The Thistle Archive

Goals from Steven Anderson and Steven MacLean gave St Johnstone their second Premiership win of the season against Partick Thistle at Firhill. Centre-back Anderson met Danny Swanson's hanging cross with a remarkable finish from a tight angle. Swanson was also the provider for the second goal after the break, feeding veteran striker MacLean, whose 20-yard strike flew into the top-left corner. Thistle wasted several chances as they slipped to a third loss in four games. The hosts, who are now bottom of the Premiership, were forced to replace goalkeeper Tomas Cerny with Ryan Scully late in the first half after the Czech stopper damaged his foot in a one-on-one collision with Saints' Chris Kane. Without a Premiership victory since the opening day of the season, both teams were eager to get back to winning ways. For St Johnstone, there was also the aim of rectifying a poor recent record against Thistle, who had won the previous four meetings between the sides.

The hosts were not dreadful. In the first half they had as many, if not more, chances than their visitors, but everything they sent towards goal was either wayward or tame. Anderson's goal was admirable in a variety of ways. Firstly there was the quality of the finish, turning in from the tightest of angles at the back post with the side of his left foot when the busy Swanson swung in a deep cross. But 60 seconds before the goal, a slightly exposed Anderson had intelligently thwarted a threatening-looking run by the jinking Partick striker Ade Azeez. Anderson, 30, is a loyal one-club man who has spent n his whole senior career with Saints to date. That's over 330 appearances since 2004 for the centre-back, which is a rarity in the era of short-term contracts and players who frequently move thinking the grass will be greener on the other side. Nominally playing on the right wing, but scampering here, there and everywhere, Swanson continued to show his worth for the away side. Not only has he scored seven goals so far this season, but he is creating them on a regular basis too. In addition to the delivery for Anderson's opener, it was Swanson who snapped up a loose pass in midfield to feed MacLean on the edge of the box for St Johnstone's second. Veteran striker MacLean still had a lot to do, but he spun and fired the ball high past substitute goalkeeper Scully for his fifth of the season. In a statistical quirk, Anderson and MacLean were also the two scorers when Saints won the Scottish Cup final in 2014.

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald:

It's bitterly disappointing that we didn't do enough in the game. In the first half we started brightly enough but we didn't win individual battles today. We were second to most things all over the pitch. We didn't look as creative and sharp as we have done. Sometimes it works but the front four didn't quite work today, didn't quite click. I think that was down to further back in the pitch - not winning individual battles and giving those guys a platform to play. There was a flatness after the Tomas Cerny injury. It's a recurrence of his foot injury and we thought it would have been cleared up by now, so it's a concern.

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright:

We deserved the win and weren't under real pressure for any sustained periods in the game. I still don't know how Anderson's done it [scored the goal from a tight angle] but what makes the finish is that he doesn't give up and maybe the defender thinks the ball is going out. It was a great finish from an acute angle. MacLean's goal was a sublime finish into the top corner. I'm pleased that he got one from outside the box because he doesn't always do that. Danny Swanson provides us with that bit of spark and quality. When Danny's in that form, he gives us something extra in the final third.

bbc.com

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SCULLY MATCHES A CLUB-RECORD

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