25th Apr 2015 Ross County 1 Partick Thistle 2 (SPFL Premiership - game 34)

matches:2014-15: ← 44game 4546 →

	Jim McIntyre	Alan Archibald	37y, 9m, 12d

		no changes
		no changes

Michael Gardyne (0-1, 21 mins)		Freddy Frans (1-1, 25 mins); Stephen O'Donnell (2-1, 54 mins)
Jamie Reckord (0-1, 21 mins)		Stuart Bannigan (1-1, 25 mins); none (2-1, 54 mins)
Scott Boyd; Rocco Quinn

Craig Curran (Rocco Quinn, 57 mins); Raffaele De Vita (Tony Dingwall, 59 mins); Filip Kiss (Joe Cardle, 77 mins)		Kallum Higginbotham (Christie Elliott, 78 mins); Lyle Taylor (Kris Doolan, 83 mins)

	Mark Brown	Scott Fox	27y, 9m, 28d
	Liam Boyce	Stephen O'Donnell	22y, 11m, 14d
	Jamie Reckord	Callum Booth	23y, 10m, 26d
	future Jag Raffaele De Vita	Conrad Balatoni	24y, 2m, 29d
	Paul Quinn	Freddy Frans	26y, 3m, 22d
	Michael Gardyne	Abdul Osman	28y, 1m, 29d
	Marcus Fraser	Stuart Bannigan	22y, 7m, 8d
	future Jag Martin Woods	Ryan Stevenson	30y, 8m, 1d
	Craig Curran	Lyle Taylor	25y, 0m, 27d
	Filip Kiss	Steven Lawless	24y, 0m, 13d
	former Jag Scott Boyd	Kallum Higginbotham	25y, 10m, 10d

			25y, 7m, 7d

	Antonio Reguero	Paul Gallacher	35y, 8m, 9d
	Rubén Palazuelos	Ben Richards-Everton	22y, 6m, 8d
	Tony Dingwall	James Craigen	24y, 0m, 28d
	future Jag Joe Cardle	Gary Fraser	20y, 9m, 23d
	future Jag Steven Saunders	David Wilson [ii]	20y, 7m, 19d
	Rocco Quinn	Kris Doolan	28y, 4m, 14d
	Darvydas Šernas	Christie Elliott	23y, 10m, 30d

TTA report

County (8W/1D in last 9) took the lead (21) with their only shot in the match. Frans scored with a low 30-yarder (25). It should have been more emphatic before O'Donnell fired home from an oblique angle (54). 2 pen scares were survived before the end but it was an excellent performance.

Media report

25-Apr-2015, ptfc.co.uk

Having secured three points over Motherwell to continue an excellent run of form, the Jags made the long trek to Dingwall to face a Ross County side that was one of the form teams in Europe. Having had a two week break due to the Scottish Cup semi-finals, there was huge anticipation surrounding the game, with both clubs knowing that a victory would all but secure another season of Premiership football. Thistle gaffer, Alan Archibald, named the same starting eleven that had gained the win over ‘Well, with James Craigen returning from suspension and taking a place on the bench alongside the fit again Christie Elliott.

County created an early half chance when Boyce was allowed space in the Jags box but his header went tamely wide. As the early exchanges played out Thistle seemed to be in the mood, zipping the ball about the pitch confidently. An O’Donnell cross from a Lawless pass found Stevenson whose shot went just wide. Lyle Taylor then nodded down for Stevenson whose shot was well saved by Brown. Ryan Stevenson was looking particularly dangerous and again had a chance that he fired over from 16 yards as Thistle continued to dominate. An excellent hooked pass by Lawless sent Taylor in behind the County defence but his low drilled cross from the byline found no takers in the box. Given the amount of Thistle pressure it was something of a surprise when, in the 21st minute, Jamie Reckford’s cross was not dealt with by the Jags defence and Gardyne fired home at the far post to give County the lead against the run of play. Thistle though continued to play their passing game and, sixty seconds later, Taylor had the ball in the County net only to be flagged for offside. However, in the 26th minute, Thistle were deservedly level. A 22 pass move saw the ball moved to Frans just inside the County half, he drove forward and then unleashed a screamer from at least 30 yards which arrowed, past the despairing Mark Brown, and into the bottom corner of the County goal – a wonderful strike from the big Belgian. The Jags continued to push forward and Stevenson saw a left foot shot saved by Brown before Stuart Bannigan curled a shot agonisingly past the post. As the visitors continued to turn the screw the home side’s keeper was almost made to look very silly. The Staggies custodian was hesitant on the ball and Stevenson blocked his attempted clearance but could not force the rebound on target from 25 yards. Thistle were looking as dangerous as they have done all season when Higginbotham linked up with Taylor who spotted Booth’s run into the box. The on form left back couldn’t keep his shot on target though as his effort went just wide as both teams left the field with the scores level at 1-1.

It was same again at the start of the second half with Thistle continuing to dominate proceedings. Great play by Lawless, who was unplayable at times, saw him slide Taylor in but, with just Brown to beat, his shot could only find the side netting. Stevenson then nodded the ball down to Taylor who slid in Lawless, he was held back by Quinn but the ref waved away penalty claims, perhaps due to the honesty of the Jags player who didn’t throw himself to the ground but stayed on his feet. Despite the chances Thistle couldn’t take the lead but, as the half ticked on, the seemingly inevitable did eventually happen and the Jags deservedly went in front in 54 minutes. County failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to O’Donnell out wide, his fierce half volley beat Brown at his near post to put Thistle 2-1 ahead, another tremendous strike from the Jags right back. It was nearly three with 20 minutes to go, Bannigan collected the ball at the edge of his own box, drove forward and found Lawless who slipped the ball into the path of O’Donnell who forced a brilliant save from the home keeper. Taylor then won the ball off Quinn 40 yards from goal, Stevenson collected it and found Higginbotham who squared back across for Taylor but the striker took a touch inside and the chance was lost. The home side were not creating anything of note, they had loud claims for a penalty when Gardyne went down under a challenge from Bannigan but the referee rightly waved away his claims. An O’Donnell challenge which was magnificent in its timing snuffed out the only other danger as Thistle ran out 2-1 winners in front of the noisy 358 travelling fans.

ARCHIE NECK AND NECK WITH LAMBIE

● Thistle win by 2 goals to 1 for the first time in over a year. The last such victory came at Rugby Park in the first game of the split last season. Weirdly, that was also an away game in which we came from behind to win.

● Partick Thistle have conceded exactly one goal in their last four trips to Victoria Park.

● This victory ends a run of 17 competitive games without a win when we lose the opening goal.

● First time two Thistle defenders have been on the scoresheet since August 2013 when goals from Stephenl and Conrad secured a 2-1 League Cup win at home to Ayr United.

● There are none more potent than Stephen for goals this season - his combi-tally for goals+assists now sits at ten. By my reckoning, the table reads: Ryan Stevenson (10), Stephen O'Donnell (10), Steven Lawless (10) and Kris Doolan (9).

● Archie's top-flight points-per-game tally (1.097) is now neck and neck with John Lambie's (1.098), when 3 points per win are applied to all seasons.

● According to OPTA (pre-match), Partick Thistle have been awarded only 293 free kicks in this campaign; the lowest total in the League.

● In League football, Thistle continue to have a better record against Ross County at Victoria Park than at Firhill. This strange phenomenon has prevailed in all 3 tiers.

● In all competitive matches at Victoria Park, Thistle lead County by 10 wins to 9. At Firhill, County lead Thistle by 7 wins to 5.

● At the time of posting, Thistle have the 4th best goal-difference in the Premiership. If we could maintain that position until match day 38, it would be the club's highest ever finish in this category. More than 50 years ago, Willie Thornton's Jags finished with the 4th best "goal average" as it was then. Only once, in season 1947-48, have the club finished with the third best "goal average" in Scotland's premier league.

ongoing sequences:

● 25 consecutive competitive appearances for Stephen O'Donnell, 8th Nov 2014 to date. (Longest run since: Kallum Higginbotham - 33 games; 10th Aug 2013 to 26th Mar 2014). Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

● 40 competitive games since back-to-back draws, 7th May 2014 to date. (Longest run since: 59 games, 18th Aug 2009 to 11th Dec 2010. Club-record: 201 games, 11th Feb 1957 to 1st Apr 1961.)

● Thistle are 12 competitive games without defeat when scoring the opening goal.

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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