SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Fri 31 January, 2020. Kick Off: - 19:05
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Supporter Information:
Prices:
Adults: £20
Concessions (over 65s and students): £15
Juveniles (under 16): £5 *
*supporters under the age of 16 can apply for a free season ticket at the Jackie Husband Stand ticket booth before the game.
Travelling Support
Away fans will be housed in the north end of the Jackie Husband Stand entering the stadium via turnstiles 40 and 41 only.
There is a cash gate for Ayr United supporters and a card payment option will be available at the Jackie Husband Stand ticket booth.
JagZoneLIVE v Ayr United
Our audio commentary service, JagZoneLIVE, will be broadcasting this Friday night as Thistle take on Ayr at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
The build-up to the game with our commentary team will begin at 6:50pm, 15 minutes ahead of kick-off.
To listen to the broadcast, simply log in to your Jagzone account, click on the audio commentary tab and press the play button on the player.
Jagzone LIVE is only available to Jagzone subscribers so sign up here to listen to the show.
Match Programme v Ayr United
Ayr United are the Friday night visitors to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill as January draws to a close.
Our matchday programme for the game will be available for just £3.
Included in the programme will be:
Copies of our matchday programme will be on sale around the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill ahead of kick off.
If you can’t make it along to the game, copies of the programme can be purchased online from our programme supplier, Curtis Sport, here.
PlayerZone v Ayr United
As this match is a evening fixture, there is no PlayerZone after the match.
Half-Time Draw
It will be Alan Morgan performing the half-time draw at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
You can buy your draw tickets from our sellers around the ground ahead of the game.
After a month full of activity at Partick Thistle, it’s almost the end of the winter transfer window. The playing squad has seen a lot of changes over the past few weeks and now it’s time for those changes to pay dividends as Ayr United come to Maryhill. Moved to a Friday night for television, all eyes will be on the home side to see if they can get to winning ways and lift themselves off the bottom of the table, bolstered by their new arrivals. Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally, spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the crucial Championship fixture:
“It’s a huge challenge for us this week but it’s one we have to be up for. They beat us pretty easily last time so we want to see more fight from the players. We know what kind of team we’re going to be up against and we need to be ready to face them head on.”
Having managed to end 2019 in a good vein of form, the Maryhill men are now four games without a win in 2020 and Neil admits that this month has been a disappointing one on the pitch for the team.
“It’s been a poor month for us. We weren’t good enough against Dundee United but losing to them and Celtic are results you can get past; the real disappointment for us was the game at Arbroath last week.
“We didn’t deal with the conditions at all and over the game they absolutely deserved the win. Also, both goals are from set pieces which is very frustrating and something that we’ve done extra work on this week to try to remedy.”
Thistle secured the signing of centre-half, Darren Brownlie, on a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this week from Queen of the South and Scally says that was a deal that the management team were delighted to get over the line.
“It’s good that we’ve been able to get Darren in early because he’s someone who we’ve admired for a while. I think we saw that first hand when we played Queens here; he scored a great goal and defended excellently to make sure they got their clean sheet so he’s a great player to be able to add to the team.”
Brownlie’s arrival brought the number of incomings to seven for January and Neil says he’s not sure if there will be any more to come before the deadline.
“I mean, that could be us done and dusted. It’s possible that there might be one more to come in but it would have to be a good fit because we don’t want to just sign players if we don’t think they can improve the squad.”
With this match against Ayr representing the final game before the window shuts, Scally hopes that the Jags can now start to put some wins together as they head towards the business end of the Championship campaign.
“We’re now at a point where we more or less know what we’ve got to work with for the rest of the season and hopefully that helps us to settle. There’s been a lot of outs and ins over the last few weeks but now we can focus on getting results with this group.
“That being said, we can’t afford to need too much settling time. We need to start picking up points as quickly as possible especially with what happened at Arbroath so that starts with the Ayr game on Friday night.”
The assistant manager then gave us an update on one of the new faces, Zak Rudden, who had to pull out of last week’s starting XI after picking up an injury in the warm-up.
“Zak’s been in with the physio this week and looks like he’s going to be 50-50 for the game. We want him back as soon as possible but we have to be careful that it’s not aggravated and becomes a more long-term issue.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Alex Jones and Thistle assistant manager, Neil Scally, are now available to JagZone subscribers – log in to view.
Jagzone subscribers will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
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 an entertaining clash on Friday night as Thistle hosted Ayr United in front of the BBC Scotland cameras. Thistle took the lead through Brian Graham before a hugely disputed penalty brought Ayr level and that key incident is where Ian McCall started when he spoke to ptfc.co.uk shortly after full time.
“I didn’t think it was a penalty. I’m not saying Alan Forrest dived or anything like that, he’s not that type of player, it just wasn’t a penalty. In that respect we are a bit gutted we didn’t get all three points. I thought we dominated the first half, particularly after the first 15 minutes. We got our goal from Brian and went in at half time. The second half was a bit more even but neither goalkeeper had anything really to do.
“We had a really good chance through Joe Cardle in the first half that we should be looking to score and Dario Zanatta has had a good one in the second half. It’s a point, we’re gutted but it’s a point.”
A number of Thistle’s January signings were influential in proceedings as Thistle put in a positive showing against a side sitting comfortably in the promotion playoffs.
“We’ve got to remember Ayr are sitting in the top four for a reason, they have a number of special players who can turn a game but I thought our players stood up to the test and that most of the new boys did well.
“Darren Brownlie came into the starting line up and did well for his first game and I thought Lee O’Connor was good as well. The ones we’re excited about are Zak Rudden and Brian Graham up front. Zak injured his thigh in the warm up last week but we can’t wait to get them on the pitch together, I think you saw in the 20 odd minutes they had together that there could be a really exciting partnership there.”
Brian Graham netted his second Jags goal in his opening two matches for the club and McCall was pleased with the impact the number nine had on the team.
“He’s a handful and he’s a goalscorer. We had a few decent crosses into the bow which he went and competed for, but at times the defending was good as well. He’s done well so far and we’re hoping that continues into the season.”
Finally, we asked the gaffer if there would be any activity in the last few hours of the transfer window.
“No, there won’t be. Our activity is done.”
A more in depth video interview with Ian McCall is available to Jagzone subscribers now as well as reaction from Brian Graham – log in to view.
Jagzone subscribers will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
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 © 2020. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Fri 31 January, 2020
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
It's a good game on a cold night but a frustrating one for Thistle who may feel they should have had all three points.
Ayr were restricted in terms of chances and their equalising goal came via the penalty spot after an error in the Thistle defence gave Forrest the chance to advance in the box. O'Connor's nudge earning the Ayr player the spot kick.
Thistle had led at the break thanks to Brian Graham's second goal in two Thistle appearances but despite plenty of pressure in the swcond period they too didn't create much directly in front of goal.
Doohan coesm off his line to claim Cole's second corner.
Minimum of 3 minutes additional time to be played.
In the last three games Thistle have scored late goals when the games have been all but lost. Can they get one with the points up for grabs?
A ball into the box is flicked goalwards but Doohan is there to claim.
Good defending from Brownlie gets the ball back to the feet of Fox who clears.
Man of the Match: Joe Cardle
Good work from Barjonas gets him space to deliver a ball into the box but his cross his over hit ad goes beyond Cardle.
A Cole effort goes a long way wide of goal. His shooting boots aren't on tonight it would seem.
A Rudden cross drifts away from Graham and out of play for a goal kick.
And just to underline that point Fox is required to make a good stop to deny McCowan.
It's a very, very open game at the moment. You wpuld be surprised if it finishes at 1-1.
Thistle clear the corner and quckly break. They have men over but the ball just won't fall right for Cole to get a shot on target and Ayr themselves then break.
A Cardle shot is blocked by a defender and spins away for a Thistle throw.
Cardle puts over a cross that Ayr are hard pressed to clear. Cardle ges another chance to cross and this time Zanatta has a chance that he snatches at and sends wide.
Graham does really well to send Zanatta clear down the left but his cross is claimed by Doohan.
Cole tries to curl the ball into the net but it's a poor attempt and Ayr have a goal kick.
Zanatta is fouled close to the Ayr corner flag on the Thistle left.
Crowd: 2,416
There is half a chance for O'Ware as Cole's corner comes over but he can't direct his header on target.
Cardle collects a card as well.
Muirhead escapes with a yellow card.
Tempers flare as Muirhead wrestles Cardle to the groud.
Thistle are caught sleeping as Ayr take a quick throw but Forrest's shot is blocked by a defender.
Forrest takes the penalty himself and calmly tucks the ball past Fox.
O'Connor nudges Forrest to the ground after Ayr break following a misunderstanding in the Thistle defence. .
Penrice delivers an excellent cross from the left that nobody can get a touch to.
We're back underway.
Thistle had to weather some Ayr pressure in the opening period of the game but despite that pressure the visitors were only able to manage one effort at goal that went wide of target.
Thistle got stronger as the hal wore on. Cole came close with a shot from distance and Cardle blazed over the bar when he should have scored before Graham forced the ball home from close range after 32 minutes.
Thistle in front at the break then but with still plenty to do to secure the points.
Graham chasing a ball into the box. He and Doohan collide. Graham wants a penalty but it is a goal kick.
Minimum of one minute additional time to be played.
Thistle appeal for a corner but the referee signals a goal kick as we approach the half-time whistle.
Cole's free kick this time is headed clear.
Thistle win a fee kick deep inside the Ayr half.
Graham picks up a yellow card for something. Unsure precisely what for but Muirhead is down receiving some treatment.
Bell escapes a booking for a foul on Zanatta at the halfway line.
Cole decides it is just too far out for an effort at goal and chips the free kick into the box. It's nodded on for Graham to force home from about a yard out. Two in two games for the new Thistle front man.
Graham is pushed to the ground and Thistle win a free kick about 35 yards from goal.
Muirhead stoops to rach Kelly's corner but he can't keep his header down and it clears the Thistle bar with a bit to spare.
Cardle misses the best chance of the game so far. The bal holds up in the wind when O'Connor's late run allows him to knock the ball goalwards. Graham nudges it back to Cardle who leans back and lashes over the bar when he should hit target at least.
Cole whips the ball in and Doohan can't hold the ball bt is cleared.
Zanatta is fouled just as he is about to take a step into the Ayr box. Jags free kick about a yard from the bye line.
Thistle don't put the free kick into the Ayr box and are forced backwards.
Bell comes through the back of Graham and Thistle have a free kick in from the left touchline.
Kelly's corner is too deep and Thistle break. Zanatta holds the ball up for Cole whose shot from the right edge of the box isn't too far wide of the far post.
Fox's poor clearance puts Thistle under pressure. Forrest gets the chance to shoot towards goal but drags his effort wide.
Cole's corner goes towards the near post where Graham is able to connect but he's under pressure and can get neither power nor direction to his header amd the ball drops wide with no real threat to the Ayr goal.
Cole's corner is cleared. Bannigan nods the ball back towards the Ayr box but the ball is again cleared.
Kelly whips over a dangerous looking cross from the right but Thistle head the ball clear. Ate vey much on the front foot at the moment.
Graham then Brownlie and finally Penrice clear Forrest's corner.
Just the first hint of something promising for Thistle but a Zanatta cross drifts away from Graham at the back post.
The early pressure has come from Ayr down the Thistle left.
Thistle kick the game off and are shooting towards the city end in the first half.
An incredibly busy month of January, a month that has seen no fewer than 8 new recruits, comes to an end with a home fixture against Ayr United.
Six of those January signings are involved tonight. There is a debut for Darren Brownlie and home debuts for Brian Graham and Lee O'Connor while Jamie Barjonas starts his first game at Firhill on the bench.
Shea Gordon returns from injury and he too occupies a place on the bench as does Zac Rudden.