23rd Feb 2003 Kilmarnock 1 Partick Thistle 0 (Scottish Premier League - game 28)

matches:2002-03: ← 36game 3738 →

Match Information

			Jim Jefferies		John Lambie			61y, 11m, 21d
					Barry Elliot
					Gerry Britton
Peter Canero (0-1, 45 mins)
Steve Fulton					Martin Hardie; Jamie Mitchell
Frédéric Dindeleux (Gary Locke, 51 mins); Gary McSwegan (Kris Boyd, 68 mins); Andy McLaren (Paul Di Giacomo, 88 mins)					Barry Elliot (Jamie Mitchell, 62 mins); Jamie Buchan (Derek Fleming, 82 mins)
			Colin Meldrum		Kenny Arthur			24y, 2m, 16d
			Chris Innes		David Lilley			25y, 3m, 23d
			Barry McLaughlin		Alan Archibald			25y, 2m, 10d
			Frédéric Dindeleux		Stephen Craigan			26y, 3m, 25d
			Alan Mahood		Scott Paterson			30y, 9m, 10d
			James Fowler		Jamie Buchan			25y, 10m, 20d
			Peter Canero		Barry Elliot			24y, 3m, 30d
			future Jag Steve Fulton		Martin Hardie			26y, 10m, 1d
			Gary McDonald		Alex Burns			29y, 6m, 19d
			Gary McSwegan		David Rowson			26y, 5m, 9d
			future Jag Andy McLaren		Kevin McGowne			33y, 2m, 7d
								27y, 1m, 4d
			future Jag Colin Stewart		Kevin Budinauckas			28y, 5m, 7d
			Garry Hay		Jamie Mitchell			26y, 3m, 17d
			Gary Locke		Willie Howie			20y, 7m, 14d
			Kris Boyd		Derek Fleming			29y, 2m, 18d
			future Jag Paul Di Giacomo		Ricky Waddell			22y, 0m, 19d

Match Report

TTA report

Kilmarnock hit the post in the first minute but Thistle settled and had some good chances but it was a case of excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing. Seconds before half-time Kilmarnock scored with a shot through a ruck of players at a poorly cleared corner. Thistle had several claims for a pen but to no avail.

Media report

23-Feb-2003, bbc.com

THISTLE STUNG BY CANERO. A goal in the dying seconds of the first half by midfielder Peter Canero gave Kilmarnock a narrow victory over Partick Thistle. The Scotland Under-21 international popped up to drive a 20-yard shot through a ruck of players and into the corner of the net. But the home side had to surivive some frantic late pressure before taking the points that moved them three points clear of Dunfermline Athletic into fourth spot in the Scottish Premier League. Killie boss Jim Jefferies had made several changes as he aimed to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat away to Hearts. He welcomed back defender Freddie Dindeleux and midfielder Alan Mahood and they replaced Gary Locke, who started as substitute, and the suspended Greg Shields. Up front, youngster Kris Boyd dropped to the bench and his place was taken by Gary McSwegan. Thistle manager John Lambie made only one change to the side that won in Aberdeen, winger Barry Elliot coming in for the suspended Gerry Britton.

Killie came close to take the lead after only three minutes, when Jamie Fowler found himself with only Kenny Arthur to beat in the Thistle goal. The forward sent his angled drive under the goalkeeper only for the ball to bounce off the inside of the post before being cleared. Thistle's David Lilley should have put his side ahead when Alex Burns' cross found him at the back post, but the wing-back blasted the ball high and wide. Killie also squandered an opportunity when Gary McDonald laid the ball on a plate for Gary McSwegan, but the striker side-footed wide from 10 yards. The striker made up for that when he set up the unmarked Canero, who drove a low shot through a crowd and into the corner of the net.

Killie nearly doubled their lead early in the second half, when McSwegan's close range shot was blocked by Arthur and Alan McLaren lob sent a lob just wide and a header narrowly over the crossbar. Thistle put Kilmarnock under immense pressure in the closing stages. Martin Hardie's goalbound looping header from 12 yards was touched past the post at the expense of a corner by goalkeeper Colin Meldrum. Central defender Chris Innes cleared off the Kilmarnock line following a goalmouth scramble and Thistle had penalty claims denied when Jamie Mitchell appeared to be hauled to the ground by Meldrum in a crowded six-yard box.

Scrapbook

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The Sun, 24th February, 2002

Video Highlights

(credits: KillieFC TV / BBC Scotland )

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Stats Watch

ongoing sequences:

● 47 consecutive competitive appearances for Scott Paterson, 9th Feb 2002 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Stephen Craigan - 58 games, 8th Aug 2000 to 10th Nov 2001. 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.

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