11th Jul 2017 Dumbarton 2 Partick Thistle 1 (Friendly)

matches:2017-18: ← 51game 0102 →

	Stephen Aitken	Alan Archibald	39y, 11m, 28d

		Ryan Scully; Christie Elliott; James Penrice; Danny Devine; Stuart Bannigan; Blair Spittal; Kevin Nisbet; Neil McLaughlin
		Mark Ridgers; David Amoo; Liam Lindsay; Niall Keown; Andy McCarthy; Kris Doolan; Ade Azeez; Chris Erskine

Christian Nade (0-1, 11 mins); Jordan Allan (1-2, 85 mins)		Kevin Nisbet (1-1, 53 mins)
Tom Walsh (0-1, 11 mins); none (1-2, 85 mins)		Christie Elliott (1-1, 53 mins)


Grant Gallagher (Kyle Prior, 37 mins); Mark Stewart (Callum Gallagher, HT); David Smith (Dougie Hill, 56 mins); Christian Nade (Jordan Allan, 65 mins); Tom Walsh (Aidan McIlduff, 70 mins)		Blair Spittal (Chris Erskine, HT); Neil McLaughlin (Kris Doolan, HT); Stuart Bannigan (Mark Lamont, 58 mins); Danny Devine (John Kelly, 69 mins); Adam Barton (Harry Granger, 77 mins); Steven Lawless (Aidan Fitzpatrick, 78 mins); Christie Elliott (Ross Fleming, 80 mins); Ryan Edwards (Callum Wilson, 80 mins)

	Scott Gallacher	Ryan Scully	24y, 8m, 12d
	David Smith	Christie Elliott	26y, 1m, 15d
	Chris McLaughlin	James Penrice	18y, 6m, 19d
	former Jag Andy Dowie	Danny Devine	24y, 10m, 4d
	Craig Barr	Adam Barton	26y, 6m, 4d
	Grant Gallagher	Stuart Bannigan	24y, 9m, 24d
	Christian Nade	Blair Spittal	21y, 6m, 22d
	former Jag David Wilson [ii]	Ryan Edwards	23y, 7m, 24d
	former Jag Mark Stewart	Kevin Nisbet	20y, 4m, 3d
	Tom Walsh	Neil McLaughlin	18y, 8m, 5d
	Chris Johnston	Steven Lawless	26y, 2m, 29d

			23y, 3m, 9d

	Jamie Ewings	Jamie Sneddon	19y, 10m, 5d
	Callum Gallagher	Ross Fleming	17y, 11m, 2d
	Kyle Prior	Harry Granger	17y, 5m, 2d
	Jordan Allan	John Kelly	16y, 11m, 17d
	Dougie Hill	Kris Doolan	30y, 7m, 0d
	Aidan McIlduff	Chris Erskine	30y, 5m, 3d
	Stuart Carswell	Mark Lamont	19y, 4m, 16d
		Callum Wilson	18y, 0m, 18d
		Aidan Fitzpatrick	16y, 3m, 21d

notes

Thistle generally in playing order, opposition in squad number order.
Chris McLaughlin, Jordan Allan, Dougie Hill and Aidan McIlduff played as trialists for Dumbarton.

TTA report

A mixture of youth and experience started brightly but got sloppy. A goal from close in (11) meant some work to do in the second half. Elliott's driven cross was fired in by Nisbet for 1-1 (53) and Thistle went looking for a winner. Nisbet hit the bar but sloppy defending at the near post led to the winner (85).

Media report

Chris Jack, 11-Jul-2017, Evening Times

PARTICK THISTLE rounded off their summer schedule with a 2-1 defeat against Dumbarton as they finalised their preparations for the Betfred Cup campaign. Goals from Christian Nade and Jordan Allan either side of Kevin Nisbet’s equaliser clinched the win for the Sons in a competitive affair at the Rock. Thistle will now turn their attentions to the clash with Livingston this weekend as they look to build some momentum in the cup before the new Premiership term. The Jags side was a mixture of youth and experience as Archibald handed starts to Academy graduates James Penrice, Neil McLaughlin and Nisbet. There was also a place for summer signing Blair Spittal, while Stuart Bannigan continued his recovery from the injury that kept him out of action for 15 months.

The midfielder has been a regular feature for Thistle so far this summer and got another 58 minutes under his belt here as he looks to play a key role for Archibald’s side once again next term. The loss of Mustapha Dumbuya to injury and departure of Ade Azeez has left Thistle light at both ends of the park. Further activity is expected at Firhill as Archibald finalises his squad for the coming campaign but this was a chance for his Jags to stake their claims for the trip to Livingston on Saturday. Thistle started brightly and dominated in the opening minutes before a mistake from Adam Barton gave Nade a chance. Ryan Edwards recovered well, though. It was a sign of things to come from Barton in an uncharacteristically sloppy showing and he had keeper Ryan Scully to thank as he denied Nade after 11 minutes. Just seconds later, the striker got his goal as he connected with Tom Walsh’s cross from the left and converted from close range to give Dumbarton a surprise lead. Thistle continued to see their fair share of the ball but clear chances were hard to come by for Archibald’s side. Bannigan’s effort was blocked after the ball dropped to him in the area, while Ryan Edwards forced Scott Gallagher into action on the half hour mark.

Dumbarton were determined to add to their advantage and Scully had to make a smart save to deny Mark Stewart after former Firhill midfielder David Wilson burst forward and found the striker on the right of the area. Archibald turned to his bench at the break as Kris Doolan and Chris Erskine both entered the action, with McLaughlin and Spittal making way from the Thistle attack. The night was also over for Stewart as former Rangers and St Mirren forward Calum Gallagher entered the action. It was one of his fellow Auchenhowie graduates, Tom Walsh, who had the first shot after the interval but he couldn’t curl his effort inside the far post. The second goal of the night soon arrived and it was Nisbet who got it as Thistle equalised. Christie Elliott got by Gallagher down the flank and the 20-year-old was in the right place at the right time to fire the ball home. It was the start of a promising spell for the Jags as Stevie Lawless twice tried his luck from range and Erskine was denied by Gallagher as he rushed from his goal. With 15 minutes remaining, Nisbet almost doubled his tally for the night but a sweetly struck free-kick came crashing back off the bar as Dumbarton breathed a sigh of relief. Doolan was then denied from a tight angle as the Jags pushed for a winner. It was Dumbarton that got it, though, as trialist Allan slotted the ball home from close range with just five minutes remaining to earn Stevie Aitken’s side the victory.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald (speaking to Jagzone):

It was closer to a training session than to a competitive game in all honesty. That’s partly down to the fact that we were low on numbers with a lot of the development squad lads getting a chance and also because we don’t want to pick up any more injuries when the Betfred Cup is just days away. They’ll be more than ready by the weekend. I think the boys are just eager for the competitive football to come back. In pre-season games you’ll see certain players take more risks as they know the consequences aren’t as great so I think there will be a different feel and tempo to Saturday’s mach compared to the friendlies we’ve played.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken (speaking to Sons TV):

We knew that they [Partick Thistle] were going to work the ball, they were going to make the park big, which means we had to show a lot of energy to cover the ground and I thought we did that, the first half especially. I thought we were really strong on the counter-attack and scored a good goal with Christian and good play by Tom. I thought we were a threat… credit to the players, they worked hard which was pleasing… overall, it's been a good workout.

21st CENTURY JAG

● The opening game of the 143rd season of Partick Thistle F.C.

● 16-year-old Aidan Fitzpatrick makes his Thistle debut.

● 18-year-old Callum Wilson makes his Thistle debut.

● 21-year-old Blair Spittal makes his Thistle debut.

● 16-year-old John Kelly plays his one and only game for Thistle.

● 17-year-old Harry Granger plays his one and only game for Thistle.

● 17-year-old Ross Fleming plays his last game for Thistle.

● 19-year-old Mark Lamont plays his last game for Thistle.

● Kevin Nisbet scores his last goal for Thistle.

● John Kelly, introduced in the 69th minute, becomes Thistle's first 2000s-born player.

● Aidan Fitzpatrick, born in March, 2001, is introduced in the 78th minute, and duly becomes the the first bona-fide 21st century Jag.

ongoing sequences:

● 4 consecutive competitive defeats, 7th May 2017 to date. (Longest run since: 4 defeats, 9th Aug 2016 to 10th Sep 2016. Club-record: 14 defeats, 3rd Jan 1898 to 15th Oct 1898.)

● 4 consecutive League defeats; 7th May 2017 to date. (Longest run since: 5 defeats; 22nd Aug 2015 to 26th Sep 2015. Club-record: 12 defeats; 27th Feb 1909 to 25th Aug 1909.)

● 6 competitive away games without a win; 5th Mar 2017 to date. (Longest run since: 7 games; 9th May 2015 to 26th Sep 2015. Club-record: 25 games; 20th Apr 1908 to 28th Aug 1909.)

● 6 competitive games without a win, 15th Apr 2017 to date. (Longest run since: 7 games, 4th Nov 2016 to 20th Dec 2016. Club-record: 26 games, 28th Nov 1908 to 28th Aug 1909.)

● 6 League games without a win; 15th Apr 2017 to date. (Longest run since: 7 games; 4th Nov 2016 to 20th Dec 2016. Club-record: 26 games; 28th Nov 1908 to 2nd Oct 1909.)

● 46 consecutive competitive appearances for Ade Azeez, 15th July 2016 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Steven Lawless - 53 games; 9th Aug 2015 to 15th Oct 2016. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games; 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

● 62 away League games without a penalty award, 1st Mar 2014 to date. (Longest run since the club-record: 62 games; 1st Apr 1911 to 7th Nov 1914.)

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