Premier Sports Cup
Tue 20 July, 2021. Kick Off: - 19:45
Firhill Stadium
Ticket information
Tickets are available for the Jackie Husband Stand and John Lambie Stand.
The Colin Weir Stand will be closed for tonight’s game. The club have been trying to get in touch with a handful of supporters who have purchased tickets for the Colin Weir Stand to provide alternative seating arrangements. If you have a ticket for the Colin Weir Stand, please get in touch with the club.
Tickets for this fixture are priced as follows:
Adults – £12
Concessions – £6
Under 16s – £6
Live Stream
We’ll be providing a livestream of the game which can be watched with a PPV pass, priced at £12. You can buy yours HERE.
Our coverage will begin at 19:15 and will take you through the full 90 minutes of action from Maryhill.
We recommend logging in early to avoid issues.
Looking for information on how to log in? Click HERE for full details.
Audio Commentary
Our JagZoneLIVE show will also be available to listen to with the build-up getting started at 19:15. The commentary team will bring you audio coverage of the full 90 minutes.
JagZone subscribers can listen in by clicking HERE ahead of kick-off.
In-Game Updates
There will be the usual in-depth text commentary available here on ptfc.co.uk
Live updates will also be available on our Twitter page throughout the game.
Match Programme
A match programme has not been produced for this fixture
50/50 Draw
You can enter our digital 50/50 draw by purchasing tickets online.
Tickets cost £1 each to enter.
Entries will close at 8:15pm on Tuesday 20th July 2021
No physical 50/50 tickets will be available to purchase at the stadium. Please ask a member of our team for help if you need assistance to purchase a digital 50/50 ticket within Firhill.
Post-Match
Following the game, we’ll have reaction from the Thistle camp available to watch on JagZone.
There will also be match highlights and a full game replay on JagZone later.
Victory over Stenhousemuir at the weekend earned Partick Thistle their first points of this season’s Premier Sports Cup group stages and the Jags are aiming to add to that with another win against Dumbarton this evening at Firhill. Ian McCall’s side need all three points against the Sons to maintain a serious chance of progression ahead of Sunday’s group stage closer at St. Mirren. Thistle assistant manager Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk before the game:
“We’re looking forward to being back at Firhill for this one but to be fair to Stenhousemuir their pitch wasn’t too bad. It was dry and sticky as I’m sure everybody would’ve seen – we had a couple of players falling over the ball – so it will be good to be home and back onto a bigger pitch.”
Reflecting further on the win at Ochilview, Archie said the management team were pleased by a lot of what they saw in the comeback win.
“We probably created more chances in the first 30 minutes against Dunfermline than we did against Stenhousemuir but we still found some good openings and perhaps just chose the wrong option when we got into the box. We felt that we were in control for the majority of the game and were good value for the win.
“We felt that we needed to change a few things at half-time and it gave us a good opportunity to try some different players in different positions. We wanted to see Kevin Holt play alongside Steven Bell and get Ciaran McKenna to push on down the right-hand side and it seemed to work well for us.”
Scott Tiffoney was another one of those half-time alterations Alan is referring to with the number seven coming on at the break and he set up Zak Rudden’s equaliser to the delight of the manager and his assistants.
“Scott made a great impact when he came on. He gives a real threat with his pace and Stenhousemuir couldn’t live with his quality.
“The Rangers game was Scott’s first involvement with us for 10 days as well so, because he’s missed some time, he maybe needs a couple of games to get up to speed. I think the Stenhousemuir match showed signs that he was making progress in that regard so hopefully he just gets better and better with each fixture.”
Archie finished by giving us an update on squad fitness ahead of this evening’s game.
“For this game we’ll go with a similar squad to the one that played against Stenhousemuir. We’ve got a couple of players nursing minor knocks so there probably will be some tweaks to our starting line-up but we’ll give those guys every chance of playing.”
Exclusive video interviews with Thistle assistant manager Alan Archibald and Kyle Turner are available for JagZone subscribers to watch now – log in to view.
JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for our clash with Stenhousemuir, starting at 7:15pmpm – click here to tune in.
There is also a livestream option available to fans, priced at £12 – click here for more info.
We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of the fixture on JagZone following the game.
Article Copyright © 2021. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
The Premier Sports Cup group stages continued for Partick Thistle with the visit of Dumbarton to Firhill. The Sons came to Maryhill without a point from their first three group matches but were welcoming back a handful of players following isolation periods.
Ian McCall made four changes to the side which beat Stenhousemuir four days prior with the first coming between the sticks as Jamie Sneddon replaced Harry Stone. Mouhamed Niang returned to the side to get his first competitive minutes of the season while Ross MacIver and Scott Tiffoney also came back into the starting line-up with Steven Bell, Ross Docherty and Connor Murray dropping to the bench.
The Jags nearly got off to the perfect start as a defensive mix-up allowed Zak Rudden to tee up Kyle Turner for a pop at goal from 20 yards, however, his left-footed shot was comfortably parried away by Sam Ramsbottom.
Ryan McGeever was the first Dumbarton player to have a sight of goal when he got on the end of Joe McKee’s corner in the 20th minute. The centre-half rose highest among a group of bodies but couldn’t direct his header underneath the bar.
Another Joe McKee corner caused the hosts problems just after the half hour mark as the ball fell the way of Gregor Buchanan in the Jags’ box. Former Morton man Buchanan tried to find the far bottom corner with a left-footed volley but Ross MacIver was perfectly positioned to clear and deny Dumbarton an opener.
Thistle created a chance from a corner kick of their own shortly thereafter as Kyle Turner picked out Kevin Holt. Again, Ramsbottom was on hand to parry but this time the rebound fell to Brian Graham, however, the number nine’s snapshot cleared the crossbar comfortably.
Finally, Thistle would get the breakthrough right on the stroke of half-time. Richard Foster won an important 50-50 on the edge of the centre circle, allowing Ciaran McKenna to get the ball to Kyle Turner on the right flank. Turner then slotted a pass through to Ross MacIver who had some space on the right side of the Dumbarton box and he used that space to pick out Brian Graham with a chipped ball to the back post. Graham simply cushioned the header back across goal into the back of the net to make it three in three games for last season’s top scorer.
And Graham would have his fourth of the season shortly after half-time. Kevin Holt played a ball forward which Graham was able to flick on to half-time substitute Connor Murray. The number 17 controlled, cut inside and then rolled a pass back into Graham’s path. The forward side-footed a low attempt into the bottom corner despite Ramsbottom getting fingertips to it, making it 2-0 to the Maryhill men.
Kevin Holt almost added a third for Ian McCall’s side after 64 minutes when Kyle Turner’s low corner was flicked on at the front post, however, despite beating the goalkeeper, Holt saw his shot cleared off the goal line.
Thistle’s clean sheet was jeopardised late in the day when Jamie Sneddon was forced to use his hands to deal with a Richard Foster backpass. What followed was a ten man Thistle rampart on the goal line as Gregor Buchanan laid the ball off for Eoghan Stokes and it was Sneddon himself who made the block, getting his face in the way of the Dumbarton man’s shot.
The game finished moments later meaning the Jags go to Sunday’s game against St. Mirren with a chance of going into the next round of the Premier Sports Cup. That game is a 15:00 kick-off from the SMiSA Stadium in Paisley.
It was a second win in four days for Partick Thistle as they beat Dumbarton 2-0 at Firhill this evening. The Jags were following up Saturday’s win against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview looking to maintain hopes of Premier Sports Cup progression against a Sons side without a point to their name in the group stages. In the end it was Brian Graham who made the difference, finding the net either side of the half-time break, taking him up to four goals for the season in just his third game. Thistle assistant manager Neil Scally spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the victory:
“It wasn’t a performance that we were absolutely ecstatic about but the main thing was always to get the three points. We didn’t move the ball as quickly as we’d have liked and we gave it away a bit too easily at times but we got more minutes in the players’ legs and got the win so we were satisfied.”
Brian Graham was the man who got the goals for the Firhill side and Neil says the management team are really excited about the potential of Graham and Zak Rudden as a duo.
“It’s been great to see Brian and Zak scoring early in the season. You always want your strikers to be scoring of course and the earlier they get into that habit the better so both of them getting on the scoresheet in these cup matches can only be good for us.
“We’ve got high hopes for the pair of them because we think they could be one of the best striking partnerships in the league if not the best.”
Mouhamed Niang went off with an injury at half-time but Scally says that was a precautionary measure.
“Sena should be fine. We just have to be extra careful at the moment because we’ve got a fairly small squad. It’s no secret that we still want to add a couple of players but for the time being we just don’t want to aggravate any injuries unnecessarily.”
This evening’s was the Jags’ second competitive match with fans back at Firhill and Neil says it makes a world of difference for the players.
“It’s been huge because a lot of the games we played last season, especially early on, they just had the feel and atmosphere of a friendly. Obviously, the boys were doing whatever they could to get in the right mind-set for games but with fans back in that’s taken care of and we’re delighted to see the supporters back here at home in particular.”
Further reaction with Thistle assistant manager Neil Scally is available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of today’s match on JagZone tonight.
Article Copyright © 2021. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Tue 20 July, 2021
Premier Sports Cup 
Firhill Stadium
It's a comfortable 2-0 win for a Thistle side that never hit any great heights in the course of securing the win.
Two goals from Brian Graham, one just before half-time and one just after half-time, proved to be the difference between the two teams.
The free kick is touched to Stokes who sees his shot blocked by Sneddon.
Sneddon handles an overhit Foster pass back and Dumbarton have an indirect free kick deep inside the Thistle box.
We're into added time.
Owens takes the free kick but there's no dream goal as it hits the top of the wall.
Ramsbottom comes out his goal and fouls the advancing Docherty.
A Murray ball in from the left is just too high for MacIver.
Ocholi twist away from his marker on the right and sends over a cross that is just a shade too high for MacIver.
Thistle Man of the Match: Brian Graham
Rudden touches the ball back to Murray at the edge of the box but Murray isn't able to get enough curl on the ball to beat Ramsbottom.
Duthie collects the ball inside the Thistle box and sends a shot wide of Sneddon's goal.
It's a low corner this time from Turner. It finds Holt and he is unlucky to see his effort cleared off the line.
Turner's free kick clips the wall and earns Thistle a corner.
Docherty is tugged to the ground after the corner is cleared and Thistle have a free kick in a dangerous central position
McKee takes the free kick and although he gets the ball beyond the Thistle wall he can't find a way past Sneddon who is well placed to make a comfortable save.
Dumbarton win a free kick close to let hand corner of the Thistle box after a foul from Docherty.
MacIver sends over an excellent cross from the right hand side but Rudden cant get his feet round the ball to provide the finish.
Sneddon does well to tip the ball over the bar after a cross deflects off Docherty.
Thistle double their lead and it is four goals in three games for Brian Graham. Murray gets the ball on the left and touches it inside to Graham whose low shot beats Ramsbottom.
McKenna does well on the right and gets over a cross that Rudden twists his body to reach but can't direct goalwards.
Rudden plays the ball up to the feet of MacIver at the edge of the box but MacIver's shot is blocked by a defender.
A Brian Graham header almost right on the stroke of half-time is enough to give Thistle an advantage that they deserve although they haven't had everything their own way in the first 45 minutes.
Turner forced Ramsbottom into a good stop inside the fiest minute and Holt did likewise with a header from a Turner corner.
Dumbarton though too came close. A Buchanan effort was cleared from the line by Foster and Graham had to clear from inside the Thistle six yard box when a Dumbarton touch would have produced a goal.
Thistle's passing at times has been slack and one goal or not improvement will be needed in the second half.
Right on the stroke of half time Thistle take the lead. MacIver creates the chance with him with an excellent chipped pass to the back post where Graham squeezes a header into the back of the net.
Holt is again able to get on the end of Turner's header but he is under pressure from a defender and his header doesn't threaten the Dumbarton goal.
Graham is on hand to clear the ball from near the Thistle goal line as a dangerous cross into the box isn't dealt with.
Sneddon collects a cross at his front post under a bit of pressure.
It's another dangerous looking corner from Turner but the referee spots a push from Niang and Dumbarton have a free kick.
Turner takes the corner and Holt produces a good stop from Ramsbottom with Graham sending the rebound over the bar.
Thistle have their first corner if the night.
From that corner Dumbarton nearly take the lead with Buchanan's low shot cleared off the line at the right hand post by Foster.
Turner slices an Orsi cross behind his own goal for a Dumbarton corner.
Bannigan and Turner stand over the free kick that follows. It's Turner that takes it and he tries to find the top corner but the ball is a foot or so too high.
MacLean trips Tiffoney as he heads towards the Dumbarton box.
McKenna gets into a good position on the right but can't find Rudden with his low cross.
It's just a bit slack from Thistle at the moment and McKee takes advantage of that slackness but his shot from distance is well wide.
McKee's corner is able to find the head of McGeever but he can't get his head over the ball and his header clears the bar.
Graham can't quite stretch far enough to reach McKenna's cross from the right. The ball falls to Tiffoney but his shot is half blocked by a defender before spinning into the arms of Ramsbottom.
There is a wee buzz every time Tiffoney gets the ball. There is again as he gets the ball near the left hand corner of the Dumbarton box but this time he misjudges his final pass and the ball is cleared.
Tiffoney collects the ball on the left. This time he cuts into the centre of the pitch before sending a shot from outside the box wide of Ramsbottom's left hand post.
Tiffoney accelerates past Lynch down the left hand side but his cross is cleared.
And Thistle are on the front foot from the off as Turner forces Ramsbottom into a good save low to his right.
Thistle kick the game off and are shooting towards the John Lambie Stand in the first half.
Thistle have made four changes ahead of tonigt's Premier Sports Cup match agaist League One rivals from last season, Dumbarton.
As promised Ian McCall is giving both keepers a chance to earn their place in goal for the start of the league season and tonight it is Jamie Sneddon's chance to stake his claim.
The other three changes see Mouhamed Niang, Scott Fiffoney and Ross MacIver start in what looks like a very attack minded Thistle side.
Ross Docherty, Steven Bell and Connor Murray are the three starters from the weekend that will begin this evening with a seat on the substitute bench.
It's a beautiful, if warm, night with increased numbers coming through the turnstyles bringing a further element of normality to proceedings.