minutes was not undeserved and Ayr could easily have gone in front and would have done so had Elliott not cleared McDaid's effort off the line.
In the last action of the half Spittal gets into space on the right but his cross is marginally behind Cardle who can't direct the ball towards goal.
Penrice's corner is cleared and although Spittal then gathers the ball his pass back to Penrice is over hit.
Storey is unable to take advantage when the ball spins into his path at the edge of the box and in his frustration to win the ball back concedes a free kick.
Elliott makes a tremendous challenge to deny Murdoch. Ayr are firmly on top at the moment.
Spittal's corner is aimed towards the back post and McGinty. mcGinty does win the header but it is a tame effort and drops wide of goal.
Ayr have a free kick wide on the left. Mcdaid takes it but Thistle clear easily.
Ayr sweep forward and Moffat squares to McDaid whose effort is cleared off the line by Elliott.
Bannigan nearly finds Spittal with a pass inside the Ayr box but a defender clears.
It's back level as Ayr net an not undeserved equaliser. Crawford crosses from the left and Smith applies the finish from close range.
Spittal tries to find Anderson with the free kick but Rose heads clear. Thistle return the ball back towards the Ayr goal and McGinty sends a shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Muirhead fouls Storey and Thistle have a free kick about 35 yards from the Ayr goal.
Penrice takes the corner it's a Thistle head that reaches the ball but Harkins header, while under pressure, goes over the bar. Thistle appeal for a second corner but the game restarts with a goal kick.
McCowan lifts a dangerous ball over the face of the Thistle goal but there is no team mate there to apply the finish that is required.
Thistle struggle to clear their lines before Elliott eventually thumps the ball up to the half way line.
Thistle are close to a second goal. A quickly taken throw finds Cardle inside the box. He pulls the ball back to Storey whose shot ripples the outside of the Ayr net.
Moffat finds a bit of space inside the Thistle box but his low shot doesn't pose Sneddon too many problems.
The early goal that Thistle wanted. Storey does the initial work bringing the ball down inside the box. He plays the ball out to Penrice on the left and his cross is perfect for Gordon to head home.
Anderson comes forward for Thistle but his cross is poor and goes over the bar for a goal kick.
Sneddon in the heart of the action this time. McDaid's pass finds McCowan and it takes a fine stop from the Thistle keeper to keep the score at 0-0.
Nearly a dream start for Thistle. Storey's pace gets him away from the two ayr centre backs but his shot is saved by Doohan with the rebound coming off Storey and out for a goal kick.
Thistle are shooting towards the John Lambie stand in the first half.
The sun is shining, the Firhill pitch is in magnificent condition and the scene is set with Thistle clear of what is required.
A Jags win and Thistle will secure Championship football next season. Anything less and we face a tension filled afternoon next Saturday.
After defeating the same opposition on Tuesday night Gary Caldwell makes two changes to his starting eleven.
Scott McDonald's head knock keeps him out of the side today while Aidan Fitzpatrick drops to the bench.
Coming in to replace that duo are Blair Spittal and Miles Storey both substitutes at Somerset in midweek.
Half an eye will kept on events elsewhere but it is what Thistle do this afternoon that is of greatest importance.