Friday 11th August, 2017 at 11:54pm
Partick Thistle had a tough start to the new Ladbrokes Premiership season with an away trip to Easter Road which they lost 3-1. However, an encouraging 3-0 midweek cup win at St. Johnstone had re-injected the early season enthusiasm into the Jags. Following their success in Perth, Thistle face the tough challenge of treble-winners, Celtic. Despite a spirited and dogged display, especially in the second half, the Maryhill side fell to a defeat. A single first half goal was enough for the Parkhead team as Olivier Ntcham’s deflected strike proved the difference. Jags boss, Alan Archibald spoke with ptfc.co.uk following the final whistle.
On a night when his side managed to keep Celtic out for much of the game, Archie was frustrated that the Hoops’ only goal came from a set piece.
“We lost a disappointing goal from a set play. I’d spoken a lot this week about not giving Celtic goals and making them work for what they got but when they score a goal like that it’s like gifting them a goal. It did take a deflection but we could have defended it better.”
One of the key moments of the game was a missed chance from Kris Doolan. The Jags forward was found by a Christie Elliott cross but he couldn’t find the net from close range with a header. However, with the no. 9 just returning from injury, the gaffer doesn’t blame Doolan for the miss.
“I’ve said it before, you get a chance in every game whether it’s clear cut or a half-chance. As long as we were in the game at 1-0 we knew we could still get something and that was our best chance. Unfortunately, Kris couldn’t take the chance but he’s bailed us out so many times before so we can’t blame him. In actual fact, he’s only trained one day this week so we’ll cut him some slack.”
Another key moment in the match was in injury time when Miles Storey was upended in the box by Nir Bitton. There were cries for a penalty from the Thistle fans and players alike but Andrew Dallas decided not to give anything, however, Archie feels his side were unlucky not to be awarded a spot kick.
“Anywhere else on the pitch and the foul is given. It’s a huge call at that point in the game but I still think he has to give it. We got a penalty at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday and I don’t think we’ll ever get two in two games. We’ve struggled to get two in two years!”
Archie and his squad now turn their attention to next Saturday’s clash with St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park as they return to the scene of their 3-0 win in midweek. Kick-off is at 15:00 in Perth.
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Article Copyright © 2017. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
