SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 15 October, 2016. Kick Off: - 15:00
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Supporter Information:
Thistle supporters will be situated in the Jackie Husband and North Stand as per usual arrangements.
Tickets for this game will be on sale for the rest of this week. Tickets for the Jackie Husband Stand can be purchased after this time at the Jackie Husband Ticket Office. The North Stand is pay at the gate, as per usual arrangements.
Prices:
Adults: £22
Concessions: £15
A concession qualifies as an Over 65, Student, and disabled person with carer.
Under 16s: FREE
Hamilton supporters will be located in the Colin Weir Stand
Alan Archibald goes into this weekend’s clash with Hamilton Academical knowing that, regardless of results elsewhere, a win will take his side off the bottom of the table. However, while speaking to ptfc.co.uk after the squad had finished training on Friday, he made it clear that motivation was not a problem.
“Obviously when you’re bottom of the table it’s never a nice place to be and the international break probably came at a bad time for us. The one bonus to come from the break is that Kris Doolan is fit again after missing last week with a thigh strain.
“Even though we’re in the position we’re in the mood has remained positive. It has been a sense of frustration rather than negativity. There’s a real frustration that we haven’t taken more from games where we have generally played pretty well but I think there will be a few teams in the bottom six who will be thinking and saying the same thing
“The good thing is that we haven’t become detached yet and a win on Saturday guarantees that we’ll move off the bottom – regardless of what the other teams around us do.”
After an incredibly tough start to the season in terms of fixtures, two home games in a row give Thistle a real opportunity to start registering wins and moving up the table.
“It’s a wee period where we are playing the teams around us in the league and we absolutely must make sure we are taking the maximum points from those games that we can.
“The next two matches are massive and we need to take as many points as we can from them. That starts with Saturday and all the boys are focused because they know how important these games are. We need to find a way of just making sure we get the three points. It doesn’t need to be pretty we just need to get the results over the line.”
After a couple of weeks’ rest during the international break, it was back to league affairs for Partick Thistle as they looked to climb off the bottom of the table against Hamilton. Both teams would be looking to distance themselves from the lower regions of the Ladbrokes Premiership having failed to win in their last four games each.
Alan Archibald made two changes to the side that fell to a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox last time out. Ade Azeez and David Amoo dropped to the bench, while Kris Doolan and Adam Barton came into the starting line-up. Jags’ right-back Ziggy Gordon was making his first appearance against his former club of 13 years since joining Thistle in the summer.
The game started in a lively manner with the first opportunity of the match falling within the opening minute. A cross came in from Hamilton’s left and dropped towards Rakish Bingham who volleyed the ball wide of Ryan Scully’s goal.
There was a controversial moment around nine minutes in. A cross came into the Accies’ box and it deflected off a Hamilton player. There were loud shouts from the home side and the North stand but the referee waved away the appeals.
Just a few minutes later the visiting team came close once again through Alex D’Acol. The chance came to fruition thanks to a deep cross in the direction of the back post which found D’Acol. The striker headed back across goal but Ryan Scully was equal to the attempt and it ended up going out for a corner.
The resulting corner was whipped into the centre of the box where Hamilton captain Massimo Donati was waiting. He rose highest to head the ball downwards past Scully to give Martin Canning’s side the lead.
It didn’t take long for Alan Archibald’s men to respond as Kris Doolan was fed in behind by Adam Barton. He had beaten the offside trap and had a clear shot on goal. Doolan’s attempt was to central and was saved easily by Gary Woods and the follow up was well off target from Steven Lawless.
Despite missing that chance, the equaliser was to come soon. In the 22nd minute the visiting team were caught napping as Abdul Osman slotted Chris Erskine in behind the Accies’ backline with a quick free-kick. Erskine hit a cross into the six-yard box and although a Hamilton defender got to it first, he headed the ball off one of his teammates and the ball ended up at the feet of Ryan Edwards who simply tapped it home to make it 1-1.
The goal seemed to re-energise the Jags as they searched for another goal and Thistle were beginning to use their possession more effectively. In the 24th minute, Chris Erskine picked the ball up on the right flank and ran at the opposition defence. His trickery caused the first defender to fall over and as he looked to get past the last player between him and a clear shot on goal he was taken down. Again, there were cries for a penalty from both Thistle players and supporters alike, however, Greg Aitken’s verdict was that the tackling player had taken the ball.
Hamilton came extremely close to retaking the lead on the half-hour mark when Rakish Bingham was played in on goal but Ryan Scully came off his line well and made the save. Scully was called into action again two minutes later when a long range shot had to be parried by the man in goal.
It would be Thistle going into half-time with the lead. As a Thistle corner came to nothing, Abdul Osman latched onto the loose ball. The Thistle skipper cut past his man twice before delivering an inch-perfect cross onto the head Liam Lindsay who headed beyond Gary Woods and into the back of the net. The goal brought Lindsay within one goal of top-scorer Chris Erskine in this season’s scoring charts in all competitions.
A timid start to the game was quickly forgotten as Thistle dominated most of the last 20 minutes of the opening half. The goals were well-deserved as the Jags were able to capitalise on their improved passing sequences and the away side would be disappointed with the way they lost control of the match.
Kris Doolan got us underway for the second period and it looked like the home side were going to pick up where they left off with Chris Erskine bursting into the box early on. The midfielder got his shot away but it was saved by Woods. Two minutes after that chance, Kris Doolan came close to extending the lead. He was played through by Adam Barton and managed to get into the box before checking back. He hit a shot with his left foot across goal but it bobbled wide of the far post and the chance was gone.
As the game went on it was evident that Hamilton had realised that they need to make something happen soon and they almost equalised with 63 minutes gone. A cross found Alex D’Acol who headed towards goal but the attempt was going wide. One person who wasn’t sure about the destination of the ball was Danny Devine who waved a leg at it. The Northern-Irish centre-half was looking relieved after his sliced clearance looped over his own crossbar.
Alan Archibald decided to make a trio of changes with Steven Lawless, Kris Doolan and Chris Erskine being withdrawn and David Amoo, Ade Azeez and Christie Elliott being introduced.
Ade Azeez forced a save from Gary Woods, three minutes after coming on. He picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and after swivelling quickly he struck a shot that had to be saved low to the right of the Accies’ keeper.
Unfortunately, for Thistle they couldn’t hold their lead and Hamilton would get their equaliser. With seven minutes remaining, 20 year-old Eamonn Brophy was played in behind the Jags’ defenders and had a free run on goal. While the Thistle men were shouting for offside, Brophy was bearing down on goal and after he had set his sights there was no stopping him as he slotted coolly into the corner past a helpless Scully.
Both teams still had a chance in them though. It was Thistle first as a deep cross by Amoo found fellow substitute Christie Elliott whose header was saved. Five minutes later it would be Hamilton looking to nick the three points as Gramoz Kurtaj had a close range header denied by the palms of Ryan Scully.
The game would end with two goals apiece with the point lifting Thistle from the foot of the table. The Jags are above Dundee only on goal difference but still find themselves just three points outside the top six.
Partick Thistle now look forward to a home clash against Ross County next Saturday at 3pm, where a win would take them above the Staggies.
It was a familiar feeling for Alan Archibald as his side let a lead slip and points drop at Firhill. It felt like a retelling of the same story that was told when the Jags faced Motherwell a few weeks ago. Despite doing brilliantly to get themselves ahead in the game, Archibald’s men were left disappointed as a single point was their only reward in the 2-2 draw with Hamilton.
Thistle had started the game in a shaky manner but, in Archibald’s opinion, as soon as Ryan Edwards equalised the team looked completely different.
“Hamilton started the game really well and it took a goal to turn the tide a little bit. We took our two chances but we could have put the game to bed at 3-1. If we’d taken one of those chances then it takes the wind out of them completely.”
Archie was unhappy that, after missing multiple chances, the Jags allowed themselves to end up under the cosh.
“We ended up trying to see the game out and at that point there is a nervousness. We’ve been through it before, a few years ago we had a tendency to lose late goals. You’ve got to be strong and you’ve got to have a mind-set that won’t let the opposition pass.”
The game was an open one and the Thistle boss acknowledged that it was a game dictated by the attackers rather than the defenders.
“It was completely wide open; you wouldn’t have thought that the two managers were centre-halves. It was like a basketball match at times, it was frantic. Credit to Hamilton as they never stopped coming at us.”
Alan Archibald also commented on a penalty claim that his side had in the first half.
“I was too far away. My players said it was hand ball but I don’t think the referee got much right today. He was poor in my opinion and I think he would admit that himself.”
The manager also praised new boy, Adam Barton, who had a strong showing alongside Abdul Osman in the midfield today.
“Adam is a very good player. He’s had to bide his time but he’ll do a good job for us. Overall, we’ve got good players fighting for midfield positions. We were caught out last year and we wanted to make sure we had plenty of cover this year and Adam adds to the quality we have in those positions. He can play centre-half as well which is a bonus.”
However, Archie wasn’t best pleased with the way Hamilton equalised in the last ten minutes.
“It wasn’t sustained pressure. It was just a ball through that our defenders didn’t deal with. So from that aspect I thought it was very poor.”
The Thistle gaffer mentioned just how close the bottom of the table is looking at the moment and how important it is to beat teams in similar positions in the table.
“It’s definitely very close but these are the games that matter the most. The six-pointers when you’re playing against the teams around you and we are aware that we’ve slipped up today. We were at home and we should be winning that game. It would have been a nice win heading into next week’s game but it wasn’t to be. We need to take the positives and build for a massive match against County.”
Sat 15 October, 2016
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
It's another Firhill afternoon of frustration as once again Thistle are denied a win by an equaliser deep into the final 10 minutes.
After falling behind after just 12 minutes goals from Ryan Edwards and Liam Lindsay saw Thistle lead at the break.
Thistle missed chances in the second half to add a third goal. Erskine and sub Azeez seeing efforts blocked but Hamilton were right in this game as well.
They were rewarded with 8 minutes remaining when Brophy knocked a low shot past Scully and into the net.
Thistle could still have won this game and Christie Elliott was unlucky to see his net bound header clawed away from goal by Hamilton keeper woods.
This though was very much two points dropped by Thistle who are left looking for only theitr second league win of the season.
Crawford has space about 25 yards from the Thistle goal but his shot sails over the crossbar.
Minimum of 3 additional minutes to be played.
Barton's effort is blocked by a defender.
Scully makes another good stop this time keeping out a header from Kurtaj.
Gordon stretches out a leg to make an important clearance from a Kurtaj cross.
Woods uses his fists to push away a Booth shot from 25 yards out.
Amoo manages to get a ball over to the back post where Elliott sees his header pushed away by Woods.
Brophy gets clear inside the Thistle box and fires a low shot past Scully and into the corner of the net.
It's all getting a little tense and we still have over 10 minutes to play.
There is a chance for Hamilton but Mackinnon screws his shot from 15 yards wide of goal.
Azeez turns shaprly and is unlucky to see his shot pushed away by Woods.
Good confident catch from Scully as Hamilton fire a free kick deep into the Thistle box.
Scully is in the right spot to push away a Docherty effort.
Erskine plays a brilliant ball up to the feet of Doolan whose touch for once lets him down allowing Woods to gather the ball.
61 mins: Osman and Imrie square up to each other and tempers rise following an Imrie challenge that goes unpunished.
We know out timings are showing us deep, deep into first half injury time but we can assure you we are just approaching the hour mark. 56 minutes played.
Booth lays a great ball across the Hamilton goakl but can't find a Thistle player with it.
The free kick is fired straight at Scully.
Hamilton have a free kick near the left hand corner of the Thistle box.
Scully makes a comfortable catch under pressure.
Sorry, we lost internet connectio but we should be back now.
It's not been a game to take the eye off of with Thistle coming from behind to take a 2-1 lead into the dressing room at the interval.
It was Hamilton that started this game the better and they merited the lead they secured courtesy of a thumping header from Donati after 12 minutes. Ryan Scully though will feel aggrieved at the neglegent marking especially after having made a fanstastic save just seconds earlier to keep the score at 0-0.
Thistle's equaliser arrived 10 minutes later when the ball fell right into the path of Ryan Edwards inside the 6 yard box and he duly knocked the ball home to levcel the scores.
That equaliser seemed to spring Thistle into life as the action moved from one end to the other with no shortage of controversy. Thistle having no fewer than 3 strong appeals for a penalty inside the first 45 minutes.
With Thistle still looking uncertain at the back Scully had to make another fine save to keep the score level and with half time just 3 minutes away Thistle were doublely thankful for that save as they took the lead.
An Osman cross following an Erskine corner was met by the head of Liam Lindsay who bulleted a header past Woods and high into the net.
You have a real feeling that the scoring in this, open, match is far from over.
Errskine aims the corner towards Barton at the back post. Barton gets a touch but it takes the ball away from goal. Osman gathers it though and shapes to cross, delays the cross before finally delivering the ball into the box where it is met by the head of Lindsay.
The ball won't drop properly for Doolan whose shot spins off a defender for a corner that comes to nothing.
Booth surges forward down the left and his cross is intercepted by Woods with a couple of Thistle players lurking looking for an easy finish.
Gordon has space on the right but his cross is a poor one and Woods is able to watch it go out of play for a goal kick.
The ball is eventually in the arms of Scully after Imrie robbed Booth of the ball, with more than a hint of a foul, and drives forward into the Thistle box where the home side again look uncertain.
Thistle don't make too much of a better job of defending this corner but at least this time Donati can get no power in his header and it doesn't threaten the Thistle goal unduly.
Scully makes a great save to deny D'Acol before a header is deflected wide of the Thistle goal.
The busy Edwards lays a pass up to the feet of Erskine just outside the Hamilton box. Erskine tries to curl a shot into the net but gets his effort all wrong and it goes high and wide of target.
Thistle have really come to life since the equaliser with appeals for penalties when firstly Erskine and then Doolan went down inside the box. On both occasions referee Aitken remained uninterested.
There is a touch of good fortune as the ball falls right into the path of Edwards right in front of goal and he can't miss and Thistle have a welcome equaliser.
Booth loose out in a challenge for the ball with Docherty whose cross is headed over the bar by a diving Imrie.
After Osman breaks up the play in midfield and knocks the ball forward to Doolan the Thistle striker tries to pick out Erskine to his right but his pass is intercepted by an alert Hamilton defence.
D'Acol gets up to the ball ahead of Devine but there is no power in his header which leaves Scully with just an easy save to make.
Thistle nearly hit back quickly but Doolan's shot is saved by Woods.
But the goal is only delayed a few seconds as from the corner that follows Donati heads unchallenged into the net. More defensive woes for Thistle.
It takes a great save from Scully to deny D'Acol a goal with header from a Dochery cross.
Docherty shoots from 25 yards out but it goes wide of target and doesn't cause Scully any anxiety.
Lawless elects not to shoot for goal instead he tries to find Lindsay inside the box. There are long and prolonged appeals for a Thistle penalty for handball but they all the get is an unproductive corner. Boos ring out from the North Stand.
Doolan is fouled about 30 yards from the Hamilton goal. Just left of centre.
Another good chance for Hamilton. D'Acol crosses from the right finding Docherty towards the back post. Docherty though sends his header wide of Scully's left hand post.
Erskine knocks in a ball behind the Hamilton defence looking for Doolan. Doolan though strays offside and Hamilton have a free kick.
Hamilton kick-off and the keep possession of the ball and they have an early, glorious, chance when the ball falls to Bingham inside the Thistle box but he drags his effort wide.
Thistle return to action following the international break with a home game against Hamilton Accies knowing that three points will take them above Hamilton in the league table.
Thistle's last outing resulted in a 2-0 defeat away to Rangers and manager Alan Archibald has made two changes to the side that started that game.
Into the starting eleven come Kris Doolan and Adam Barton while David Amoo and Ade Azeez drop to the bench.