9th Feb 2011 St Johnstone 2 Partick Thistle 0 (Scottish Cup 5th Round)

matches:2010-11: ← 30game 3132 →

Match Information

			Derek McInnes		Ian McCall			46y, 4m, 10d
					Martin Grehan
					Kris Doolan
Murray Davidson (0-1, 42 mins); Liam Craig (0-2, 55 mins)
Peter MacDonald
Cleveland Taylor (Liam Craig, HT); Collin Samuel (Peter MacDonald, 66 mins); Stevie May (Sam Parkin, 89 mins)					Paul Cairney (Simon Donnelly, 65 mins); Chris Erskine (Jamie Campbell, 77 mins); Martin Grehan (Shaun Fraser, 87 mins)
			Peter Enckelman		Scott Fox			23y, 7m, 12d
			Dave MacKay		Paul Paton			23y, 9m, 22d
			Danny Grainger		Patrick Boyle			23y, 10m, 20d
			future Jag Steven Anderson		Bryan Hodge			23y, 4m, 17d
			Michael Duberry		Willie Kinniburgh			26y, 5m, 1d
			Jody Morris		Alan Archibald			33y, 1m, 27d
			Murray Davidson		Paul Cairney			23y, 5m, 11d
			Chris Millar		David Rowson			34y, 4m, 26d
			Collin Samuel		Martin Grehan			26y, 4m, 0d
			Stevie May		Iain Flannigan			23y, 0m, 25d
			Cleveland Taylor		Chris Erskine			24y, 0m, 1d
								25y, 11m, 15d
			Graeme Smith		Bryn Halliwell			30y, 4m, 8d
			Liam Caddis		Jamie Campbell			18y, 10m, 16d
			Liam Craig		John A. Robertson			34y, 10m, 12d
			Peter MacDonald		Shaun Fraser			17y, 7m, 10d
			Sam Parkin		Simon Donnelly			36y, 2m, 8d

Match Report

TTA report

SPL St Johnstone eased themselves into the next round with a comfortable win. The first half was looking goalless before the post saved Thistle (41) then a deflected pass fell kindly for the scorer (42). A dipping 35-yard volley killed the tie (55). Cairney's poor touch wasted Thistle's last chance. Second best on the night.

Media report

09-Feb-2011, ptfc.co.uk

There was a late surprise in manager Ian McCall’s team selection for the delayed Scottish Cup tie with St Johnstone. Leading scorer Kris Doolan was posted missing, presumably injured, and that handed a rare start to Martin Grehan whose previous goal this season came against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup. That side the Thistle was otherwise unchanged from the team that defeated Dunfermline in their last outing with Simon Donnelly taking Martin Grehan’s slot on the bench.

The first time that Thistle visited McDiarmid Park back in October 1989 there was a crowd of over 10,000 to watch the top two in the First Division. There were considerably fewer at this Scottish Cup tie but the Thistle support were no less vocal in this encounter than they had been at the top of the table clash 22 years ago. Thistle got the game, staged at the third time of asking, underway and had a half chance inside the first couple of minutes. Martin Grehan did well to win the ball in the air with it breaking to Bryan Hodge who from the edge of the box sent a shot over the bar. The first half though was dominated by the home side in terms of unproductive possession as Thistle, after initially experiencing some problems with the pace and movement of the St Johnstone front men, defended well and in numbers when required. Indeed it took the SPL until the 25th minute to muster their first shot at the Thistle goal. Collin Samuel was able to find himself a bit of room at the right edge of the Thistle box but was only able to drag his shot wide of the opposite post. Aside from a Cleveland Taylor effort that had Scott Fox stretching to catch the ball, that was the only genuine threat that St Johnstone posed to a disciplined and well organised Jags defence in the first 40 minutes. Thoughts were beginning to turn to half-time with Thistle deservedly still on level terms when Thistle’s otherwise near faultless defensive performance showed a few cracks. St Johnstone had been singularly unable to prise any openings in front of goal but in the 41st minute they were almost gifted a goal. Collin Samuel was able to gather an ill-advised pass back but although his shot beat Scott Fox his shot bounced off the post and clear. It was a reprieve that Thistle enjoyed for less than sixty seconds. Again the opening owed little to anything creative from the SPL side. The ball was deflected into the path of Murray Davidson who had just too much time and space and was able to stab the ball home from about 8 yards out.

Thistle were much more positive in their approach to the game from the start of the second half. Twice Chris Erskine was able to escape the attentions of Michael Duberry and twice was fouled but on neither occasion were Thistle able to make anything of the free kick that followed. A second St Johnstone goal and Thistle were in real trouble and it arrived, almost out the blue, in the 55th minute. If there was a touch of good fortune surrounding the opening St Johnstone goal there certainly wasn’t with their second. Liam Craig should perhaps have been closed down quicker but there was no denying the quality of his dipping shot from fully 35 yards out. If Thistle were to find a way back into this match a fairly rapid response was required and Thistle should have reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute. A fantastic ball from Chris Erskine put Paul Cairney clear on goal with just Enckelman to beat. In electing to take the ball round the ST Johnstone keeper, Cairney took the ball too wide and then couldn’t pick out Iain Flannigan in the six yard box with his cut back. That was the closest Thistle would get to a goal in a game in which, for large majority, they defended extremely well but weren’t enough of a threat themselves.

Stats Watch

ongoing sequences:

● 28 consecutive competitive appearances for Paul Paton & Patrick Boyle (a new personal best), 24th Jul 2010 to date. (Longest run since: John A. Robertson - 36 games, 10th Oct 2009 to 24th Aug 2010. 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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