1st Feb 2004 Partick Thistle 0 Rangers 1 (Scottish Premier League - game 22)

matches:2003-04: ← 30game 3132 →

Match Information

35y, 5m, 1d			Derek Whyte		Alex McLeish
33y, 3m, 12d			Gerry Britton
Kenny Arthur; Gerry Britton; Ricky Waddell; Jean-Yves Anis
Jamie Langfield; David Lilley; Jamie Mitchell; Derek Fleming
					Peter Lovenkrands (0-1, 76 mins)
David Rowson; Ricky Waddell; John Paul McBride					Zurab Khizanishvili; Fernando Ricksen; Michael Ball
Ricky Waddell (Stephane Bonnes, 65 mins); Gerry Britton (Andy Thomson, 85 mins); John Paul McBride (Andy Ross, 90 mins)					Nuno Fernando Gonçalves da Rocha (Ronald de Boer, 54 mins); Zurab Khizanishvili (Maurice Ross, 66 mins); Peter Lovenkrands (Bob Malcolm, 81 mins)
25y, 1m, 25d			Kenny Arthur		Stefan Klos
29y, 5m, 5d			Ian Ross		Zurab Khizanishvili
33y, 3m, 12d			Gerry Britton		Fernando Ricksen
28y, 5m, 3d			Grant Murray		Michael Ball
24y, 5m, 6d			Kenny Milne		Henning Berg
27y, 4m, 18d			David Rowson		Frank De Boer
25y, 2m, 4d			John Paul McBride		Hamed Namouchi
32y, 10m, 18d			James Grady		Christian Nerlinger
22y, 11m, 28d			Ricky Waddell		Peter Lovenkrands
23y, 2m, 2d			Jean-Yves Anis		Nuno Fernando Gonçalves Da Rocha
21y, 6m, 21d			Adrian Madaschi		Michael Mols
26y, 8m, 18d
24y, 1m, 10d			Jamie Langfield		Allan McGregor
25y, 1m, 15d			Eddie Forrest		Maurice Ross
32y, 10m, 0d			Andy Thomson		Bob Malcolm
25y, 11m, 6d			Stephane Bonnes		Ronald De Boer
21y, 4m, 14d			Andy Ross		Alex Walker

Match Report

TTA report

“A hard, physical affair” (GH) with 6 players booked (2 Thistle). Thistle played some neat football while lacking obvious quality but there were few goalmouth incidents. 2nd top Rangers scored their winner (Anis hesitated, 75) when Thistle were playing well. “Another narrow escape by Rangers” (GH).

Media report

01-Feb-2004, bbc.com

A wonderful solo goal from Peter Lovenkrands gave Rangers maximum points against a battling Partick Thistle. The Jags held out for 75 minutes of a scrappy match but the Danish winger left a trail of defenders in his wake before unleashing a powerful strike. Thistle played passionately but despite their endeavour never tested Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos. Rangers, who sorely lacked a creative spark in midfield, now trail Premier League leaders Celtic by 11 points. With Craig Moore suspended, Rangers handed new signing Frank de Boer his debut and the former Ajax and Barcelona star enjoyed an assured afternoon, making some telling interceptions and distributing the ball well. However, few of his new team-mates could match his contribution.

The match started a whirlwind pace and the home side upset their wealthy Glasgow neighbours with some robust tackling. Although Rangers were enjoying the lion's share of possession, Thistle posed an attacking threat with John Paul McBride and James Grady both trying their luck with shots from distance. Lovenkrands did much better at the other end and Kenny Arthur had to make a spectacular tip over to deny the Dane's goalbound effort from 25 yards. Michael Mols found some room in the box but Kenny Milne slid in to win the ball before the Ibrox striker could fire off a shot. A purposeful surge from Lovenkrands then cut open the Jags defence but Nuno Capucho fired over the bar from a good position after being released by the speedy winger.

The scrappy nature of play continued after the break with both teams guilty of errant passing and mis-timed challenges, while heavy rain made conditions difficult. Ronald de Boer was introduced just before the hour and immediately caused problems for Thistle when he connected with a Christian Nerlinger free kick at the back post and Arthur did well to gather after a deflection off Milne. The same de Boer then saw a 20 yard shot spin off a defender and slide narrowly wide of the post. With 15 minutes remaining, Lovenkrands showed great close control to squirm past a number of Thistle men and into the penalty area before firing a low angled shot into the net. Five minutes after scoring, Lovenkrands was stretchered off after a painful late tackle from Ian Ross connected with his ankle. Thistle continued to chase down their opponents but never looked like forcing their way back into the match.

Video Highlights

(credit: BBC Scotland )

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Stats Watch

ongoing sequences:

● 4 consecutive League defeats; 3rd Jan 2004 to date. (Longest run since: 10 defeats; 13th Sep 2003 to 29th Nov 2003. Club-record: 12 defeats; 27th Feb 1909 to 25th Aug 1909.)

● 21 consecutive competitive appearances for Kenny Milne, 13th Sep 2003 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Jamie Mitchell - 22 games, 23rd Aug 2003 to 24th Jan 2004. 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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