24th Jan 1998 St Johnstone 1 Partick Thistle 0 (Scottish Cup 3rd Round)

matches:1997-98: ← 27game 2829 →

Match Information

			Paul Sturrock		John McVeigh			40y, 11m, 30d
					Alan Archibald; Peter Hetherston; Robert Dunn; Andy Lyons
					Jamie McKenzie; Jered Stirling; Alan Morgan; Nicky Henderson
Alan Kernaghan (0-1, 3 mins)
Paul Kane					Andy Lyons
Phil Scott (Steve Tosh, 80 mins)					Robert Dunn (Alex Martin, 58 mins); Billy Macdonald (Iain Nicolson, 86 mins)
			Alan Main		Kenny Arthur			19y, 1m, 17d
			Alan Kernaghan		Gregg Watson			27y, 4m, 3d
			John McQuillan		Alan Archibald			20y, 1m, 11d
			Jim Weir		Callum Milne			32y, 4m, 28d
			Allan Preston		Kevin Gaughan			19y, 10m, 18d
			Paul Kane		Billy Macdonald			21y, 4m, 7d
			Phil Scott		Jimmy Boyle			30y, 11m, 5d
			John O'Neil		Peter Hetherston			33y, 2m, 18d
			George O'Boyle		Alan Lawrence			35y, 5m, 5d
			former Jag Roddy Grant		Robert Dunn			18y, 6m, 27d
			Leigh Jenkinson		Andy Lyons			31y, 3m, 5d
								26y, 4m, 1d
			Stuart McCluskey		Iain Nicolson			21y, 3m, 11d
			Steve Tosh		Alex Martin			18y, 5m, 6d
			Tommy Wright		Jamie McKenzie			17y, 1m, 26d

Match Report

TTA report

Thistle were caught out with a header from a corner (3) but they were not disgraced against Premier Division opposition. They improved, Lawrence hit the bar and the Saints keeper was in top form. Saints hit the bar twice in the second half yet Thistle were never out of it but they weren't clinical enough. 11 straight Scottish cup defeats.

Media report

26-Jan-1998, The Herald

The Save the Jags campaign has turned into a national crusade but when it came to helping themselves when it mattered most, they were found wanting. The stricken Firhill club should have been in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, confident of progressing with a home tie against Stirling Albion, and putting much-needed cash in the coffers. Instead, Partick Thistle failed to take advantage of long spells of superiority against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and paid a heavy price. Their premier division rivals went through courtesy of a headed goal by defender Alan Kernaghan after two minutes. The outcome left Thistle manager John McVeigh lamenting at their fate and the fact that he had worked specifically in training to minimise St Johnstone's threat at setpieces. “I rate St Johnstone as one of the better premier division sides and yet we gave them a lesson. We applied a lot of pressure, created several clear-cut chances, and might have had a penalty. Two fell to Andy Lyons and I am utterly convinced that if even one of them had gone in we would have won. The players have every right to be unhappy as we should have taken much more from the tie. But the overall performance after losing such an early goal augurs well for the future.” Partick carried a committed support who also believe that the club will survive its crisis. So, too, does Paul Kane, the St Johnstone midfielder who won the man-of-the-match award. “They impressed me with their tremendous spirit and obviously have a cause to fight for,” he insisted yesterday. “They certainly did not play like a team that will be relegated. Their fans backed them all the way. If this continues and their younger players maintain this standard, they will climb out of trouble. Frankly, they surprised us. After taking an early lead we thought it would be a stroll. Instead they were undoubtedly the better team after the first 25 minutes and could have punished us for this attitude if their finishing had been more accurate.”

Kane has also been surprised by the progress made this season at McDiarmid Park and now sees a place in the final as a distinct possibility. “We've secured the home draw we wanted and everyone knows that the Cup is a short-cut to success,” he said. “Before the season began, to a man we would have settled happily for eighth place in the league. But results have made us greedy. We want more and have become increasingly confident because our organisation and tactics are as good as any in the country. Our manager has put in a lot of hard work which is now paying dividends on the field. He has made us very difficult to beat - even on a bad day like we had against Partick. And when we click and hit form we can beat anyone. There are several other reasons for our improvement. Keeper Alan Main has been a model of consistency. He knows there is a World Cup waiting for him and he has shown he deserves to be there. The same applies to Callum Davidson, who is the best left back around. This lad will go right to the top. He has everything required including a level head. The arrival of Kernaghan, a player of vast experience, has brought the defence together. There are also half a dozen youngsters, who have all played at youth or under-21 level, pushing for first team places so there is a sound base on which to build.” The St Johnstone manager Paul Sturrock had anticipated problems against Partick and was proved correct. “I was the only person who thought this would be a difficult tie because of the situation they are in. Our performance was nowhere near the standard set over the past month. Strange as it may seem I think we scored too early because my players then relaxed and it took a considerable time to re-vamp their minds. Honestly, the day was all about Partick Thistle. For a first division side they put up a terrific show. It must be pleasing for their supporters to see how well their players are responding to their plight.” Sturrock chose not to risk Davidson and his Canadian internationalist Nick Dasovic, preferring to have them available for the game with Rangers on Saturday.

Scrapbook

magnifiable if deemed necessary by your browser

PTFC Match Programme, 25th February, 1998

Stats Watch

● 33-year-old Peter Hetherston plays his last game for Thistle.

● Thistle's 106th Scottish Cup campaign begins and ends on the same day, for the 31st time.

ongoing sequences:

● 25 consecutive competitive appearances for Jimmy Boyle, 2nd Aug 1997 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: David Farrell - 40 games, 12th Oct 1996 to 18th Oct 1997. 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