Saturday 16th February, 2019 at 7:43pm
After six games unbeaten to begin 2019, Partick Thistle looked to continue their resurgent form with a result at the Indodrill Stadium against Alloa Athletic. The Jags had failed to win in their two previous meetings with the Wasps this season, however, they were able to fix that record thanks to a 2-0 victory today. It took just four minutes for the away side to break the deadlock as Blair Spittal smashed home his eighth goal of the season having been set up by Kris Doolan. The lead was then doubled on 79 minutes with two substitutes combining to extend the red and yellow advantage. Lewis Mansell nodded the ball down to the feet of debutant Scott McDonald who slotted home past Neil Parry to bag his first goal for the Club.
With Gary Caldwell serving a one match suspension, assistant manager Brian Kerr took control from the sidelines this afternoon with Caldwell sat in the stands. As such, Kerr also took on Gary’s post-match responsibilities, speaking to ptfc.co.uk following the game.
Brian began by explaining why Caldwell’s absence from the technical area on matchday did not affect the team’s preparation for the Alloa fixture.
“So much of what we do happens through the week so we’ve been preparing for the match as normal even though Gary wasn’t in the dugout with me today.
“We have our gameplan ready well in advance and the manager has plenty of time to make sure the players know what they need to do. On top of that, a few hours before the game, at our pre-match meal, he got to speak to them and give some final words ahead of the game.
“Overall, whether he’s on the sidelines or in the stand it comes down to the players to perform and they did their part today in what was a brilliant result.”
Off the back of the day’s triumph, Kerr is hopeful that the team can start to move away from the relegation dogfight and begin to look upwards in future.
“The aim for us is to keep climbing and try to get away from those bottom two spots. We’re now above Alloa and Falkirk and we aren’t too far away from the likes of Morton and Dunfermline. Ultimately, we just need to keep up our current form and we’ll continue to move up the league.”
He gave new signing, Scott McDonald, praise after the Australian netted the team’s second goal just a day after joining the Club on a deal until the end of the season.
“You can’t ask for much more than that, can you? We brought him in for a reason and that was to score goals which he’s started doing immediately. He had three or four chances and when his match sharpness is built up, he’ll probably take all of those but to get one is still excellent for the team.”
He also complimented the performance of Steven Anderson who played a big part in securing the team’s first consecutive clean sheets since October 2017.
“He’s been a rock at the back since he arrived. It seems like the ball just magnetises to his head at times with the way he wins those aerial challenges. He’s one of a few new players in that defence who have come in with a real hunger and determination which has been a big part of our recent run.”
A more in depth video interview with Brian Kerr is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Conor Hazard and Blair Spittal – log in now to see them.
Highlights will be added shortly and will be free 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.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk
