Saturday 15th September, 2018 at 6:36pm
After a break for cup action last weekend, Partick Thistle returned to league action as they travelled north to take on Inverness at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. The Jags were looking for their first away win of the new Championship season as they took on the division’s only remaining undefeated side, Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The Highlanders had kept three clean sheets in their opening four games and sat second in the second tier table. Unfortunately for the visitors, it wasn’t to be as their hosts raced to a three-goal lead thanks to Jordan White, Shaun Rooney and Sean Welsh. Miles Storey missed a penalty to round off a dreadful opening 45 minutes for the Maryhill men but Thistle looked the better side throughout the second period, grabbing two late goals through Blair Spittal and Kris Doolan, both of whom were finding the net for the first time this season. The comeback couldn’t be completed however, with the away side leaving Inverness empty handed. Jags manager, Alan Archibald spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the final whistle.
Archie began by giving us his summation of what was an action-packed 90 minutes up at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
“It was a strange game, overall. We started on the front foot as the better team which was exactly what we’d asked for from the players but then they go up and score with their first attack. It’s bad defending on our part and then they just grew from there. In this league, you can’t afford to give anyone any sort of headstart, never mind a three-goal one and that’s what has cost us in the end.”
We then asked the gaffer if he feels the team is still in a gelling faze after a summer of massive change at the club but he said that his side can’t excuse a first half like today’s, no matter how many new names are involved.
“We are still a new side and it’ll take time for us to get everyone on the same wavelength on the park but collectively and individually, we need to make sure we do things a lot better. If we can start doing the simple things right, especially away from home, then that gives us something to build on but we’re making it too easy for teams to break us down as a unit.”
He then praised his players for their second half performance as they came out for the second 45 with a more positive attitude which lead to them dominating proceedings.
“Our main message for the boys at the break was that they should be going out there with a bit of personal pride to try and win the second half at the very least. To their credit, they really took a hold of the game from the interval onward and created some good chances. Granted, Inverness were 3-0 up but at the same time there was definite improvement.”
The gaffer ended by talking about Stuart Bannigan, who came on in the first half and played a stellar 54 minutes in his second appearance of the season.
“Stuart was sort of flung into the game but I thought he did very well in the middle of the park. You can see we’re a different side with Stuart on the pitch but it shouldn’t take the presence of someone who’s recovering from a long-term injury to give us drive as a team, that should come from the 11 as a whole. Nevertheless, it was good to get Banzo some more minutes.”
A more in depth video interview with Alan Archibald is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Kris Doolan and Blair Spittal. Log in now to see it as soon as it is available.
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 © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
