The Thistle Archive

Blair McNally, 10-Oct-2020, nottheoldfirm.com

Partick Thistle secured their first win of the season with a comfortable 2-0 display over Queen’s Park in League Cup action. It was to be a feisty start to the match as Partick Thistle welcomed their Glasgow neighbours to Maryhill for their second match of the season following a seven-month lay-off. Both teams set out strong from the traps, hungry to win challenges and make an instant impact, with Partick Thistle having the better chances early on. Returning star, Blair Spittal, would shine from the get-go after his returning debut goal against St Mirren on Wednesday night in the defeat to Premiership outfit St Mirren. An early backpass would be gathered by the stretching Spiders keeper Wullie Muir, as the Jags new no. 6 would come close to getting a foot on the ball. Spittal would continue to set the pace as several searching crosses would come narrowly close to target man, Brian Graham. Queen’s Park would also have their chances as Bob McHugh attempted an audacious overhead kick which sailed just wide of the right-hand post. Zak Rudden would counter a minute later, after cutting back from a driving run, only for his looping cross to be met by the hands of a comfortable Muir. Things would calm down after this as it became a game of basketball for the rest of the half, with the ball also very seldom touching the ground. Thistle would end the half with several crosses cleared by a dominant Peter Grant and headed into the break clearly the more frustrated of the two.

The Jags would start the half just as they ended it, attacking the wings of Queen’s Park which was an evident weakness. McCall seemed to captialise on this, making a double substitution, with Ryan Williamson replacing Richard Foster and Joe Cardle coming on for a returning Rudden. This would prove pivotal as Cardle would eventually break the deadlock in the 65th minute after a bombardment of crosses were cleared by Queen’s defenders. A James Penrice cross from the left-hand side found a free Cardle at the back post who proceeded to smash the ball into the top right corner of the Queen’s goal. Minutes later, Spiders defender Michael Doyle would find himself lucky to stay on the park, after tripping the Jags’ energetic goalscorer, despite being booked only two minutes earlier. Thistle would continue to attack the wings, searching for a second, as numerous crosses were cleared, with Graham coming close to latching on to another loose ball. In the 81st minute It would be Thistle’s man of the match who put the nail in the coffin for The Spiders as a second half resurgence was be completed. A near-identical ball, this time by Graham, found the feet of Cardle who would revert to cutting inside onto his left foot and finishing calmly past a hopeless Muir. An all-round comfortable display from the Jags.

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall, via ptfc.co.uk

I thought we played better on Wednesday night, the pitch was better, it was slicker with the rain, but we're pleased with the second half performance. First half we tried a shape that, you know, we can try again, but it certainly didn't work today, we were sluggish; I think the players put a lot of work into Wednesday. Second half we changed the shape and a couple of personnel, albeit it was great to get Richard and Zak 45 minutes. Second half we scored two and I thought we could have scored more than that, we didn't really look troubled at the back. Really pleased for Joe he got his two goals, they were two great finishes, and really pleased for Sena getting on, he looked terrific, there's absolutely no qualms about putting him in the team this year, I think the boy's got a chance.

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LONG OVERDUE WIN

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