The Thistle Archive

Partick Thistle booked their place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup after beating Ross County 3-2 with a dramatic extra-time winner. It was former Staggie Steven Saunders who ensured the Championship team progress. Ex-Thistle man Blair Spittal had the visitors ahead before Kenny Miller took the game to extra-time as James Penrice turned the game on its head. Harry Paton levelled for the visitors, only for Saunders to be the hero. Thistle - who have not lifted the trophy since 1971 - go in to Sunday's last-eight draw. The Dingwall side bow out after their first defeat of the season so far.

The phrase 'Firhill for thrills' has been used sparingly in recent times, but even for the neutral there was something wonderful about seeing this place so jubilant once again. A breathtaking match, some special goals, and a volume inside the Maryhill ground that probably has not been heard for years. Following a summer of gloomy stories about off-field financial and hierarchical issues, this was a massive release of pent-up frustration for the home fans, most of whom had zero optimism about a positive outcome in this game. To put icing on the cake for the Jags, it was a former County player in Saunders who nodded in the winner, meeting the delivery of Penrice, who also contributed greatly through a free-kick of incredible precision from the best part of 25 yards that went in off the post.

Miller was at the centre of most that was good about the hosts' performance as well, with his intelligence in passing and link-up play shining through regularly - oh and he got his goal as well after a superb cut-back from Alex Jones. Ross County had taken the lead through former Jag Spittal on 60 minutes, and his shooshing of the home crowd seems a distant memory now. It was a fantastic finish by the midfielder and little did we know what was still to lie ahead in the match. Paton had looked to get the visitors out of a tight position when he broke into the box to equalise for 2-2, but Thistle raised the bar once more and this could be a pivotal day in the season ahead for them. Man of the match was James Penrice. This young full-back's reputation is burgeoning and he has put his name on the map even more by his contribution in what could be a huge turning point in the Gary Caldwell regime at Firhill. An excellent free-kick and an assist for the winner means Penrice could be on his way to become another successful Scottish left-back.

Partick Thistle manager, Gary Caldwell:

It was an unbelievable game - toing and froing but I thought the character, the resilience, the effort, the desire that we showed was the best I've seen since I've been at the club. It has to be the minimum standard going forward. We played against a very good Premiership side who in my opinion will stay up comfortably and took them right to the limit and never let them off the hook, kept believing and in the end just edged it - and we deserved to win.

Ross County co-manager, Steven Ferguson:

We didn't think we did well enough from the start, credit to Partick they were really up for the cup tie and rightly so. When you go one goal up you think at the very worst you can do enough to see the game out and that's how we thought it was going to go. The chances both sides had, it was like a game of basketball at times. We're really disappointed as it was a massive opportunity missed.

bbc.com

Option 1: extended highlights

Partick Thistle Fan 1876

Option 2: fans-eye view of some key Thistle action

A Thistle Archive production.

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A LEAGUE CUP FIRST

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