Saturday 20th April, 2013 at 9:46pm
Tomorrow afternoon Partick Thistle have another date with destiny. Once the disappointed of not clinching the First Division title on Tuesday against Raith Rovers had receded a little came the realisation that the point gained had edged us to the very cusp of promotion. Tomorrow we hope to be able to celebrate the reality of becoming First Division Champions for season 2012-2013.
These are occasions to be savoured and manager Alan Archibald when speaking to [link:HOME] was able to look back at previous title winning occasions.
“It’s something that I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced twice before, at Forfar and at St Mirren, and they were memorable occasions; more so I found than actually getting the trophy.”
Alan continued;
“Tomorrow’s game is going to be a really difficult one. As we saw on Tuesday night against Raith Rovers no side wants to be involved in a game where the opposition clinch the league. We are also desperate to clinch the title as a result of our own efforts as opposed to what happens elsewhere.”
Going into tomorrow’s game there is little change with regard to player availability although one player is due to return after missing the last few weeks.
“Jordan McMillan is back after being ill. He’s trained all week. Paul Paton has also stepped up his training this week but he isn’t ready to be involved tomorrow. Hugh Murray too won’t be involved tomorrow. Indeed I don’t think Hugh will play again this season. It would be too much of a risk given that we think it is a fracture to his ankle that he has picked up. That’s a blow for Hugh who really was outstanding in the first third or so of the season.”
Despite confirmation earlier in the week that both Paul Paton and Chris Erskine will be joining Dundee United at the expiry of their contracts the manager won’t have any hesitation in including Chris tomorrow; Paul of course being injured anyway.
“These things happen in football. I’ve obviously been aware of this for a few weeks in any case. Since then Chris has worked just as hard as any player has. His approach to the game hasn’t changed one bit; he hasn’t pulled out of a single tackle. He’s been a true professional and I think we all saw when we scored the winner at Airdrie last week how much it meant to him.”
Partick Thistle Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 3* 0 3 1
(* one of the draws ended in a 6-5 defeat on penalties)
Scorers Season 2012-2013
Kris Doolan 15
Steven Craig 14
Chris Erskine 14
Steven Lawless 13
Conrad Balatoni 6
Stuart Bannigan 4
Ross Forbes 4
Aaron Muirhead 4
James Craigen 2
Christie Elliott 2
Stephen O’Donnell 2
Aaron Sinclair 2
Sean Welsh 2
Own Goal 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Tuesday April 16th 2013
Partick Thistle 0, Raith Rovers 0
Falkirk Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
3 0 2 11 8
Scorers Season 2012-2013
Lyle Taylor 28
Stewart Murdoch 6
Blair Alston 5
David Weatherston 4
Jay Fulton 3
Sean Higgins 3
Darren Dods 2
Kieran Duffie 2
Conor McGrandles 2
Craig Sibbald 2
Thomas Grant 1
Stephen Kingsley 1
Luke Leahy 1
Lewis Small 1
Own Goal 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Tuesday April 16th 2013
Falkirk 1, Dumbarton 3
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday January 19th 2013
Partick Thistle 4, Falkirk 1
Teams
Thistle: Fox, Murray (Craigen), Sinclair, Paton, Balatoni, Archibald, Lawless (Welsh), Bannigan, Craig (Doolan), Forbes, Erskine.
Falkirk: McGovern, Duffie, Kingsley, Dods, McGeever, Murdoch, Grant (Higgins), Alston, Taylor, J Fulton, McGrandles.
Scorers
Thistle: Balatoni (4, 62), Erskine (20, 64)
Falkirk: Taylor (18)
Crowd: 3,280
Match Highlights
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday April 20th 2013
Falkirk v Partick Thistle
Kick-off: 3pm
Prices
Adults: £18
Concessions (fulltime student/over 65s/unemployed): £12
Under 16s: £8
A large travelling support is expected to make the trip through to Falkirk on Saturday.
For this fixture the Thistle fans have been allocated the normal North Stand away end. We are told that this stand can accommodate 2,000 fans.
It is anticipated that this will not be sufficient for the numbers expected to travel and a section of the Main Stand has been set aside for the expected overspill of Thistle fans.
To avoid queues, Falkirk FC and the police are advising fans to turn up early.
Travel and Parking Information
Supporters Bus Information
Match Officials
Referee: Stephen Finnie
Assistant Referees: Graeme Leslie and Duncan Smith
Other First Division Fixtures
Dumbarton v Airdrie United
Dunfermline Athletic v Cowdenbeath
Hamilton Accies v Raith Rovers
Livingston v Morton
