Saturday 29th December, 2012 at 9:17pm
As you would imagine there was a sharp contrast in the moods of the two managers immediately after yesterday’s game with Airdrie United.
Thistle manager Jackie McNamara bemoaned the way his side started the game.
“We knew that they would be up for the game after the way we played the last time we played them and we knew that there would be a response from them, but from my point of view I’m only interested in my team and how we play and we didn’t start the game very well. We were sloppy with our passing. I thought possession wise we had good opportunities during the first half but we didn’t make the right pass or the final ball. We then got caught with a goal just before half-time and there could have been another one at the back post.”
Jackie continued;
“Second half I thought that we were better. We passed the ball quicker and we had some good chances. We upped the tempo in the second half but you give yourselves a lot to do when they have a goal to hang onto with hard work and effort. We should have started the game better and passed the ball quicker and sharper.”
The equaliser was late in coming but the Thistle manager still felt that there was more than enough time to go on and find a winning goal.
“After we got the equaliser I thought that we were capable of going on and getting the winner. I thought we were creating enough chances and were getting the ball into some good areas but again the last ball or the finish just wasn’t there. All credit to Jimmy’s team though. They battled away well for him and they had a chance on the breakaway as well. My concern is my team and we need to show that level of intensity for the whole game not just the last 30 minutes of the game.”
The loss of two points coupled with the result at Cappielow meant that Thistle dropped off their perch at the top of the table. Said Jackie;
“I’d rather be top of the league at the moment but I’ve said from day one that it’s going to be a battle at the top. Morton had a great result against Dunfermline today but there is a long, long way to go; we haven’t even reached the halfway stage yet. We need to get back focused on ourselves and not worry about what is happening elsewhere. Our priority, with the players that we have in the dressing room, is that we get back to winning games of football.”
Airdrie United boss Jimmy Boyle was understandably delighted with his side’s display.
“That was our best performance of the season, certainly against them. Thistle are top side, we were under no illusion that they are a top side. We went with a very, very young squad today and I thought that they were excellent. We started the game well. We knew that we would concede possession with them playing three men in the middle of the park but we worked really hard to combat that and we did, especially in the first half. I think out keeper has just had one save to make in the first half even though they’ve thrown a lot of balls into the box. The centre halves though dealt with that very well. We’ve made their keeper make a couple of saves and John Boyle scored a very good goal.”
“I thought that we deserved not to be beaten. We took our chance when it came and I was really happy that we got what we deserved in the first half. Second half we knew that they would throw everything at us. They’ve got good quality and it took a goal of that quality for the equaliser. We kept taking the game to them though and had chances as well with Liam Watt and Liam Buchanan.”
“I think we are going to get better and we are going to try and strengthen the squad to help these young boys.”
