18th Oct 1997 Raith Rovers 2 Partick Thistle 0 (SFL First Division - game 9)

matches:1997-98: ← 13game 1415 →

Match Information

			Jimmy Nicholl		John McVeigh			40y, 8m, 23d
					Billy Macdonald; Charlie Adams; Andy Lyons
					Peter Hetherston; Gareth Evans; Nicky Henderson
Paul Hartley (0-1, 13 mins); Danny Lennon (0-2, 90+3 mins)
Davie Kirkwood; Paul Hartley					David Farrell; Andy Lyons; Charlie Adams; Callum Milne
Derek McGill (@ 0-1, 55 mins)
Craig Dargo (Keith Wright, 59 mins); Lee Dair (Jason Dair, 64 mins)					Jered Stirling (Gareth Evans, 70 mins); Billy Macdonald (Nicky Henderson, 76 mins); Andy Lyons (Alan Archibald, 82 mins)
			Guido Van De Kamp		Andy Stewart			19y, 9m, 16d
			Craig McEwan		Callum Milne			32y, 1m, 21d
			Kevin Fotheringham		Jered Stirling			21y, 0m, 5d
			Paul Browne		David Farrell			27y, 11m, 19d
			Davie Kirkwood		Iain Nicolson			21y, 0m, 5d
			future Jag Danny Lennon		Gregg Watson			27y, 0m, 27d
			future Jag Lee Dair		Jimmy Boyle			30y, 7m, 29d
			John Millar		Billy Macdonald			21y, 1m, 1d
			Paul Hartley		Alan Morgan			22y, 10m, 8d
			future Jag Craig Dargo		Charlie Adams			21y, 6m, 27d
			Derek McGill		Andy Lyons			30y, 11m, 29d
								25y, 1m, 7d
			Jason Dair		Gareth Evans			30y, 9m, 4d
			Keith Wright		Nicky Henderson			28y, 8m, 10d
			Peter Duffield		Alan Archibald			19y, 10m, 5d

Match Report

TTA report

A poor start saw Thistle trail to an opening goal (13) but a better spell gave some cause for optimism. They pressed continuously for an equaliser against 10 men (red card, lunge) from early in the second half. The Rovers keeper had 2 magnificent saves and no luck at all came their way. The 2nd goal came (90) Stewart at fault.

Media report

20-Oct-1997, The Mirror

The axe is set to fall at Firhill this week and it's anybody's guess which of the players will be left. Jags boss John McVeigh has had enough after bottom-of-the-table Thistle's latest horror story. It is his first job in charge after being No.2 at Airdrie and he is not going to stand any more failure. McVeigh said: “This week, I am going to see the people in charge to see if I can get swops or whatever, because I am not putting up with this. Very simply, the players here are not good enough for Partick Thistle. I am not used to this, I am used to team's challenging for things. I am sick of this, and I don't care who is in charge of this club, because something has to be done. This could mean players going out the door to make way for others. I have made an evaluation. I can't fault my players for effort, they gave their best but unfortunately, that is their best. They have been given a quarter of a season and they are not good enough.” True, Thistle had battled every inch of the way against Raith they but failed dismally, even when Rovers were down to ten men after Derek Gill was sent off.

Raith took the lead in 13 minutes when Danny Lennon found ex-Millwall winger Paul Hartley on the right with a cute pass. And Hartley, described after the game by No.2 Alex Smith as “outstanding”, struck a venomous effort past Andy Stewart for his first goal in Raith colours. Between that and Danny Lennon's fantastic clincher at the death, there was the sending off of McGill for a retaliatory scythe on Iain Nicholson. But Raith still looked in control, even with ten men, and when Lennon fired a beauty into the top corner of the net at the end, Rovers fans' joy was complete.

The fortunes of the two sides could not have been more starkly contrasted. Those who doubted that Jimmy Nicholl could work his magic on the Kirkcaldy fans for a second time look like they will be eating their words come May. And Lennon, who remembers the very recent turmoil at Stark's Park, with relegation and almost daily adverse headlines, believes the Rovers are turning the corner. He said: “Jimmy Nicholl and Alex Smith work great together, and they have some great ideas. They are very shrewd. We have off-loaded some players, and brought others in, and the most important thing for us is to keep winning. But we spoke about taking 15 points from our first quarter, and we know that we will have to do better in the next three if we are to do anything.” Smith insisted that the Jags will bounce back. He said: “I can't see them being at the bottom of the table for long.”

Scrapbook

magnifiable if deemed necessary by your browser

PTFC Match Programme, 25th October, 1997

Stats Watch

ongoing sequences:

● 8 away League games without a win; 19th Apr 1997 to date. (Longest run since: 9 games; 5th Mar 1994 to 1st Oct 1994. Club-record: 26 games; 20th Mar 1935 to 29th Aug 1936.)

● 9 competitive away games without a win; 19th Apr 1997 to date. (Longest run since: 10 games; 13th Apr 1996 to 5th Oct 1996. Club-record: 25 games; 20th Apr 1908 to 28th Aug 1909.)

● 14 games without a clean-sheet in the League; 12th Apr 1997 to date. (Longest run since: 15 games; 27th Aug 1988 to 3rd Dec 1988. Club-record: 46 games; 20th Apr 1908 to 30th Oct 1909.)

● 16 competitive games without a clean-sheet; 12th Apr 1997 to date. (Longest run since: 16 games; 31st Jan 1996 to 10th Aug 1996. Club-record: 45 games; 27th May 1893 to 18th May 1895.)

● 40 consecutive competitive appearances for David Farrell, 12th Oct 1996 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Steve Welsh - 64 games, 26th Dec 1994 to 27th Apr 1996. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

Stats Watch adheres to our stated definitions of League, League Max, Major Competitive, Competitive or All Games. Where there is no written qualification, you should presume that the Stat in question is compiled from the All Games criteria.

.

match hubs