SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sun 7 May, 2017. Kick Off: - 12:15
Firhill Stadium
Tickets for the Ladbrokes Premiership clash against Rangers at Firhill on Sunday 7th May remain on sale for home fans. All home fans will be located in the Colin Weir and North Stands for this fixture.
Prices for this fixture are as below:
Adult – £25
Conc. – £17
U16 – £5
Tickets can be purchased at ptfctickets, over the phone (0141 579 1971) or in person at the Firhill offices.
Disabled fans in wheelchairs are eligible for a concession ticket with a nominated career able to accompany them to the game free of charge and will be located in the North stand. Ambulant disabled fans are also eligible for concession rates and a free carer ticket but can choose to sit in either the North Stand or the Colin Weir Stand.
Thistle fans with a season ticket can use their season cards in either the Colin Weir or North Stands where there will be handheld card scanners. This means that, if you are a season ticket holder, you don’t need to do anything else – simply turn up as usual and use your season card at the Colin Weir or North Stand turnstiles.
The last opportunity to purchase a ticket from the Firhill offices is 10am on Sunday.
Away fans – Rangers Football Club has been sent the full away allocation for this fixture and will be handling the sale of all tickets. No away tickets will be sold by Partick Thistle.
A spirited second half performance saw 10-man Partick Thistle take a point from Tynecastle on Saturday and now the Jags must look for a similarly impressive performance with Rangers who are the visitors this Sunday. Thistle are the only team in the Scottish Premiership not to have taken points from the Gers and will no doubt be looking to amend that statistic. Ahead of the clash, Thistle boss Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk to look towards that game.
Firstly, we spoke to Alan about his recently announced nomination for the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award.
“I must admit that I was surprised. At the end of the day, we haven’t won silverware this season and we see Jim Duffy taking Morton to the cup semi-finals and others making two finals so I’m honoured to be thought of in such high regard. Also, it’s other managers who vote for it which makes it even more special for me. It’s not from anyone on the outside or sponsors, it’s fellow professionals and to get recognition from them is humbling in a way.”
Archie also touched on Liam Lindsay’s inclusion in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year after a great campaign for the young centre-half.
“It’s fantastic for the club and the Weir Academy as Liam has come through the ranks here. He was in my under-17s team when I was taking it and he’s been out on loan twice. The outstanding thing is that he never stops improving, he’s always trying to better himself which is a credit to him. In his first season, he was making mistakes and taking some flak but good players can learn from the mistakes they make and there’s no doubt that he’s done that.”
The gaffer was very complimentary of Lindsay’s attitude and ability to stay grounded despite a lot of pressure being put on him.
“He’s not a ‘big-time Charlie’ – far from it. He’s a level-headed boy, he has a good temperament. Liam’s a good lad overall, he doesn’t shy away from working and is always looking to learn and he seeks advice when he needs it, too.”
Liam has been a part of a great defensive units that has been one of the league’s best since Christmas and Archie is very pleased with the group he’s brought together.
“This year and last year, we’ve been very proud of our defence. It’s been consistently in the top four or five in the league which is something to be celebrated. You have to remember that we’ve lost parts of our defence in the last two or three years but the guys we’ve brought in like Daniel Devine and Niall Keown have done brilliantly.”
After Rangers suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Celtic last week some may think that the Gers would be vulnerable but Archibald knows that the task ahead is anything but easy.
“They’ll be hurting from the last result but they’ll also be desperate to put it right. They’ll want to show their fans that they do have something to offer. However, we need to concentrate on ourselves and put out a better performance than the one at Ibrox three weeks ago when we were horrendous. We need to focus on ticking our own boxes before concerning ourselves with Rangers.”
Thistle’s clash with Rangers is the final iteration of this fixture this season and kicks off at 12:15 at Firhill.
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald is now available to Jagzone subscribers. Log in now to see it. Jagzone members will also be able to watch highlights of the game from midnight.
Can’t make Firhill? Jagzone World members (outside the UK and Ireland) can watch the game live – the stream is also available on a PPV basis. Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Alan has committed, will you join him? 2017/18 season tickets are now on sale.
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
Going into the split, Partick Thistle faced five challenging fixtures. Last weekend, the Jags played the first of the five against Hearts at Tynecastle. Thistle went ahead twice but a late Struna equaliser meant Alan Archibald’s men returned to Maryhill with just a point and not all three. Today, the Firhill side took on Rangers at home as they looked to take points from the Gers for the first time this season.
Daniel Devine was unavailable for the clash after being sent off in last weekend’s game in Edinburgh. However, the Jags were boosted by the returns of Liam Lindsay and Abdul Osman to the starting line-up as well as Mustapha Dumbuya’s return from injury but he could only make the bench. As well as Devine coming out of the squad, Andrew McCarthy dropped to the bench for today’s game. The Thistle management staff deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation for the meeting.
In the 13th minute the Jags took the lead through Kris Doolan. Steven Lawless gave Christie Elliott the ball on the right wing and the full-back curled a ball into the six-yard box where Kris Doolan had found space and he headed home from close range beating Foderingham at the near post.
The home side had a chance to double their lead 18 minutes in. Jags captain Abdul Osman’s cross was met by Niall Keown but the loanee couldn’t get his head over the ball and his attempt cleared the bar.
After that chance, the hosts should have made it two a minute later. Callum Booth’s cross from the left fell to the feet of Ryan Edwards who was stood five yards out. The Australian managed to get a shot of sorts away but Rangers ‘keeper Wes Foderingham closed him down well and turned the attempt behind.
The visitors’ best opportunity of the first half came in the 39th minute. James Tavernier whipped a free-kick into the box finding Danny Wilson. The defender tried to direct the ball goalward but his headed effort went wide of the far stick.
The teams went into the interval with the score at 1-0. Thistle had created the better chances of the two sides but Rangers still had plenty of the ball. Joe Dodoo and Martyn Waghorn were struggling to create anything on the wings and Kenny Miller was having to drop deep to even get a touch of the ball. Rangers would need to show some more creativity if they were to get anything from the game.
Kris Doolan would get the second period underway and the first chance of that second 45 would fall to the veteran marksman. Callum Booth was able to find space on the left to cross as Thistle countered. His delivery found the unmarked Doolan but the forward couldn’t find the target with his towering header.
The hosts had another great chance to double the deficit through Steven Lawless with 18 minutes to go. Kris Doolan’s cross from the right flank found Steven Lawless who rose highest to head on goal. He looked to have lifted it over Foderingham but the Englishman tipped it over the bar.
In the 76th minute, Pedro Caixinha made the bold decision to take holding midfielder, Jason Holt off for winger Barrie McKay and it was a move that would pay off come the 83rd minute. Barrie McKay was fed the ball in the Thistle box and he dummied a shot, evading Liam Lindsay and poked home past Tomas Cerny, making it 1-1.
As the teams played through the four minutes of added time, it seemed that things were going to end level but it wasn’t to be. In the final minute of the game, Kenny Miller picked up the ball and ran down the right of the Thistle box before lifting a ball into the danger area. The ball was met by Joe Garner who headed down past Tomas Cerny making it 2-1 as the Firhill faithful experienced a nightmarish case of deja-vu.
Just after the game kicked off again, the referee blew for full time as Thistle suffered yet another loss to their city rivals, Rangers. The Jags were made to rue the missed chances they had throughout the game as Garner struck late to grab the three points for the Ibrox side.
Thistle return to action next Saturday as Alan Archibald’s side travel to Perth to take on St. Johnstone with kick-off at 15:00.
THISTLE TEAM: Cerny, Booth, Lindsay, Keown, Elliott, Osman, Barton, Edwards (McCarthy, 89’), Lawless, Erskine (Azeez,86’), Doolan.
THISTLE SUBS (N/U): Ridgers, Dumbuya, Amoo, Nisbet, McLaughlin.
RANGERS TEAM: Foderingham, Beerman, Wilson (Barjonas, 71’), Bates, Tavernier, Holt (McKay, 76’), Windass, Waghorn (Hill, 53’), Dodoo, Miller, Garner.
RANGERS SUBS (N/U): Alnwick, Halliday, Dallas, Atakayi.
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
Alan Archibald’s Partick Thistle side were looking to take points from Rangers for the first time this season when the Gers visited Firhill this afternoon. The Jags had suffered three defeats in three games against their Glasgow rivals so far this campaign and would have been desperate to get something from today’s match but, ultimately, it wasn’t to be. Despite taking the lead through Kris Doolan early in the first half, the home side would go on to lose 2-1 after a brace of Rangers goals in the last 10 minutes scored by Barrie McKay and Joe Garner. The visibly dejected Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the final whistle to offer his opinion on the match.
After two late Rangers goals left his side with nothing for the second time this season, Archie admitted it was a very difficult result to take.
“It’s brutal. Especially after a good first half performance. I thought the first 15 minutes were frantic but after our goal, it settled down and we created some good opportunities that we maybe should have done better with. Since Christmas we’ve generally stopped conceding as many late goals but it seems to have creeped back in again.”
The gaffer also felt that his team deserved a draw at the very least in a game that neither side truly dominated.
“I thought we were comfortable for spells. In the second half, Rangers made changes, put more bodies forward and we dealt with that well for a long time. We were undone by the ‘keeper’s kick out. We didn’t deal with the first ball and they score from it. Our reaction following the goal was poor too. We looked tired and mentally weak towards the end today which was very disappointing.
“I think that we should have taken something today, without a doubt. When you compare the chances we created to theirs you’ll see that and they didn’t really cut us open, as I’ve said, their first goal came from a long ball which isn’t about tactics, it’s about concentration.”
The Jags boss was also unhappy with his team’s inability to finish Rangers off when they had the chance.
“That’s what got us over the line for the top six. Scoring goals at the right time like the Ross County game for example. We also defended properly in the games leading up to the split and today we weren’t clinical and our defending was poor when it mattered.”
Alan Archibald’s side return to action next Saturday as they travel to Perth to take on St. Johnstone. Kick-off for that game is at 15:00.
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Kris Doolan and Steven Lawless. Log in now to see it as soon as it is available.
Extended highlights of today’s match will be added at midnight and will be free to view 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.
Alan has committed, will you join him? 2017/18 season tickets are now on sale.
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.
Sun 7 May, 2017
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
Firhill Stadium
Doolan's cross is met by Lawless who rises highest to head on goal. His attempt is tipped over by Foderingham.
The full-back is booked for a foul on Bates.
Rangers send a long ball in Miller's direction but he fouls Lindsay in an aerial duel.
On the counter, Booth finds space to cross from the left. He finds the unmarked Doolan but he can't find the target.
Rangers free-kick on the right flank just outside the box.
Kris Doolan gets the second half underway.
Booth tries a speculative shot from 40 yards but it soars into the North Stand.
Tavernier whips a free-kick in from the right, finding a teammate but the header is off target and it's a goal kick.
The ball drops to Elliott, 30 yards out, and he hits a shot on the half-volley. It looks dangerous but goes wide of the near post.
Callum Booth's cross drops to Ryan Edwards but Foderingham is out quickly and Edwards' shot goes behind for a corner. Good goalkeeping.
Abdul Osman's cross is met by Niall Keown but he can't get his head over the ball and heads over the bar.
Dodoo gets past Elliott to the byline and crosses to Garner. The ball ricochets around but is cleared by Lindsay.
Steven Lawless gives Elliott the ball on the right and he curls a ball into the six-yard box where Kris Doolan is running in and he heads home from close range.
A promising counter-attack breaks down when Chris Erskine misplaces a pass to Callum Booth in the midfield.
Windass finds Garner with a cross to the front post and the ex-Preston man tries to touch it home but he finds the side netting.
A long ball from Foderingham finds Kenny Miller in the Thistle box. He hits a first time half-volley across goal but it's wide of the far post.
Joe Dodoo finds space on the left but his cross is headed out for a corner.
The sun is out and so are the teams as kick-off edges ever closer. Thistle are lead out by Abdul Osman in the famous red and yellow and it's Rangers who get things underway.
We are 15 minutes away from kick-off here at Firhill as Partick Thistle prepare to take on third-placed Rangers.
Thistle are coming off the back of a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle in a game that saw Danny Devine sent-off early in the second half.
Due to his dismissal last week, Devine misses today's game. Thbakfully for Alan Archibald, Liam Lindsay has recovered from a dead leg and goes straight back into the starting line-up, alongside Niall Keown as the Jags' centre-half pairing.
Christie Elliott and Callum Booth are the full-backs as Mustapha Dumbuya is only fit enough to make the bench. However, skipper Abdul Osman is able to start for the first time since Thistle's draw with Inverness a number of weeks ago. He plays beside Adam Barton and Ryan Edwards in a midfield three while Chris Erskine, Steven Lawless and Kris Doolan create a formidable front three after an impressive performance by the trio at Hearts last weekend.
David Amoo, Kevin Nisbet, Neil McLaughlin and Ade Azeez offer attacking options from Alan Archibald's bench while Andrew McCarthy, who impressed in Edinburgh last time out, is also among the substitutes.
Rangers come to Firhill trying to right the wrongs of their last two matches. They have lost two games in a row to rivals Celtic. Firstly, 2-0 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden and then 5-1 in the league at home.
The Gers are without Emerson Hyndman, Jon Toral, Rob Kiernan, Lee Wallace, Philippe Senderos and Lee Hodson.
Pedro Caixinha has gone with a back four of Beerman, Wilson, Bates and Tavernier. In central midfield for the away side it's Windass and Holt. Joe Dodoo, Kenny Miller, Martyn Waghorn and Joe Garner all start, giving Rangers a very attacking look.
In these teams three meetings this season, Rangers have won every time. The Jags have only managed one goal in those games but may feel like that goal from Kris Doolan should have earned them something from the clash at Firhill in November when two late Joe Dodoo goals secured all three points for the side from Govan.
The pitch is in good condition so we should be in for a good game of football today.