24th Jul 2018 Albion Rovers 0 Partick Thistle 2 (League Cup Group E - game 3)

matches:2018-19: ← 03game 0405 →

	John Brogan	Alan Archibald	41y, 0m, 11d

		Miles Storey
		Chris Erskine

		Miles Storey (1-0, 59 mins); Aidan Fitzpatrick (2-0, 83 mins)
		Kris Doolan (1-0, 59 mins); Tam O'Ware (2-0, 83 mins)


Jamie Gallagher (Lawrence McMahon, 63 mins); Ryan Watters (Gary Fisher, 67 mins); Steven Smith (Bryan Wharton, 71 mins)		Jack Storer (Aidan Fitzpatrick, 71 mins); Kris Doolan (Andy McCarthy, 81 mins)

	Daniel Potts	Cammy Bell	31y, 10m, 6d
	Steven Smith	Christie Elliott	27y, 1m, 28d
	Scott Forrester	James Penrice	19y, 7m, 2d
	Barry Eley	Tam O'Ware	25y, 4m, 4d
	Alan Murdoch	Sean McGinty	24y, 11m, 13d
	Paul McGeough	Shea Gordon	20y, 2m, 8d
	Lewis McLear	Craig Slater	24y, 2m, 28d
	Jamie Gallagher	Blair Spittal	22y, 7m, 5d
	Ronan Kearney	Kris Doolan	31y, 7m, 13d
	Graham Gracie	Jack Storer	20y, 6m, 22d
	Ryan Watters	Miles Storey	24y, 6m, 20d

			24y, 9m, 12d

	Gareth Hallford	Jamie Sneddon	20y, 10m, 18d
	John Cunningham	Niall Keown	23y, 3m, 19d
	Jamie Watson	Andy McCarthy	19y, 9m, 4d
	Bryan Wharton	Callum Wilson	19y, 1m, 1d
	Mark Greene	Aidan Fitzpatrick	17y, 4m, 4d
	Lawrence McMahon
	Gary Fisher

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.
Thistle filled only 5 of their 7 allocated bench slots.

TTA report

Wayward shooting and dogged defending made for a goalless first half. A last gasp clearance denied Doolan as did off-side after half-time. Storey fired home a Storer cross (59) and Fitzpatrick slotted home an O'Ware cross (83). O'Ware hit the bar from a corner (88). Comfortable enough in the end as Rovers tired.

Media report

24-Jul-2018, Herald Scotland

IT wasn’t pretty for the majority of the 90 turgid minutes, but in the end it was job done by Alan Archibald’s misfiring team, who passed up enough chances to win a dozen games, and with the league season around the corner that has to be a worrying aspect for the Firhill side. A Miles Storey opportunist strike early in the second period and a toe poke from close range by substitute Aidan Fitzpatrick eight minutes from the end was all that separated them from a plucky Rovers side, who can take great heart from their tireless display. But the chances for Thistle that came, and quickly went, will cause concern. Thistle arrived in Coatbridge last night boasting an unbeaten record so far in Group E in the Betfred Cup, but sat second behind Ayr United on goal difference. So Archibald’s side were desperate to go on the goal trail against League Two Rovers. Ineptitude in front of goal prevented that from reaching fruition.

It was Rovers who threatened first when Graham Gracie burst in from the left then drilled a low drive across the Thistle goal after just six minutes, but the ball flew wide of goalkeeper Cammy Bell’s far post. Thistle finally came to terms with the Cliftonhill surface and in 13 minutes a Craig Slater corner from the left was only cleared as far as Blair Spittal 18-yards out. His shot was blocked and fell perfectly for Shea Gordon who forced Rovers goalkeeper Danny Potts into a fabulous save to turn over his curling drive from the edge of the area. Thistle began to dominate and after 22 minutes Gordon drove forward from midfield, but his low effort from 18-yards drifted just wide of the post. One minute later only a brilliant lunge on the line from Rovers’ Barry Eley prevented Kris Doolan from putting the Jags in front. The defender timed his block to perfection as Doolan, six yards out, looked sure to net. John Brogan’s side continued to frustrate Thistle, but in 34 minutes a James Penrice corner from the right was clipped back by Doolan. The ball broke to Gordon, lurking at the edge of he area, but his fierce attempt flew just wide. The procession towards the Rovers goal continued, but the composure in front of goal continued to desert Archibald’s side. In 43 minutes a Penrice cross was met by Doolan at the back post, but his header looped over the bar.

Thistle had the ball in the net three minutes after the restart when Slater’s shot was spilled by Potts and Gordon cut the ball over for Doolan to tap in, but he was ruled offside. Rovers continued to pose a tenuous threat and Paul McGeough headed over after getting on the end of a McLear free-kick. But just before the hour mark, Thistle broke the deadlock. Storey latched on to a quick throw-in, turned sharply inside the area and cracked the ball low past Potts from 12 yards. It was more relief than celebration from the considerable Jags support. Eight minutes from time, the points were secured when Fitzpatrick got on the end of an O’Ware cross, to control and nudge the ball past Potts from eight yards.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald (speaking to Jagzone):

It was always going to be a tough one but we should have created more. First half, we struggled to get the ball back to front quickly. Obviously, with the pitch, that was more difficult but we still should have been better than we were. Second half, there was improvement in that regard. Our midfielder were making more incisive passes and in the end we got our goals. I was very pleased for Miles and Aidan. Miles finally got his contract sorted last week and can now focus on his football. He is a player who thrives off self-confidence and hopefully the goal gives him that. As for Aidan, we want him to be more involved in the first team this year and getting him in the pitch was the big thing. We wanted to get the debut out of the way but for him to step up and score is a really great sign.

'mon the Young Team!

● Goalie Cammy Bell keeps his first clean-sheet for Thistle.

● 19-year-old James Penrice sets a new personal best of 3 consecutive competitive appearances for the Jags.

● Miles Storey nets for the time in the calendar year, breaking a run of 27 competitive appearances without a goal for the forward.

● Every Thistle goal for Miles has contributed to a win, 3 times out of 3.

● Aidan Fitzpatrick scores his first goal for Thistle.

● Aidan, who became the first man born in the 21st century to play for Thistle back in July 2017, now becomes the first to do so in competitive action.

● 2018-19 becomes the first season to have two teenagers score competitive goals for Thistle since 2011-12 when Stuart Bannigan (19) & Stephen O'Donnell (19) did so.

● Penrice & Fitzpatrick are the first pair of teenagers to score in back-to-back competitive games for Thistle this century. Last to do so were Robert Dunn (19) and Scott Houston (18) back in April, 1999. A goal from Andy McCarthy on Saturday would fairly get the stats rocking!

● With this win, Jags extend 2 H2H records against Rovers; it's now 5 consecutive competitive game away wins (1993 to date) and 6 competitive away games without defeat (1990 to date).

● Thistle have never lost an away cup tie to the Rovers, now an 8 game run which stretches from 1942 to date.

● Alan Archibald's managerial career record against non top-flight opposition remains very healthy, with 27 wins out of 39, and a goal difference of +45.

ongoing sequences:

● 13 consecutive competitive appearances for Blair Spittal, 31st Mar 2018 to date. (Longest run since: Baily Cargill - 19 games; 23rd Jan 2018 to 20th May 2018. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games; 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

● 17 League Cup group games without defeat, 14th Aug 1982 to date. (An extension of the club-record.)

● 49 games since back-to-back League wins, 11th Mar 2017 to date. (Longest run since: 71 games; 16th Apr 2013 to 14th Mar 2015. Club-record: 77 games; 2nd Nov 1912 to 5th Dec 1914.)

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