SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Fri 9 August, 2019. Kick Off: - 19:05
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Admission:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – £5
JagZoneLIVE v Dundee United
JagZoneLIVE will be broadcasting this Friday night from the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill bringing you full audio coverage of Partick Thistle’s Ladbrokes Championship clash with Dundee United.
Our commentary team will go live at 6:50pm for some build-up ahead of the 7:05 kick-off when the Jags will be looking to kickstart their league season following a disappointing opening day at Alloa.
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.
Matchday Programme Against Dundee United
Tonight, we host Dundee United in what is Partick Thistle’s first home game of the 2019/20 league season.
Last time the Tangerines were in Maryhill, it was Aidan Fitzpatrick’s 90th minute goal which separated the sides and Thistle will undoubtedly be hoping for more of the same as they search for their first win of the Championship campaign.
Our matchday programme for this evening’s fixture is our first full-size 48-pager of this term, available for just £3.
Included in the programme will be:
Copies of our matchday programme will be on sale for just £3 around the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill ahead of kick off tonight.
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.
Aitken Suite
The Aitken Suite will be open at 5pm this evening ahead of the 7:05 kick-off and will re-open after the game until midnight.
The suite is located in the Colin Weir Stand and you can enter from Firhill Road.
Partick Thistle are back in action this evening as the Jags get their first taste of Friday night football this season. Dundee United are the visitors and, as the bookies’ early title favourites, look to build on a convincing opening day victory over Inverness at Tannadice. For the hosts, they’ll be looking for a much improved performance from their first Championship game of the term which saw them draw 1-1 with Peter Grant’s Alloa. Tonight’s game will be a good early test of the Jags’ abilities against one of the division’s best sides. Thistle boss, Gary Caldwell, spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the game:
“It’s a massive game for both teams. This league is unique in that there are no matches you look at as easy games with last Saturday’s one at Alloa being a prime example of that, but ultimately it’s important that you beat the teams around you when you’re pushing for promotion.
“At the moment, Dundee United are the benchmark. They’ve spent heavily in the last two windows and I think they’re the team with a target on their back. It’s going to be a very difficult challenge but it’s one we believe we can win.”
Caldwell then looked at United’s on-field style and what he feels they’ll try to do come kick-off.
“I think they’ll be aggressive in terms of how they play and get the ball forward. Last Saturday they were trying to feed Lawrence Shankland as much as possible and it worked for them so we’ll have to be on our game defensively and deny them the opportunity to give him quality service.”
The game is live on the television this evening and Gary is looking forward to the occasion as his side look for their first win of the new league season.
“It should be a good atmosphere. You always like playing at home in front of your own fans and as I’ve spoken about, against Dundee United; it’s an important game. We were really disappointed with the performance last Saturday but now the players are focused on the United game and improving our levels.”
After playing on the artificial surface at the Indodrill Stadium last week, the gaffer is pleased to be back on the excellent grass at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
“We don’t use the surface as an excuse because our performance wasn’t good enough last Saturday but we are still looking forward to being back on the grass. It’s easier to play passes on the grass surface and that’ll help us to impose our style on the game.”
There has been plenty of paper talk surrounding the club this week but the manager says that keeping the squad focused on footballing matters has been very easy.
“The players are very professional and they’ve been more focused on improving their performance from last weekend than anything else. We got together on Monday and looked over the game with the players and you could tell they were angry with themselves. That has manifested in the form of a raised intensity in training and I feel like we’re now in a really good place ahead of the match.”
A more in-depth video interview with Thistle manager, Gary Caldwell, is available to watch on JagZone now as well interviews with Sean McGinty and Jamie Sneddon.
Jagzone members will also be able to watch extended highlights 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 18:50 tomorrow.
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 played their first home game of the league season this evening as Dundee United visited Maryhill. The Jags managed a 2-1 win over the Tangerines back in March but unfortunately the result was reversed this time round. The hosts had taken the lead through Steven Saunders’ header but goals in the second half from Lawrence Shankland and Peter Pawlett turned the fixture on its head, earning the travelling Terrors all three points. After the game, Gary Caldwell spoke to ptfc.co.uk about what was an ultimately disappointing result:
“We did well in the first half but let it slip after half-time and you can’t do that against a team like United. We lacked some bravery and composure at times which was a step back from the first half and we were made to pay the price.”
The gaffer wasn’t happy with the nature of the goals conceded with both coming as a consequence of Lawrence Shankland getting too much space.
“It’s something we worked on during the week; making sure we marked Shankland and in the key moments we didn’t do it properly. It’s not rocket science, he’s a big danger in the box we let him find the space. His goal was a bit fortuitous with the way he hit it but we have to look at the way we defended the cross and improve.”
It was particularly frustrating for Caldwell to see his team take the lead but then be unable to take anything from the match.
“When we’ve played as well as we did first half, causing them some real problems and taking the lead, the game is there for us to take. We needed to manage the game and continue on the front foot but instead we were inviting pressure and letting the ball into box which is always going to lead to goals.
“In that first half we had spells when we were really good with the ball. We were winning the ball in good areas and the game plan was working so I definitely saw an improvement on last week’s game but there’s still plenty of work to be done.”
The gaffer was complimentary of summer signing, Alex Jones, who started his first game for the club today and impressed during his time on the pitch.
“I thought Alex really showed his quality today. The first touch he has and the positional awareness are great assets to have in a striker. He ran out of steam a bit in the second half but he’s still playing catch-up in terms of fitness levels and hopefully there’s plenty more to come from him.”
Gary finished by looking ahead to next week’s Betfred Cup tie against Ross County.
“It’s a cup game which gives us a chance of reaching a quarter-final which is always exciting but we have to treat it as a normal game. We’ll dust ourselves down after tonight, get back in on Monday and then focus on improving on the performance once again.”
A more in depth video interview with Gary Caldwell is available to Jagzone subscribers now and reaction from Alex Jones and Steven Saunders will be online shortly.
Highlights will also be available to view later 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
Fri 9 August, 2019
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
United's second half comeback which produces two goals earns them a win that on balance they merited despite Thistle leading at the interval.
United as you can imagine are in no hurry to take the throw. Althoufgh Thistle do win a throw of their own the ball is still down by that corner flag.
The ball is out for a United throw down beside the Thistle corner flag.
Minimum of 3 minutes additional time to be played.
Neither Cardle or Miller can gather the ball cleanly inside the United box.
McMullan plays a forward pass to Pawlett whose shot goes wide. Time is running out on Thistle.
When Thistle need a touch of quality Mansell delivers a poor ball into the United box.
Cardle has to track back to match Robson's run and although he prevents Robson from advancing United win a throw deep inside the Thistle half.
Connolly holds off Mansell as he attempts to gather a De Vita pass.
Cardle and Williamson combine down the right with the latter's cross just a little too high for Mansell.
Pawletrt hasn't been on long but he is the man to put United in front when he forces hone Robson's cross from close range. Itr's no less than United deserve on the second hgalf showing.
McGinty makes a great block when he gets across to prevent a McMullan shot from at the very least testing Sneddon in the Thistle goal.
Cardle is penalised for handball and United have a free kick on the left touchline. They work it wide and Thistle are under pressure until Gordon and then McGinty clear. .
McMullan's pace gets him clear of Penrice and again he can't find any takers for his inviting cross.
More encouraging signs for Thistle as Gordon glances a Bannigan cross wide of Siergrist's goal.
Thistle are nearly back in front. Robson has to move the BBC pitchside microphone before taking the corner that is met by the head of McGinty who is denied a very first Thistle goal by a fine Siegrist save.
Only a corner as United miss a great chance to take the lead. Connolly heading across goal for Appere who can't force the ball home.
United in total control at the moment.
McMullan has been at the centre of most things for United and he is the creator of the United equaliser. His cross finds Shankland who has a little too much space and his shot beats the despairing dive of Sneddon.
The corner is easily cleared and Thistle try and break but can get no further than the halfway line. United do have Thistle hemmed in a bit at the moment.
Mcmullan puts over a dangerous cross from the right that no United player can get close enough to apply a touch to.
United are dominating possession at the start of ther second half and they nearly profit from some poor defending as the ball is laid across the Thistle 6 yard box before Williamson steps in to clear.
Saunders does well to hold off Shankland at the edge of the Thistle box but the United striker is penalised for a foul in any case.
Steve Saunders close range effort after some tremendous lead up play from Palmer after 22 minutes is enough to see Thistle take a narrow lead into the dressing room at the end of an entertaining first half on slick Firhill surface.
Penrice again denies McMullan a chance to cross. Fromj his well timed tackle Thistle break but Jones' pass for Robson is over hit and any opportunity is lost.
Excellent defending from Penrice prevents McMullan getting his cross over from the United right.
Thistle aren't too far away from a second. Siegrist gets a hand to a Jones shot and the ball is whipped away from Robson before he can apply the finish.
A Robson cross from thge left is overhit and goes out for a throw on the far side.
Butcher's effort from outside the Thistle box is comfortably wide of Sneddon's right hand post.
Smith looks set for a shot at the edge of the Thistle box but Bannigan is quickly across to clear.
Cardle gets the ball to his feet wide on the right but the flag goes up for offside. The game is having a bit of a lull at the moment.
Penrice looks to be clipped on the very edge of the United box but referee Collum decides there is no foul and is spared deciding whether that was inside the box or not.
United have a free kick deep inside the Thistle half. The ball is delivered into the box where McGinty heads out.
Miller tries to find Robson with a pass down the left but the ball is knocked out of play for a Thistle throw.
Robson aims his corner to McGinty at the back post. The ball is cleared but only as far as Palmer who shows great skill to adavance deep into the United box. His cross is met at the back post by Saunders who nods home from about a yard out.
As you may have guessed we've had a few technical problems but we are, fingers crossed, working okay for now.
Game remains goalless. United started the better and Sneddon made a good save inside the first minute but Thistle are coming more into things as the half proceeds.
There is a chance for United but McMullan shoots wide as he tries to beat Sneddon at his near post.
Siegrist punches clear the corner.
Jones spins away from his marker before pushing a pass through for Robson but Siegrist gets there first.