Tuesday 2nd April, 2013 at 9:39pm
There is scarcely time to draw breath between matches at the moment. No sooner had we gone four points clear at the top of the league on Saturday than we are back in midweek action with another trip through to Fife; this time to face Raith Rovers.
It was Raith Rovers with their win over Morton at the weekend that helped Thistle open up a gap at the top of the league and manager Alan Archibald is in no doubt that his side will face a similarly tough fixture.
“It’s always difficult at Stark’s Park” said Alan before continuing;
“The last time we played up there Kris Doolan scored a late goal to get what I thought was a great point and the fact that they beat Morton on Saturday just emphasises how difficult this game is going to be for us. In Brian Graham they have a player who has been on fire this season and he will be a real threat to us.”
The manager isn’t worried that Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup Final will prove to be any kind of distraction;
“The Cup Final is a big game but we will be stressing to the players that this game is the bigger game, in truth every game we play now this season is something of a cup final. This match with Raith Rovers is a massive game for us and we are well aware of the significance of a Thistle victory. We’ve always been aware of the importance in turning games in hand into points and we’ve managed to do that so far. There is a real sense of togetherness in the squad; their attitude has been brilliant and we will go through to Kirkcaldy with the aim of again taking full advantage of another game in hand.”
In pursuit of the three points the manager will have virtually a full squad to select from.
“The only two players that should miss this game are the two that missed Saturday’s match at Cowdenbeath; Paul Paton and Hugh Murray. I am giving thought to freshening the team up but to be honest I don’t think that the players are looking tired. It is, I think, a mental thing and you feel more tired when you are losing than you do when you are winning. We’ve had a lot of games to play but the players have shown real hunger and desire in those matches. Besides Raith Rovers have also had a tough schedule of matches and will also be playing their fourth game in ten days.”
Partick Thistle Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
5 0 0 16 2
Scorers Season 2012-2013
Steven Craig 14
Kris Doolan 14
Chris Erskine 14
Steven Lawless 13
Conrad Balatoni 5
Stuart Bannigan 4
Ross Forbes 4
Aaron Muirhead 4
Christie Elliott 2
Stephen O’Donnell 2
Aaron Sinclair 2
Sean Welsh 2
James Craigen 1
Own Goal 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday March 30th 2013
Cowdenbeath 1, Partick Thistle 2
Raith Rovers Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 1 2 7 9
Scorers Season 2012-2013
Brian Graham 24
Greig Spence 14
Pat Clarke 8
Allan Walker 6
Grant Anderson 5
Douglas Hill 4
Simon Mensing 2
David Smith 1
Own Goal 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday March 30th 2013
Raith Rovers 2, Morton 1
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday December 15th 2012
Partick Thistle 3, Raith Rovers 2
Thistle: Smith, Muirhead, Sinclair, Paton, Balatoni, Archibald, Lawless, Bannigan, Craig, Forbes, Erskine (McGuigan).
Rovers: Laidlaw, Thomson, Malone, Ellis, Hill, Hamill, G Anderson, Walker, Graham, Spence, Smith (Clarke).
Scorers
Thistle: Bannigan (21), Lawless (32), Craig (87)
Rovers: Spence (12), Graham (81)
Crowd: 2,221
Match Highlights
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Tuesday April 2nd 2013
Raith Rovers v Partick Thistle
Prices
Adult: £17
Junior: £9
Senior Citizen: £9
Pre-school concession: Free
Parent and Child: £20
College/Student concession: £13 (proof of status required)
Jobseeker concession: £9 (proof of status required)
Disability and carer concession: £9
Supporters Bus Information
Match Officials
Referee: Calum Murray
Assistant Referees: Joseph Lawson and Thomas Clark
Other First Division Fixtures
Hamilton Accies v Dumbarton
Livingston v Falkirk
