Sat 5 December, 2020
SPFL League One 
Firhill Stadium
SPFL League One
Sat 5 December, 2020. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium
In line with Scottish Government guidelines, this match is a closed doors match. It is imperative that all fans support the club and protect the squad by staying away from the stadium and enjoying all content safely from home.
Matchday Coverage:
Live Stream
Season Ticket Holders
For season ticket holders looking to view this weekend’s stream, click here
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Pay-per-view Pass
Any supporter who wishes to watch our League 1 match against Dumbarton can purchase a pay-per-view pass, priced at £10, from https://ppv.ptfcpass.co.uk/events
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Audio Commentary
Audio Commentary will be available for supporters on JagZone.
Starting at 2:30, tune in to hear our commentary team take you through the ninety minutes of action, with thirty minutes of comprehensive build up before the game.
You will be able to access the audio coverage by clicking here on Saturday afternoon.
In Game Coverage
We’ll have our usual in-depth text commentary right here on ptfc.co.uk.
Social Media Updates will also be available through our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Post Match
After the 90 minutes of action we’ll have post match reaction from the Jags camp on JagZone. A full game replay and comprehensive highlights package will also follow on JagZone.
Match Programme
Match programmes are available to purchase online through our programme production partner Curtis Sport.
Click here to purchase the match programme for this fixture or sign up to a season long subscription.
Half Time 50/50 draw
Our 50/50 draw will be conducted at half time during Saturday’s match. Tickets are available to purchase until 3:30 on Saturday afternoon.
Click here to purchase 50/50 tickets
During this unique but exciting season we are looking forward to bringing you extensive matchday coverage throughout the campaign. Due to the current exceptional circumstances, our coverage may change or be impacted if a member of our media team is required to self-isolate at short notice. We thank you for your understanding and patience around this situation.
After back-to-back league wins against East Fife and Montrose, Partick Thistle are looking to make it three on the bounce when Dumbarton come to Maryhill this weekend. The Jags enter December four points off league leaders Falkirk and three points above the visiting Sons who occupy sixth position. Thistle boss Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the contest:
“We were really pleased to win last weekend. It was one where we had chances to make it more comfortable but we didn’t take them and then at the end they were putting us under some pressure but we withstood it well and got a good three points.
“We’re on a decent run at the moment. The wins have been crucial but we need to keep that up and if we can go and make it four or five wins then it will be a great run so that’s the aim for us. All the players are focused on this Saturday’s game which will be another tough one.”
The gaffer gave a special mention to the defence who more than played their part in the recent run of clean sheets.
“The defence have done brilliantly the last few games. Sena has done really well and I think Richard Foster has been great at left-back so far but it’s not ideal by any means. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing for the next three or four games until we start getting some of those injured guys back. They won’t necessarily come straight into the team but it will make the squad a lot stronger once they’re available again.”
Thistle’s go-to man for goals so far this season has been Brian Graham with the number nine netting four times in five league games this term but Ian has been particularly impressed by his all-round game alongside finding the back of the net.
“Brian was a bit down on himself on Saturday because he didn’t feel like he played that well but even when he isn’t having his best game he’s still doing a huge amount of work for the team in terms of defending our box from set pieces and pressing up front so he has a big influence on the game no matter what.
“He’s someone who always wants to win and that’s what we need. I said that when I got him here, and his mentality is great for the team.”
McCall ended by giving us an update on the squad’s injury list and when we should expect to see a few players making a return to the squad.
“There won’t be anyone coming back into the squad this weekend unfortunately. We hope that in the next few weeks we’ll see two or three guys back in training and if they can get a few days of training then they may be able to make the bench but certainly this week none of those guys will be back.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Thistle assistant manager Neil Scally and Connor Murray will be available today for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for this weekend’s clash with Dumbarton – click here to tune in.
There will also be a pay-per-view option, priced at £10, for non-season ticket holders who wish to watch our live stream of the match – click here for more info.
We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of our clash with Dumbarton on JagZone this Saturday evening.
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.
Partick Thistle returned to Firhill on the back of claiming all three points in a dogged performance against Montrose last weekend. Returning to the Maryhill grass, the Jags looked to add another three points to their tally and extend their undefeated record at Firhill.
Thistle’s intent to attack was evident right from the start of the game with a Joe Cardle free kick causing problems inside the Sons box within the opening five minutes. The visitors were able to scramble the ball away but from the second phase of play, a tantalising cross was just out of the reach of Docherty who would have found the net if he had got the slightest touch on the ball.
Thistle continued to push forward, with heavy play coming down the flanks. Ryan Williamson galloped down the right hand side, speeding away from Quitongo before drilling a low cross along the six yard line. With Thistle bodies in the box, disappointing it evaded a red and yellow shirt as Dumbarton cleared to the feet of Cardle 20 yards out. The Jags number seven sent a low shot narrowly wide of the post.
Ross Forbes, a former Jag of course, had a speculative effort from distance inside the opening 15 minutes, which failed to trouble Kieran Wright in the Thistle goal.
It wasn’t long until Thistle were back on the front foot with Brian Graham at the heart of the action. His crossfield pass saw Ryan Williamson released on the right hand side but his low crossed was cleared by the resolute Dumbarton defence. Graham rescued the loose ball by edging to Joe Cardle who crossed for the striker. Unfortunately the contact wasn’t clean, and with the rushing Stuart Bannigan behind the Jags number nine, the danger was cleared.
James Penrice was next to have an attempt as Thistle surged forward. Clever passing around the box saw Richard Foster picked out on the left hand side. A low cross was met by James Penrice who fired inches past the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
The big chance of the half arrived with five minutes remaining on the clock. Good play from Foster and Graham saw the Jags number 22 fire an effort on goal. The ball was deemed to strike the arm of Carswell and the referee gave a penalty. For the third home League One game in a row, Brian Graham stepped up to take but his powerful effort was beaten away by the goalkeeper with the striker unable to guide the rebound into the back of the unguarded net.
Thistle continued the second half in attacking fashion, pouring forward looking for the opening goal of the game. James Penrice fired an early free kick high over the bar before Darren Brownlie steered a Joe Cardle free kick wide of target.
Thistle were inches away from opening the scoring from a corner. Cardle was able to pick out Brian Graham who saw a header hit the inside of the back post and bounce away from the target. It was the closest Thistle had arrived to opening the scoring.
A stubborn visiting rearguard was bending and holding Thistle’s attacking forces at bay. Shea Gordon, on as a substitute, saw a powerful drive beaten away with a number of defensive blocks smothering attacks on a frequently annoying basis from a Jags perspective.
As the game entered the final stages, Thistle committed more men forward in seek of the previous three points but continued to be denied. They did have the ball in the back of the net when Graham steered home from a deflected cross, but the assistant referee flagged for offside. Richard Foster saw a goalbound fizzer blocked at the last minute, before Brian Graham was denied by a terrific save in stoppage time having met a Joe Cardle cross. There would be one last chance as Mouhamed Niang met a corner at the near post, bulleting a header towards goal only to find the wrong side of the net. Niang’s chance would be the last of the game as the referee’s shrill whistle blew to signal a goalless draw in Maryhill.
Partick Thistle were held to a goalless draw today at home to Dumbarton. The Jags managed 22 shots on the visitors’ goal but couldn’t convert any of their chances with the points shared at full-time. The draw lifts the Maryhill men into third in League One but will feel like a real chance missed in a game they dominated. Thistle boss Ian McCall spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the final whistle:
“Today should have been a day where I come away and talk about how we scored a number of goals. Since I have been back at Firhill, that’s the best we have played football wise, but we just couldn’t score today.”
“Shea Gordon and Connor Murray both had chances to score but it just didn’t happen for them. Docherty, Penrice and Cardle also had opportunities but for whatever reason we didn’t stick any of them away. We had a real off day in front of goal and Brian Graham is sitting there gutted that he never scored the penalty, but as I have told the boys, you win and lose as a team.”
The gaffer reflected on his side’s performance, taking some positives from how they defended and used the ball in the middle of the park.
“We have moved up a place in the league and kept another clean sheet. If we can continue to play like we have, keeping clean sheets and dominating the ball then we will have no worries.”
“I have not had many one-sided games like that in my career, the number of times we got to the by-line today and put in dangerous crosses was tremendous. As I have said, there are positives in the game, but it is certainly two points dropped.”
“The back line was excellent once again. We had a number of players that did very well so that was good to see. The centre-halves have been fantastic and they were again today. There wasn’t too much for them to do but whenever they had to go and win a tackle or a header I thought they were superb.”
Ian McCall also gave an injury update with some positive news for the upcoming weeks.
“We still have eight or nine out but the next time we play at home I’m hoping we have three or four of the players back. With some of the performances the starting eleven have put in over the last few weeks, they won’t be walking straight back into the team but they will certainly give us more options within the matchday squad”
A further reaction interview with Thistle gaffer Ian McCall and Richard Foster will be 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 this evening.
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.
It's an afternoon of high frustration for Thistle who dominate from start to finish but can't find a single goal.
Brian Graham misses a first half penalty, spurns a great chance from the rebound, hits the post in the second half and in injury time is denied by a great save from Dabrowski.
For all Thistle's dominance though they didn't work the aforementioned Dabrowski anywhere near enough.
Niang has a chance but his header goes wide.
There is more time and Dabrowski makes a great save to deny Graham.
Foster's cross goes out for a goal kick and that looks as if that will be it for the afternoon.
Graham spins on a cross from the right but his shot is over the bar.
The corner is headed away from Graham.
Foster's shot is blocked.
The 90 minutes have come and gone. Into injury time.
Cardle's corner goes all the way across goal and out for a goal kick.
Dumbarton clear the corner but Bannigan is fouled as the ball is cleared and Thistle have a free kick wide on the left.
Gordon glances a header wide of goal.
Cardle slips the ball through to Gordon but he sees his shot blocked by Carswell.
Dabrowski punches Williamson's cross when he should catch it but Thistle are unable to profit from that error.
As time start to run out so Thistle's frustration grows.
Lyons' cross after collecting a Foster pass is cleared.
The pressure is mounting.
Graham has the ball in the net after gathering a Lyons pass but the flag is up for offside.
Dabrowski saves Gordon's shot.
Cardle lets fly from 30 yards out that Dabrowski is glad to see coming straight at him. Even then he needs two attempts to complete a save.
Cardle's cross finds Graham in space inside the box. He takes a touch before sending a shot wide of goal.
Williamson does well on the right and he picks out Cardle who sends a shot high over the bar.
It's a good corner from Cardle that goes deep to the back post but there is nobody there able to force the ball towards the Dumbarton goal.
It's a short corner this time that is worked into the path of Penrice who shoots from 20 yards out but his shot is straight at Dabrowski.
Good defending by Foster who chests Wedderburn's cross back to |Wright.
Graham is able to flick Cardle's corner towards goal and the ball comes off the base of the far post.
Cardle flights the free kick deep into the Dumbarton box but the ball hits off Brownlie and goes out for a goal kick.
Thistle win another free kick in a dangerous position. This time on the right hand side.
Penrice takes a free kick from close to 30 yards out after a foul on Murray but his effort is both high and wide of target.
Thistle have been in total control of this game and in terms of possession alone should be a couple of goals ahead. The reality though is that they haven't worked the Dumbarton directly enough.
The only effort on target was Brian Graham's penalty, awarded for a hotly contested handball decision, that Dabrowski guessed correctly and saved to his right. Even then Thistle should have scored. The ball broke back straight to Graham who fired over the bar when it looked easier to score.
Forbes' corner is headed on and looks to be dropping behind for a goal kick but despite everyone stopping the ball doesn't go out and Dumbarton pick it up and cross flies across the face of the Thistle goal.
Graham's penalty is saved by Dabtowski. The ball comes right back to him but with the goal gapping he sends the ball over the bar. A bad, bad miss.
Foster's shot is blocked by the hand of Carswell.
Thistle players are reluctant to shoot for some reason in and around the edge of the Dumbarton box. Docherty does eventually try and drill a low shot towards the Dumbarton goal but it is blocked with Graham unable to gather the loose ball.
Another big opportunity for Thistle. Cardle's corner finds Brownlie but his header is off target. Thistle really should be in front in this game.
Furious Thistle appeals for a penalty as Murray hits the deck under the attention of a Dumbarton defender just as he sends a shot from a Williamson cut back over the crossbar.
That's the closest Thistle have been to a goal. Foster cuts the ball back into the path of Penrice but his effort goes wide of the keeper's left hand post when any effort on target would surely have produced a goal.
Graham collects the ball at the corner of the box. He turns and finds a spot of space but he doesn't trouble Dabrowski with his shot.
Docherty clips through a great pass to find Graham inside the box but the Thistle striker had just strayed offside.
Forbes collects the ball for Dumbarton outside the Thistle box. We know how deadly he can be in these positions but this time his shot is high and wide of target.
Thistle look, in hope rather than anticipation, for a penalty as Murray goes to ground as he tries to collect a pass inside the Dumbarton box.
Williamson skips past Quitongo and drills in a low cross that Dumbarton are lucky to clear. Cardle picks up the ball at the edge of the box but his shot is wide of target.
Thistle pick the ball again and it is once more picked up by Cardle wide on the left. This time Dabrowski gets a hand to his cross to divert it away from a lurking Docherty.
Cardle's free kick is cleared but Bannigan picks up the ball and he plays it back out wide to Cardle whose cross is cleared.
Murray is fouled near the left touchline and Thistle will have a chance to test the Dumbarton defence for the first time.
Dumbarton kick the game off. Thistle will be shooting towards the John Lambie Stand in the first half.
Given the lengthy injury list there is little surprise that Thistle are unchanged as they aim to record a third successive win.
Dumbarton are the opposition this afternoon and they include ex Jag Ross Forbes, part of our title winning squad of season 2012-2013, in their starting line-up.