SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 21 April, 2018. Kick Off: - 15:00
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
As the Thistle first team squad prepare for the first post-split match the enormity of the clash with Accies on Saturday cannot be ignored. A win could move the Jags away from County once again, while also pulling this weekend’s opponents right back into the mix but a loss could see Thistle lose vital ground on their rivals.
In amongst a busy week Alan Archibald took time to speak to ptfc.co.uk to discuss the split, match preparations and, of course, John lambie.
“We’re now into the post-split fixtures and it gives you a chance – that’s what this league set up does. It’s not just us though, everyone will be looking at it that way. We know what it’s like to be a couple of places further up from when we have been in the position in previous years and even teams that look comfortable can end up being dragged back into it.
“We were due three home games and we got them so we’re delighted with that and it gives us a lifeline. We just need to make sure we make the most of it at every level. We had a good idea that it would be Hamilton we got first, just based on the way things have worked in previous years, but it gives us a great opportunity now to bring them a little bit closer.
“Would I settle for a playoff spot now? No, no I wouldn’t. We’re on a bad run but it’s a new set of fixtures for us and it’s pretty much like a new mini league now. It’s a clean break and we’ve got a chance to get ourselves out of the position we’re in now.”
Thistle’s current bad form cannot be denied but Archibald know his side must focus on the games they can still impact.
“We’ve not been good enough at either end in recent weeks but that’s in the past now and we can only focus on what’s ahead of us. We can’t dwell on it as much as everyone might go on about it we need to give all of our focus to the five games ahead of us now – they’re the ones we can still affect.
“A lot can change in five games and we’ve all seen exactly that happen before. It can be one win, one clean sheet or even one goal that gives everyone that kick start. We’ve seen other teams get it and kick on and now it’s our turn to show we have what it takes.
“It can be tough to keep morale high but we’ve got a good, honest bunch of players and they know we’ve not performed as a group up until now. We’ve got these five games to show exactly what we can do. We need to do our talking on the pitch but we saw a bit more against Kilmarnock and you could see there was a bit of belief starting to come back for everyone, we did everything we could to get a goal and it just didn’t quite come off. Hopefully we can take that same approach into Saturday but this time convert it into a win. We’ve got pretty much a full squad to use so we’re in a strong position on that front.”
With players out of contract, Archie makes no bones about the fact that some of his stars are playing for their future.
“There are a lot of our players whose contracts are up at the end of the season and that’s what we say to them – they’re playing for their futures, whether that be here or elsewhere.”
Finally, it was only fitting that Alan give some of his own memories of John Lambie as the club gear up to give Mr Thistle a suitable send off on Saturday.
“I’ve got so many great memories of John but most of them you couldn’t put on the website! I didn’t always understand or respect his methods when I was a 16-year-old I just thought he was a crazy old man but that’s the kind of character he was.
“When I came back to play for him in my second spell though he was incredible. What he achieved was a minor miracle and he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserved as a coach because everyone focuses on the character that he was. He was a very, very good manager though – you don’t get back to back promotions and then keep a team in the league if you’re not.
“People talk about leadership and creating an environment around a club and in a dressing room when you go on coaching courses now but John was doing that years ago. He got the best out of the players and best out of the club and that was what he would good at. Renaming the North Stand in his honour is an extremely suitable tribute and I’m sure he will get a good send off from both sets of fans on Saturday.”
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Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate written permissions, source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Almost three months after their last win in any competition, Partick Thistle welcomed Hamilton Accies to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill with a huge three points at stake. The match was not the first port of call in Maryhill earlier today as the afternoon began with tributes to the late John Lambie who had a huge impact on both Partick Thistle and Hamilton. There were banners displayed in the newly named John Lambie Stand honouring the legendary gaffer who did so much for Partick Thistle Football Club.
Alan Archibald made three changes to the side who narrowly lost out to Kilmarnock two weeks ago. Ryan Scully dropped back to the bench with Tomas Cerny returning to the Thistle side after three weeks out through injury. The back four was left unchanged with Christie Elliott, Niall Keown, Baily Cargill and Callum Booth making up the Jags’ backline. In midfield, Martin Woods replaced Abdul Osman with Andrew McCarthy retaining his starting spot beside the ex-Ross County man. The three in behind the striker also remained unaltered with Blair Spittal, Steven Lawless and Chris Erskine supporting Kris Doolan who came in for Conor Sammon up top.
The Jags started the match positively and showed their intent five minutes in. Chris Erskine skipped away from an Accies challenge and tried a right-footed shot across goal. The number ten dragged his shot well wide of the far post but his effort set the tone for Thistle early dominance of the game.
The hosts went close once again in the 11th minute as Kris Doolan went close to his 100th league goal for Partick Thistle. Andrew McCarthy stole the ball off an Accies man expertly and Chris Erskine was able to feed Kris Doolan. The talismanic frontman moved into the box and poked the ball goalward under pressure and on the stretch. He got a decent amount of power behind his shot but Gary Woods was out quickly and made a good save to deny the marksman, Doolan.
For the opening 35 minutes, Thistle were well in control of proceedings, however, they struggled to create much with a number of decent attacking opportunities being sniffed out by good defending or confident cross-claiming by Accies ‘stopper, Gary Woods and the home side would be made to rue their failure to capitalise on early control when the visitors went ahead on 43 minutes.
The goal came from a forward pass which Christie Elliott attempted to intercept. The full-back made the move to header the ball but didn’t get enough on it, allowing the ball to reach David Templeton and leaving the Jags rear-guard a man down. Templeton then moved towards the hosts’ 18-yard box, shifting onto his right foot before bending a low shot home into the bottom corner to give the away side the lead.
The game went into half-time at 1-0 and the Jags would no doubt be feeling hard done by after a positive start to the game. The Maryhill men had struggled to convert their possession into clear cut opportunities and it had cost them. Templeton, who had been Hamilton’s outstanding player from the opening 45 minutes, made the most of his time on the ball showing the bit of quality that Thistle had been sorely lacking for some weeks.
Alan Archibald made a change early in the second half, altering not only the personnel on the pitch but also the formation of his side. In the 56th minute, Steven Lawless was withdrawn with Conor Sammon being introduced to the game. The move saw Thistle go to a 4-3-1-2 set-up with Sammon slotting in beside Kris Doolan who had looked isolated at time during the game.
The change gave Thistle an extra dimension up top but just three minutes after the substitution, Accies had a terrific opportunity to double their advantage. Marios Ogkmpoe was the man with the shot after a quick turnover of possession in Hamilton’s favour. He was forced slightly wide but still had a decent angle for a shot, however, he fired an effort straight at Tomas Cerny who got plenty behind the shot with the danger subsiding after the save.
That save would prove to be an important one too as Thistle drew level just six minutes later. In the second phase of play following a corner, Callum Booth delivered a left-footed cross into the visitors’ box. The ball found the head of expert attacker, Kris Doolan who had miraculously created a few yards of space in a crowded penalty area before nodding home from 15 yards. Doolan, as he so often has before, helped to get the Jags back into a positive mind-set and, in the process, he bagged his 100th league goal in the red and yellow of Partick Thistle, becoming the first man to achieve the feat all whilst wearing the captain’s armband, consolidating his status as a Thistle great.
Following the goal, Ryan Edwards came on for Andrew McCarthy as Alan Archibald looked to rejuvenate the midfield with the Australian’s endless reserves of energy.
The goal had a visible effect on the team as suddenly everything started to click. Passes were finding the right men, second balls were falling the hosts’ way and eventually, the second goal did come in the 72nd minute. A corner, won by Conor Sammon after some excellent interplay with Blair Spittal, was whipped into the Hamilton box. A scramble ensued suddenly with Niall Keown and Chris Erskine trying desperately to bundle the ball home for a vital goal but the ball was half-cleared by the visiting Accies. Unfortunately for Martin Canning’s men, the clearance fell straight to Jags substitute Ryan Edwards who rifled a low shot towards goal. The shot took a very slight deflection which was enough to take it past Gary Woods and into the back of the net as the entire team sprinted to the dugout to celebrate a crucial goal.
The final 18 minutes plus stoppage time were very nervy ones for everyone associated with Partick Thistle as the Jags have already tasted the disappointment of conceding a late goal against Hamilton this year. Nevertheless, the Thistle defence was resolute and, with the help of Adam Barton who came on for Blair Spittal in the 90th minute, they held on for the three points.
The win takes Thistle to within two points of today’s opposition and a point clear of Ross County as the Jags come off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table once again. The Maryhill men must now look towards a meeting with St. Johnstone next Saturday as they prepare for their first of two post-split away games. Kick-off is 15:00 from McDiarmid Park.
THISTLE TEAM: Cerny, Elliott, Keown, Cargill, Booth, McCarthy (Edwards, 65’), M. Woods, Spittal (Barton, 90’), Erskine, Lawless (Sammon, 56’), Doolan.
UNUSED SUBS (PTH): Scully, McGinn, Osman, Storey.
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL TEAM: G. Woods, Imrie, Want, Tomas, van der Weg (McMann, 84’), Lyon, Ferguson, Jenkins, Templeton (Miller, 66’), Ogkmpoe, Bingham (Redmond, 58’).
UNUSED SUBS (HMA): Fulton, Scott, Hughes, Cunningham.
Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
There was a feeling of overwhelming relief and pure ecstasy at ten to five in Maryhill this afternoon. Following ten long games without a win, Partick Thistle finally tasted victory once again as they came from behind to defeat Hamilton at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill. The Jags started the game well on a day that was spent remembering legendary ex-Thistle and Hamilton boss, John Lambie but failed to capitalise on early control and actually fell behind with just a few minutes left until the interval as David Templeton curled the ball past Tomas Cerny. The hosts didn’t give up though and two second half goals turned the game on its head. Firstly, Kris Doolan found a couple of yards of space in the Accies box and nodded a Callum Booth cross past Gary Woods then, after a scramble in the box, the ball fell to Ryan Edwards who lashed home the winning goal. The victory takes Thistle off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table, one point above Ross County and now just two points behind Hamilton. Following the tense encounter, ptfc.co.uk caught up with Jags boss, Alan Archibald.
We began by talking to Archie about the spirit his side showed in coming from behind despite having been on a dismal run of form coming into the game.
“The boys showed excellent character today and we need that with the position we’re in. We started really well, coming out the blocks quickly and I think the atmosphere around the tributes to John Lambie spurred us on. The crowd were really up for it and I think that the players felt that and fed off it. Accies came into it towards the end of the first half but I still think we were unlucky to be behind and overall, I feel we deserved the win.”
The Thistle manager admitted that he was worried at half time with his side having failed to capitalise on a lot of possession before then falling behind to a rather simple goal, however, he did trust his team to get back into things.
“We put a lot into the game early on and when you then go 1-0 down after putting so much into the game, there is that worry that you’re not going to have enough left to get back into it. The lads had a little wobble after Accies’ goal went in but we were able to get them in at half time to just encourage them a bit because the signs were there and all we needed was that killer ball which we thankfully found in the second half.”
Kris Doolan’s 65th minute header was Thistle’s first goal end of February when Conor Sammon struck home a penalty kick away to Hamilton and Alan reckons the first goal was the perfect confidence booster to push his team towards the second.
“We asked the lads to try to forget what had come before but when you’ve been on a run like we have, that’s very difficult. The fact that we hadn’t scored in so long was always going to be playing on our lads’ minds, especially the creative players so I’m sure that when the Doolan header hit the back of the net, it gave everyone that little lift and little bit of extra belief that allowed us to get the second.”
The gaffer is delighted to have moved off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table but is also pleased to have dragged Hamilton right back into the mix with Accies now in a precarious position just three points above bottom spot.
“We knew coming into the game that a win would condense that bottom section of the table. We’ve been in Hamilton’s position before. We’ve went into the first game after the split slightly ahead of other teams and lost which suddenly made the final four games really nervy so hopefully they’ll be feeling us creeping up on them now.”
Archie and the team are back in action for fixture 35 of the season next Saturday as the Jags travel to Perth to take on Tommy Wright’s St. Johnstone. Kick-off is 15:00 from McDiarmid Park.
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Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Sat 21 April, 2018
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Goals from Kris Doolan and Ryan Edwards give Thistle a deserved, and perhaps season saving, three points.
Thistle were unlucky to be trailing at the break but Kris Doolan headed Thistle level in 63 minutes with sub Ryan Edwards' low drive 8 mi nutes securing a vital three points.
Whose to say that a certain Whitburn pigeon fancier wasn't looking down on his beloved Partick Thistle this afternoon.
A brawl breaks out after Jenkins fouls Erskine.
The corner goes straight out of play dropping over Cerny's bar.
A minimum of 4 minutes additional time to be played.
A low cross comes in from the left but Cerny is there to claim the ball near his front post.
Thistle have a free kick deep inside the Hamilton half.
Spittal gets a lucky break of the ball that nearly gives Thistle an opening. Spittal gets past the first defender but the ball is hacked clear.
Another confident catch from Cerny as the free kick comes in.
Hamilton free kick on the right some distance from goal but a chance to get te ball into the box.
Cargill heads clear a cross from the right but Hamilton pick up the loose ball and Cerny is required to save a low Jenkins drive.
Thistle break quickly after Keown heads clear an Imrie cross. Sammon bursts clear but he over runs the ball and that allows Woods to save.
Hearts are in Thistle mouths as Hamilton are left clear on goal only for pulse rates to return to something approaching normal when the flag goes up for offside.
A hopeful cross into the Thistle box drifts out of play for a Thistle throw.
Redmond floats the free kick into tnhe box but Cerny comes off his line and takes charge by confidently claiming the ball.
Edwards fouls Redmond and Hamilton have a free kick in a central position but at least 35 yards, maybe more, from goal.
Redmond catches Cargill late after the defender makes an important clearance. Cerny is no hurry to take the free kick that follows.
Woods takes the corner and there is a real scramble inside the 6 yarsd box. The ball is cleared though but only as far as Edwards who fires home from 12 yards out.
Sammon's effort after being set up by Spittal is deflected wide.
An Edwards' effort thumps off a defender and goes clear.
Firhill is bouncing at the moment. Can Thistle get a real lift from that equaliser?
Who else but Kris Doolan. Woods corner to the back post is cleared but Booth gathers the ball and crosses for Doolan to head home his 113th Partick Thistle goal.
Spittal finds space just outside the box but his shot is a poor one and woods makes an easy save.
Ferguson squares up to Erskine after fouling him but no further action is taken.
This time Bingham's touch doesn't let him down when in the clear and it is a Cerny save that gives Thistle a reprieve this time.
Sammon's first involvement is to push a pass back into the path of Erskine. Erskine doesn't catch his shot properly but Woods spills the shot but is able to recover the grab the ball away from Doolan.
A Lawless pass just evades the forward run of Spittal.
Bingham's poor touch after collecting a pass from Templeton lets him dowen and allows Cerny to come off his line and collect the ball.
Despite being the better side for much of the first half Thistle find themselves trailing at half-time with Templeton fully punishing Elliott for a poor header.
There has been no shortage of effort from Thistle and they spent large chunks of the opening 45 minutes firmly on the front foot but, one Doolan effort aside, they haven't created too many openings with a number of promising positions wasted with poor balls in from wide areas.
Elliott's poor header leads to an opening for Templeton and he confidently fires past Cerny and into the corner of the net.
Imrie fouls Elliott as he pushes forward down the right and Thistle have a free kick but there is no booking for Imrie.
Imrie takes the free kick and it goes tamely wide of goal.
Hamilton have a free kick close to the right hand corner of the Thistle box.
Templeton's long range effort clears the Thistle crossbar with a bit to spare.
A real anxious moment for Thistle as Bingham is on the end of a through ball and as a challenge comes in there are appeals for a Hamilton penalty that referee Beaton ignores.
Erskine wriggles his way past a challenge or two in the box but his cut back is blocked. Pressure mounting all the timer.
Elliott again finds room on the right but once more his cross is too close to Woods.
Elliott completely side steps Imrie and his cross hits of Doolan. Just for a second it looks as if the ball fall to Lawless but Woods is there to gather the ball.
Spittal collects a pass from Elliott but his cross, delivered with pace, is too close to Woods.
Thistle are pressing really hard and the Jags fans in The John Lambie stand are rewally getting behind the players. The ball just won't fall for a Thistle player in and around goal though but plenty to be encouraged about.
Great chance for Thistle. Erskine manages to work the ball into the feet of Doolan. Doolan's turn gives him spaces but Woods is smartly off his line to make a good blocking save.
Booth is hauled to the ground as he tries to get clear down the left but strangely Thistle don't even get a free kick and play restarts with a Thistle throw.
First effort from Hamilton but Bingham's effort is well wide of the Thistle goal.
First effort on goal comes from Thistle's Erskine. He creates a little space for himself at the edge of the box but can only drag a tame effort wide of goal.
Hint of an early chance for Thistle as Tomas' clearance falls to Spittal but the ball ends up in the arms of Woods.
A long season has just a confirmed five games to go but in a sense Thistle's season starts here and now.
Going into the post split fixtures sitting a point adrift at the foot of the table is not a pleasant position to be in. The final five games, however, present Thistle with an opportunity to haul themselves to safety starting today against Hamilton.
It is sure to be an emotionally charged afternoon as the Thistle fans give their thanks for the life of John Lambie. It is hoped that the players can feed off that emotion and collect a vital three points.