 Media reports |
| 24-Jan-1999, Scotland on Sunday |
CAMPBELL'S ON SHAW THING AT HAUNTED JAGS. IN A lively and full-blooded cup tie, Dick Campbell marked his first match as Dunfermline manager with a win over a gutsy Thistle side. Andy Smith may have got both goals for the visitors but it was George Shaw, returning to one of his old haunts, who provided the inspiration. Sticking like a limpet to the right touchline, he was the architect of both Dunfermline goals and when allowed to move infield, he proved a constant threat to the heart of Tommy Bryce's defence. It was of course Shaw and fellow Pars striker Gerry Britton, injured yesterday, who were Thistle's two top scorers in 1992/93, the first of their four seasons back in the top flight. But they were not the only former Jags to add extra spice to the tie. Billy McDonald, who was also injured, and John McVeigh - Campbell's assistant and the manager who led Thistle into the Second Division wilderness last season -also ply their trade with the Pars. All of them will have enjoyed their afternoon. Smith could have settled he new manager's nerves as early as the second minute, but he failed to capitalise on a slapstick mix-up between Alan Archibald and Tommy Callaghan. Five minute later at the other end, Paul Tosh was even more profligate, when a woeful first touch prevented him converting a Des McKeown pass. With that close escape, any complacency the Premier side were harbouring soon evaporated. Former Ranger David Graham showed lightning pace to latch on to Marc Millar's long pass, but his shot on the run curved away at the last moment to hit the post. On 17 minutes, however, Smith broke the deadlock with a powerful header following a sweet right-wing run and cross from Shaw. The same ingredients, with a dash of Hamish French, were the recipe for Dunfermline's second and again it was a Smith header that left Partick reeling. With the visitors looking in total command, the game drifted towards half time with a whiff of anti-climax hanging in the damp Glasgow air. Then, two minutes before the interval and without warning, Robert Dunn hauled his side back into the match after Dunfermline goalkeeper Lee Butler had hauled him to the ground. The Thistle striker confidently scored from the spot.
In the second period, the visitors continued to exhibit the more cultured football without finishing the contest off. In between a spate of corners, delivered far too near to Kenny Arthur, the impressive Shaw brought the save of the afternoon from the Thistle keeper with a low shot. However, Dunfermline's inability to turn dominance into goals left al lingering suspicion that Thistle might just sneak an equaliser on the break. Dunn clearly shared this belief, and on 62 minutes he did well to poke the ball past the advancing Butler, only to see Greg Shields scurry back and clear off the line. Dunn again, with a looping effort, and Tosh with a strong shot just wide, also went close for Thistle but Campbell's men once again spurned greater opportunities either side of Thistle's chances. First, French ended the move of the afternoon involving Shaw and Graham with a tame shot wide. Then Smith missed out on a seemingly certain hat-trick when he inexplicably headed wide of a gaping goal from two yards. Thankfully for the gangly striker, the miss was to cost him nothing more than the match ball. There is a kindly theory put about in Scottish football that Partick Thistle's support is comprised largely of students, academics and West End arty types. They may well have a higher ratio of PhDs than most clubs in Scotland, but on today's evidence, they can be just as petty and irritable as any other set of supporters. As well as some flak for the returning Shaw, they vented their full-time frustration with rather ungracious chants of “going down” to the departing Fifers. They may well prove correct come May, but Dick Campbell will take satisfaction from his first banana skin being safely negotiated.
| The Herald, 25th January, 1999 |
OUT BUT NOT DOWN AS THISTLE BOW TO PREMIER PRESSURE. IT was just like old times at Firhill. A liberal sprinkling of humanity turned up to warm the seats, and, most of them being Thistle supporters, they came in various shapes and sizes. For instance, there were the ones who arrived wearing millinery creations that the mad guy in Alice in Wonderland would have rejected as a little too loony. Then there were the flags with outrageous statements emblazoned all over them along the lines of how gifted the players of Partick Thistle were, and how success in the cup was really just a formality, or words to that effect. Of course, being Thistle, the men who had pulled the boots on did not quite live up to their followers' aspirations, but then some things don't change. Thistle would possibly have been better with you or I playing central defence when the ball twice popped on to the cranium of Andy Smith in the opening 30 minutes, because the home defenders proved totally inadequate. However, when Robert Dunn clattered a penalty kick past Lee Butler just before the interval, those in red and yellow favours took on a slightly deranged demeanour in celebration, as the thought of Thistle actually progressing past the tournament's third round for the first time since Adam was a youngster flashed across a few minds. It was not to be, and as the Dunfermline supporters filed towards the exits, many showing two fingers to the other lot - as a reminder of the amount of goals Thistle conceded, what else could they mean - in return they were reminded that their position in the Premier League was rather desperate. It is obvious that Dick Campbell, the Dunfermline manager, is a somewhat inward looking soul. He should venture out a little more and broaden his horizons, witness more of how the game can and should be played by teams at a higher level. The man stated that, in his opinion, "Some of the stuff we played in the first half was magnificent, and we will go from strength to strength." For Dunfermline's paying customers it should be hoped that the man's latter thought is 100% accurate, but if league form to date is taken as a benchmark, it could prove to be for Campbell and his pals like trying to climb Ben Nevis wearing worn out gym shoes. Never did it look like teams from vastly differing leagues competing at the weekend, and when that is taken on board it becomes more apparent as to the task that Campbell faces in keeping his club competing in the big playground. Tommy Bryce, the Thistle manager, did not appear too upset with his employees' display, claiming that they all should be proud of themselves. However, it should be hoped that the man did not accept defeat as readily as his demeanour portrayed. There were some who regularly dig deep at Firhill and who perhaps paid handsomely in local hostelries to look as cheery as Bryce, although the man said he had seen enough to give him heart for the league task ahead. "We have been telling them all season that they are as good as any other team in the division," said Bryce. "So now that they have played against a Premier team and held their own, hopefully that will have brought some self belief." The unfortunate aspect for Thistle is that there will not be so many bums on Firhill seats come the next game. Then it will not be quite like the old times.
future Jag
Tommy Callaghan
Martin Lauchlan
