Sat 2 December, 2017
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
The Energy Check Stadium at FirhillSPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 2 December, 2017. Kick Off: - 15:00
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Fixture details:
HOME Ticket prices:
Adults £22
Concessions (Over 65s, students, disabled supporter including carer) £15
Under 16s FREE
AWAY Ticket Status:
There will be tickets available for Hibernian supporters at the Colin Weir Stand ticket office on Firhill Road from 14:00
Match Sponsor:
Match Ball Sponsor:
PlayerZone:
Gary Fraser and Abdul Osman
Aitken Suite:
Opens to all supporters at 11:45
Half Time Legend performing 50/50 draw:
Frank Coulston
Programme:
Available around The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill for only £3
With no game last weekend Alan Archibald was forced to watch results unfold across Scotland without having the chance to have his own say. That changes this week though as Ladbrokes Premiership action finally returns to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill with the visit of Hibs.
Although Archie’s Jags side have only faced two game this month, the Thistle gaffer is looking forward to a hectic festive schedule as he told ptfc.co.uk before training on Friday morning.
“We’re going to be pretty constant through December but we’re definitely looking forward to it and it’s just good to get back to playing games to be honest. With a bit of luck we’ll have a few players back and that will be a massive boost too.
“We’re going to need as many players back as we can because eight games in a month would put a strain on even the largest of squads. It isn’t just injuries at this time of year though as bookings and suspensions start to come into the equations too – especially for your defenders. No doubt we’ll lose a couple through accumulation of cautions over the course so we really need everybody.”
It’s no secret that injuries have caused Archie some major issues this season but, as we enter December, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
“Abdul isn’t in with the group yet as we have to wait for the surgeon’s OK with regards to him having full strength in his shoulder. The good thing though is that he is now able to progress on the cardio front so, as soon as we get the OK in terms of strength it should be a quick process for getting him back involved and we’d probably then only be looking at a week or two.
“We’re having to manage Kris Doolan a little bit at the moment as he is having a bit of trouble with his knee. That’s an ongoing issue though so we just need to balance it as best we can at this stage, The other positive is that we will hopefully be looking at getting Stuart Bannigan back by somewhere in mid December which will give us a huge boost.”
With only two games in December Thistle were forced to sit out last weekend’s scheduled fixture against Celtic as Brendan Rodger’s men lifted the Betfred Cup, meaning that crucial points were dropped against league rivals. However, it isn’t something the Jags boss is letting disrupt preparations.
“It has been frustrating in recent weeks watching other teams pick up points while we haven’t been playing but all we can do is control what is in our power which starts on Saturday against a very good Hibs side. I went to see them first hand last week and they were very good. It’ll no doubt be a tough match but we’re at home so we just need to make the most of that.
“I was very impressed with them last week as I say and it was one of the best performances I’ve seen against a Hamilton team which is, in itself, a tough place to go. They passed the ball really well and they’ve got a good squad to cover when the likes of McGInn have to drop out. I think you saw that on the first day of the season when we didn’t really perform to our best. Hopefully we can put that right on Saturday.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Chris Erskine, Niall Keown and Jags gaffer, Alan Archibald are now available to Jagzone subscribers – log in to see them. Jagzone members will also be able to watch highlights of the game from midnight.
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Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
After gaining their first win of the season against Dundee on September 21st, Partick Thistle went on to draw with Hamilton and then beat St. Johnstone. These results meant the Jags ended October full of confidence, however, with only two games in the whole of November the Maryhill men had a stop-start month. A disheartening loss to Rangers was followed by a draw with Hearts and suddenly Thistle found themselves at the bottom of the table. A frantic December period began this afternoon with Hibernian’s visit to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
Alan Archibald made no changes to the team who started at Tynecastle two weeks ago. Tomas Cerny started in goals behind a back four of Paul McGinn, Niall Keown, Daniel Devine and Jordan Turnbull, who filled in at left-back. Adam Barton and Ryan Edwards began the match in the middle of the park with Blair Spittal and Steven Lawless on either side of the midfield. Miles Storey retained his place up front with Chris Erskine in behind him as a number ten. There was a full bench to choose from for Thistle as well with Ryan Scully, Kris Doolan, Conor Sammon, Kevin Nisbet, Gary Fraser, Andrew McCarthy and Martin Woods making up the bench.
The hosts started positively showing signs of danger while attacking but the first chance of the game fell to the travelling Hibees. The Jags gave the ball away in their own half and Simon Murray picked up the ball. The ex-Dundee United striker turned then shot but his effort was deflected and Tomas Cerny was able to save easily.
Thistle had their first real sight of goal on 18 minutes from a Blair Spittal free-kick. Storey won the foul and Spittal took the kick from 30 yards. His effort took a deflection as it pierced the wall and forced a good save out of Ofir Marciano at the Israel-born goalkeeper’s left-hand post.
The Jags had another chance to take the lead on 21 minutes through Chris Erskine. The dynamic midfielder was fed the ball by Paul McGinn but was tackled as he tried to advance. Luckily the loose ball fell to Blair Spittal and the number seven played the ball back into Erskine’s path. Thistle’s number ten then unleashed a rasping shot on goal but his right-footed attempt was too close to the ‘keeper and once again Ofir Marciano denied Thistle with a strong-handed save.
The game descended into an end-to-end contest with little to shout about in the final third for either side and the match reached the interval at 0-0. Each team had seen periods of possession but had struggled to find that killer pass when the time came. Chris Erskine’s one-on-one probably represented the best chance of the first 45 but he was unable to find the net on his weaker side.
Having been denied anything but long range shots in the first half, the visiting Hibees would have been delighted when they took the lead just three minutes into the second period. After Anthony Stokes hit a free kick right into Tomas Cerny’s wall, Lewis Stevenson picked up the ball on the Hibernian right and curled an in-swinging ball into the Jags’ area. Adam Barton rose to meet the delivery but could only get a flick on it. The ball ended up skipping into the bottom corner as Tomas Cerny slipped on his line although it’s difficult to tell whether he would have got to the ball either way. It’s also tough to judge whether or not the goal was an Adam Barton own goal or a fortuitous Lewis Stevenson goal and it will be one for the dubious goals panel to decide.
As they chased the game, Thistle made their first change of the match when Kris Doolan replaced Steven Lawless in the 58th minute.
Just three minutes after coming on, Kris Doolan came very close to grabbing an equaliser for the home side. Jordan Turnbull’s excellent through ball found Miles Storey, breaking the Hibernian rear-guard. Storey then cut the ball across the box finding strike partner, Kris Doolan. The Jags forward then tried to beat Marciano at his near post but once again the ‘stopper made the save, using his feet this time to keep Thistle at bay.
As the match entered its final 15 minutes and the Jags continued to search for a leveller, Alan Archibald made his two remaining changes with Conor Sammon replacing Miles Storey and Gary Fraser replacing Chris Erskine in the 75th and 80th minutes respectively.
Unfortunately for Thistle, despite plenty of pushing, they were unable to break their opponents down and the match ended 1-0 to the visitors. The defeat leaves Thistle four points below 11th place as the packed-full December gets underway in Maryhill.
The Jags now focus on next week’s trip to Ayrshire to take on Kilmarnock. With points there to be won, it is vital that Thistle begin to turn good performances into victories. Kick-off is 15:00 from Rugby Park next Saturday.
THISTLE TEAM: Cerny, McGinn, Keown, Devine (c), Turnbull, Barton, Edwards, Lawless (Doolan, 58′), Spittal, Erskine (Fraser, 80′), Storey (Sammon, 74′).
THISTLE SUBS (N/U): Scully, McCarthy, Nisbet, Woods.
HIBERNIAN TEAM: Marciano, McGregor, Hanlon, Ambrose, Stevenson, Bartley, Slivka, McGeouch, Boyle (Matulevicius, 91′), Stokes (Barker, 76′), S. Murray (Shaw, 64′).
HIBERNIAN SUBS (N/U): Dabrowski, Porteous, F. Murray.
Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
After two successive home wins against Dundee and then St. Johnstone, Partick Thistle went over a month without a game at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill. The Jags returned to their Maryhill home with a match against Hibernian. Unfortunately for the hosts, it wasn’t to be three home wins in a row as a cross from deep that came off the head of Adam Barton found the corner of the net. That goal proved enough for the Easter Road side as they saw the game out for a 1-0 win to leave Thistle at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership. Jags boss, Alan Archibald, spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the game.
Alan started with a lot of praise for his side as he expressed his happiness over the team’s performance.
“The result is a sore one because I thought we played ever so well. It was end-to-end stuff at times but I felt we had a couple of the game’s best chances. Their goalkeeper had to make a couple of really good saves whereas Tomas Cerny didn’t have much to do. Overall, there were plenty of positives.”
Going into a hectic December with another seven games to be played this month, Archie stressed the importance of staying positive with the fixtures coming thick and fast.
“We’re not going to feel down about the result. It was a good performance. Now we go into a huge game against Kilmarnock so we have to keep the heads up and start working towards a better result there.”
With his side now four points below 11th place, the gaffer knows how crucial the aforementioned clash with Killie is.
“It’s vitally important that we stay in that pack at the bottom of the table and avoid being cut adrift. Against the teams at the top of the table you can’t expect to win every game but we have to start getting the victories against those around us.”
Archie was keen to highlight the efforts of Jordan Turnbull who today put in a fine display in the unfamiliar role of left-back.
“I thought he was excellent today. He faced a tough challenge in the form of Martin Boyle, who has incredible raw pace and energy. Jordan isn’t a full-back but we’ve been working on that in training. Trying to create different options for us in terms of shape and I think he now feels comfortable enough as part of the back four.”
Alan and his squad now look towards next Saturday’s meeting with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park as the Jags continue their fight to get away from the foot of the table. Kick-off in Ayrshire is 15:00.
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Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
An Adam Barton own goal early in the second half proved to be the difference between the two teams.
Sammon can't bring down Spittal's cross.
A minimum of 3 minutes additional time to be played.
Barton collects a pass from Fraser and threads the ball through to Doolan who is caught offside.
Thistle escape as Ambrose lays the ball across an open Thistle goal but behind Stokes.
Marciano is able to get enough of a hand to Spittal's corner to get the ball clear.
Edwards' shot nearly spins into the path of Doolan.
Storey pulls the ball back from the bye line but straight into the arms of Marciano who is waiting at his near post.
A combination of Cerny then Keown and then Edwards prevent Hibs froma dded to their lead as they nearly catch Thistle on tre break.
Doolan gets the ball out wide to Storey but the flag goes up for offside. Best spell of the game from Thistle though.
Spittal is close this time with an effort that nearly finds the top corner of the net.
Thistle are close to an equaliser. Turnbull's perfectly weighted pass finds Storey. He squares to Doolan who is denied a goal by the outstreched foot of Marciano.
Just for a split second it looks as if Storey is going to force home Spittal's corner at the front post.
Cerny gets a hand to a Boyle cross before McGinn completes the clearance.
Spittal gets his head to a cross from the right but can't get enough power or direction on it to trouble Marciano.
Chance for Thistle but when Spittal heads the ball on for Erskine the flag goes up for offside.
Hibs take the lead in strange fashion with Barton diverting the ball into his own net.
Stokes can't get the ball over the wall.
Hibs free kick a yard outside the Thistle box and right of centre.
The first 45 minutes have failed to produce a goal in what has been a fairly even encounter.
Erskine tries to turn towards goal after collecting a Lawless pass but he finds his route blocked.
There are boos from the Thistle when Murray goes to ground inside the Thistle box looking for a penalty after he fails to gather Hanlon's pass.
Erskine's pass finds Storey in space on the right and his cross is headed clear.
The ball sits up nicely for Murray inside the Thistle box. There are appeals for handball but play continues and Cerny saves when Murray snatches at his shot.
Hibs clear the free kick although Thistle continue to probe for an opening.
Storey is fouled as he tries to advance and Thistle have a free kick midway inbside the Hibs half.
The corner is cleared and Hibs win a fgree kick near halfway as they attempt to break.
Erskine's shot is saved by Marciano.
Spittal's free kick after a foul on Storey forced a decent save from Marciano at his left hand post.
Stokes takes the free lkick but his low effort doesn't present Cerny with any difficulty.
Storey nudges Bartley off the ball and Hibs have a free kick about 30 yards from the Thistle goal.
Boyle 's shot from outside the box thumps off a Thistle defender and clear.
Edwards sees Spittal in space at the edge of the Hibs box but his pass is over hit.
Stevenson's free kick is poor and Cerny makes an easy catch at his back post.
Hibs have a free kick near to the left corner of the Thistle box.
Storey crosses from the right but it is far too close to Marciano in the Hibs goal who makes an easy catch.
Murray has the first shot at goal of the afternoon but Cerny has an easy save to make.
Erskine and Spittal combine well down the left but when Spittal lifts a cross into the box the referee spots a foul and Hibs have a free kick.
Barton knocks a simple ball in behind the Hibs defence for Storey but Storey isn't able to find room for either a shot ot a cross.
Hibs are seeing the vast majority of the ball at the moment.
Promising start from Thistle but Erskine plays a ball to Storey to his right when Spittal to his left may have been the better option.
You need to go back to October 28th for Thistle's last home game and back to November 19th for the last game home or away.
That game ended in a 1-1 draw at Hearts and Alan Archibald has gone with the same starting eleven that started at Hearts for todfay's visit of Hibs.
The only changes comes on the bench where there are places for Conor Sammon and Martin Woods.