SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership
Sat 29 October, 2016. Kick Off: - 15:00
McDiarmid Park, Perth
Supporter Information:
Thistle supporters will be housed in the north end of the West Stand.
Jags fans should enter through turnstiles 6 and 7 with admission prices as follows:
Adults – £23
Over 65s – £13
13 – 18 year old – £12
Turnstile 5 is the only turnstile where Thistle fans can benefit from the family deal offered by St Johnstone:
1 adult and up two kids aged 12 and under for £16. Additional adult in family group – £16 (max 1 additional adult).
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 11:20
Station Bar – 11:30
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email to book.
Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 13:00
Thornwood Bar – 13:05
Prices:
£14 for adults
£7 for concessions
All Jags fans are welcome but booking is essential.
For seats please contact Alistair on 07817612563 or email
For general enquires please contact Iain on 07779668357
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 12:30
Esquire House – 12:45
Maryhill Community Halls – 13:00
Prices:
£16 for adults
£10 for concessions.
A concession qualifies as school aged children, unwaged adults, senior citizens & matriculated students
Thistle boss, Alan Archibald, was a much happier figure when he spoke to ptfc.co.uk at Firhill on Friday. A terrific win at Dens Park on Wednesday night lifted the Jags up to ninth spot as they recorded their first win since the opening day of the season.
With a trip to St Johnstone coming on Saturday, Archie knows his team has a point to prove after a lacklustre first outing against the Perth side.
Archibald said: “There’s a totally different mood around the place after the win on Wednesday night and you can sense the relief in the players because that streak was starting to drag on and there was a danger it would become a monkey on our backs.
“We’ve had a few right sore ones recently where we have not managed to get the result over the line so to have taken all three points down the road with us was a great feeling. We’ve not been playing badly to be fair but I think that actually makes you feel worse after you lose points. We need to keep taking the positives and make the most of the boost that Wednesday night gave us.”
The trip to McDiarmid Park is made all the more important for Archibald’s side as they now face an incredibly tough run of games that sees them play Aberdeen and Rangers in close succession.
“We now have a run of really tough games ahead of us so it is vital that we go to St Johnstone and take something from the game. We dropped a lot of points in recent weeks against teams that are around us in the league and that has meant there is a little bit more pressure on these games than perhaps there needed to be.
“We had a good record against St Johnstone last season but that counts for nothing now. They came and turned us over comfortably at Firhill so I think we have a bit of a point to prove too. That was the one performance that was really disappointing in the league this term and we need to show that we are better than that.
“If you said there wasn’t a bad performance on the pitch on Wednesday night I don’t think there was a good one when we last played St Johnstone. We know we’re better than what we showed that day though and that’s the team we need to be on Saturday.”
St Johnstone could be seen as something of a role model club for Thistle, with consistent top half finishes to their name and a number of European appearances to boot.
“I’ve said a number of times how much I admire the work Tommy has done up there. He keeps that squad ticking over all the time and has unearthed one or two diamonds in that time as well.”
Finally, Archibald ran down his injury list which, it’s fair to say, is extensive.
“Ryan Scully will see a specialist because he dislocated his shoulder on Wednesday night which is obviously a blow. We’ve got Stuckmann though and he has a wealth of experience behind him so it’s a good back up to have. Osman and Lindsay are both 50/50 at the moment after they picked up impact injuries on Wednesday night.”
A late Abdul Osman winner meant Alan Archibald’s Partick Thistle side travelled back down the road with all three points. Archibald stuck with the same outfield 10 that had done the business at Dens Park on Wednesday with the only absence being Ryan Scully who began his enforced spell on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder.
It was a strong performance as the team continued with the 3-5-2 system that has served them so well in recent games. Archie took the time to speak to ptfc.co.uk about the result shortly before leaving McDiarmid Park.
Archibald said: “It’s always a hard game up here so we were clearly delighted to take all three points. It’s a ground we’ve had a good record at in recent times so it was good to be able to keep that up today.
“They caused us problems in the wide areas during the first half but, once we settled down, I thought we coped very well. That being said it is a very difficult place to come and get three points so it’s great to be able to do just that.”
Archibald left his outfield players unchanged for the third game in a row, something that he admits he did have concerns about.
“Having played three games on the trot with the same personnel we were a little bit concerned about energy levels going in to the game. Having said that I don’t think you would have known the amount of football they had played by watching them. The fitness on show was outstanding and I thought we worked their goalkeeper more than they worked ours.
“It has been a good week and I think we’ve bounced back well after dropping points against Ross County at home. We’ve taken seven points from three games and that is always a sign of a good week. We now go into a run of games that is really tough but we have given ourselves a really good platform to go and really have a go at the teams we have coming up.”
There were some enthusiastic celebrations after the winning goal was scored and Archibald admitted that it was nice to score a late goal rather than conceding one which has been the pattern in certain games this season.
“It is so pleasing to have got that late winner, especially considering how often the same thing has been done to us. It’s hard on the opposition but it is great for us because it has felt at times this season that we can’t celebrate or relax at all until the final whistle has gone.”
It was clear that, when they did come on, the manager’s substitutes made a big difference.
“Yea, I think they had a major impact. Erskine got on the ball and caused problems and David Amoo did ever so well to get the assist for the winner. It’s great to have such good personnel on the bench, they know the system and can cause problems going forward while also being very aware defensively too.”
The final word was saved for Jags debutant, Thorsten Stuckmann, who added presence and experience between the sticks.
“We made the decision to get Thorsten in when we weren’t sure how long Tomas was going to be out for and we’re certainly glad we did. I thought he did well today even though he didn’t have a huge amount to do. He pulled off an outstanding save, the shot might have been offside but he wasn’t to know that. It was a great debut for the big man and hopefully he can grow into that position in the coming weeks.”
Sat 29 October, 2016
SPFL Ladbrokes Premiership 
McDiarmid Park, Perth
Abdul Osman's injury time strike is enough to secure a 2-1 win for Thistle making it 6 points from 6 in the last two games.
Paton's low drive flies wide of goal.
Amoo does fantastically well and his cut back is smashed into the net by Osman.
Minimum of 3 additional minutes to be played.
Stuckmann doesn't claim the corner and Thistle are forced to scramble the ball clear.
Coulson's shot from 25 yards out is well enough struck but it is always heading wide of goal.
MacLean's low shot doesn't pose Stuckmann any problems.
it's a good corner but St Johnstone are able to clear.
Paton's effort from distance drifts well wide of target.
Stuckmann makes a great save to deny Kane but the flag is up for offside in any case.
clark comes off his line to claim Welsh's corner.
Doolan turns towards goal at the edge of the box and although he is slipping as he shoots he still forces Clark into a save but it is a comfortable one for the keeper.
Azeez cuts in towards goal and is unlucky to see his shot blocked by a defender.
Stuckmann is there to gather a Wotherspoon cross at the near post.
Thistle are close to taking the lead. Doolan sets up Edwards whose shot is pushed away by Clark.
Doolan tries to glance a Osman cross towards the St Johnstone goal.
Almost completely out of the blue Thistle nearly regain the lead with Azeez forcing Clark into an excellent save to his left.
Wotherspoon's cross clips the top of the Thistle crossbar before the ball goes out for a goal kick.
A Booth cross is cleared as Thistle threaten for the first time in the second half.
Craig lays the ball back to Paton whose first time shot is wide of target.
Lindsay heads clear Craig's free kick but is fouled while doing so anyway and Thistle have a free kick.
St Johnstone earn a free kick near the corner of the Thistle box.
Two goals 40 seconds part is the story of an evenly matches opening 45 minutes.
It was Thistle that took the lead after 16 minutes when Kris Doolan touched home a Danny Devine header.
St Johnstone though were immediately level when MacLean fired home.
A Welsh free kick is cleared only as far as Edwards lurking outside the box. He leans back though as he hits the ball and it clears the St Johnstone crossbar with a bit to spare.
Doolan is able to get his head to a chipped cross from Osman but he can't get any power into his header and Clark has an easy save to make.
Welsh creates a shooting opportunity for himself but he can't find a way past Clark who clutches hold of Welsh's shot.
Shaughnessy tries to curl the ball into the net but the long arms of Stuckmann come out and he grabs hold of the ball.
It's an easy catch for Stuckmann as the free kick comes in.
St Johnstone have a free kick on the left after Osman is adjudged to have handled the ball.
Elliott's deflected cross nearly sneaks in at the post but Clark makes a good save.
Welsh's corner is poor and is headed clear at the front post.
things have settled down after that flurry of goal action.
Thistle are pegged back immediately with MacLean's low shot beating Stuckmann.
Elliott's free kick to the back post is headed on by Devine and Doolan is on hand to knock the ball home from about a yard out.
Edwards does really well to win the ball about 35 yards from the St Johnstone goal. In winning the ball though it takes him a little too wide for a shot and he can''t find a Thistle man with his cut back.
Thistle clear the free kick but the ball is knocked back into the box where the ball gets stuck under the feet of Cummins who had got himself into a good position in front of the Thistle goal.
St Johnstone have a free kick close to the left corner of the Thistle box.
Azeez shoots from distance but he doesn';t make clean contact and his shot goes well wide of goal.
First chance for the home side. Thistle back off as Swanson comes forward with the ball and he calls Stuckmann into action with a firm shot that the Thistle keeper gets right behind and saves.
Early chance for Thistle as Easton makes a great challenge just as Azeez is about to pull the trigger from 6 yards out after a sharp turn. Promising start from Thistle.
Thistle kick the game off.
Thistle show just the one change from the side that defeated Dundee midweek.
After coming on as a sub on Wednesday to replaced the injured Ryan Scully, Thorston Stuckmann starts this afternoon and in doing so becomes the 4th different keeper to start a first team fixture for Thistle this season. Young Conor Cullen takes the sub keeper's slot.