The Thistle Archive

Partick Thistle moved off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership following a goalless stalemate with fellow strugglers Hamilton Academical. Danny Devine's dipping volley was kept out by Hamilton goalkeeper Gary Woods early on. Kris Doolan fired against the post for Thistle and Accies' Dougie Imrie headed wide just before the break. Miles Storey's cross hit the Hamilton bar in the second half and the hosts' David Templeton also threatened. The result ends Hamilton's six-game losing run and lifts Thistle off the bottom, though they have played two games more than basement side Kilmarnock, who visit Rangers on Wednesday.

A point apiece was no more than either side deserved from a game that was seriously low on quality. It bore all the hallmarks of a contest between two teams desperate to avoid defeat - long balls, overhit passes and little composure. Thistle had looked the more likely to make something happen early on, with Devine's volley from outside the box forcing a smart save from Woods in the opening minutes. They went closer still when Accies gave up cheap possession deep in their own territory and Kris Doolan manoeuvred himself into a shooting position only to see his effort come off the post. Woods got down well to save Paul McGinn's rebound. Accies gradually clawed their way into the match and claimed for a penalty when Jordan Turnbull clambered over Greg Docherty. Referee Steven McLean saw nothing wrong with that but he did penalise Thistle's Niall Keown for bringing Antonio Rojano to the ground on the cusp of half-time. But while Accies wanted a spot-kick, the official said the offence had taken place just outside the box and Imrie nodded Steven Boyd's delivery wide.

If the watching spectators thought the fare could only improve in the second period, they were to be disappointed. The introduction of Templeton looked like it might give Accies the spark they were lacking as he fashioned a quick opportunity, but his final effort drifted narrowly wide. Storey became the second Thistle player to strike the woodwork, albeit from a wayward cross, though if a winning goal had come in such a manner it would have been fitting. The visitors made a strong penalty claim of their own when Ryan Edwards insisted forlornly his goalbound effort had come off an Accies hand. Martin Canning's side might have secured all three points in the closing stages had Templeton not hammered wide from Imrie's cutback. The former Hearts and Rangers player should have at least hit the target but ultimately could not make Cerny work. In truth a winner was more than the game deserved.

Martin Canning, whose side ended a run of six defeats, cited challenges on Greg Docherty and Antonio Rojano as viable penalty claims:

I thought both of them were penalties. I haven't seen them back yet but I thought the pull on Greg Docherty, he just pulled him straight to the ground. And the second one with Rojano, he gives a free-kick on the edge. It looked like it was in the box to me. I haven't seen [Partick Thistle's penalty claim] back yet either, whether it was or whether it wasn't. That's football, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't and tonight neither of us have got anything. It's a point gained. You could see in both teams, there was no real quality in the game. It looked like two teams that maybe are void of confidence and nobody wanting to make a mistake. It wasn't a classic but it was important for us that we dug deep and didn't make any mistakes, which is pleasing for me. We keep a clean sheet, which have been few and far between this season. There was lots of positives.

Alan Archibald was unhappy his side were not awarded a penalty when a Ryan Edwards shot seemed to strike Dougie Imrie's raised hands:

I've just watched back a ridiculous penalty claim where the ball strikes Dougie Imrie with two hands. I don't mind Stevie, he's not a bad referee but [I don't know] why he was given our game tonight after Sunday and all the controversy round it. I don't think he wanted to make a big decision tonight. He's only human. Sometimes it's easier to take someone out of it. I don't know why it's not given. I thought at the time it was a penalty and it beggars belief that it's not given. He's standing looking at it. It's not as if it's one hand - he's put two hands up to stop it hitting his face. He looks like a goalkeeper. It's just disappointing but you don't always get them. I don't want to batter the referee because it's not fair on him.

bbc.com

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