The Thistle Archive

Paul Thomson, 24-Apr-2021, Daily Record

Airdrie's League One title hopes look all but over after they were narrowly beaten at leaders Partick Thistle. Brian Graham's first-half strike proved the difference and that puts the Jags seven points clear of Airdrie with three games remaining, as well as two clear of four clear of Falkirk and Cove at the summit after the first post-split matches. But for a string of superb saves from Diamonds No.1 Max Currie, Ian Murray's men would have fallen to a heavy defeat at Firhill. And they almost nicked a point at the death when a Calum Gallagher strike hit the post in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The Diamonds now host fifth-place Montrose - who were idle today - on Tuesday night, looking to extend their two-point lead over the Gable Endies in the push to secure a promotion play-off place. Airdrie named the same starting 11 from Tuesday night's 2-0 victory over East Fife, with the form pairing of Gallagher and Carrick leading the line. Partick made one change from their win at Dumbarton, with Joe Cardle coming in for Stuart Bannigan.

The Jags had a great chance inside 14 seconds when, straight from the kick-off, the hosts worked the ball wide to Scott Tiffoney. His cross picked out Brian Graham rushing in to the back post, but he couldn't keep his header on target and the Diamonds breathed a sigh of relief. In 16 minutes the hosts came close again when Zak Rudden's header from another Tiffoney cross on the left landed on the roof of the net. It looked like Max Currie had got his fingertips to it to turn the ball over, but referee Grant Irvine awarded a goal kick. Airdrie were barely getting a look in early on and they had a stunning double save from Max Currie to thank for keeping them level after 26 minutes. First, he denied Rudden from 15 yards out and on the rebound he produced an instinctive stop to deflect Graham's strike from close range. The Diamonds' resistance eventually broke in 31 minutes when and Graham swept home the rebound this time from a couple of yards out, after Tiffoney's powerful header had cannoned back off the crossbar. Tiffoney was everywhere for Thistle and pace and deliveries continued to cause danger for the Diamonds. Moments later, Currie produced another good stop when his cross found Ross Docherty at the near post with Airdrie needing the half-time break to come to catch their breath. The onslaught continued though and, yet again Currie, thwarted Rudden when he saved down low one-on-one. It took 41 minutes for Airdrie to register an attempt on goal and they almost found an equaliser. Kyle Turner perfectly judged pass fed Ally Roy in the box, but Jags keeper Jamie Sneddon did superbly to smother the shot in the six-yard box.

Three minutes into the second half the outstanding Currie was called into more heroics, this time turning away Docherty's header from point-blank range to keep his side in the contest. The Diamonds made a double change on 55 minutes to try and force their way back into it, with Craig Thomson and Kyle Connell replacing Carrick and Roy. Calum Gallagher, who had netted three games running going into this, almost sniffed out an equaliser when the ball broke in his direction at the back post, but a brave punch from Sneddon thwarted him. It was an improved performance from the visitors in the second-half, however the Thistle rearguard were holding firm, throwing bodies in front of shots and getting in vital headers in the box. Graham fired straight at Currie with a weak effort as Thistle threatened to kill the game off in 77 minutes. A last throw of the dice from Murray saw the introduction of Thomas Robert for Leon McCann going into the final 10 minutes. Tiffoney should have sealed the points for Thistle four minutes from time, but he blazed over after Connotr Murray laid it on a plate for him. Airdrie came agonisingly close to an equalioser in stoppage time when Gallagher's thumping strikle crashed off the post. As it was, despite some late pinball in the Partick box, the hosts saw the game out to maintain a 100 per cent record in the their three meetings with the Diamonds this term.

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

That was a nervy one in the end but it was because we didn’t put it to bed. We should have been three up by half time and their ‘keeper makes a couple of great saves to be fair to him but then Scott Tiffoney has a big opportunity deep into the second half which he should have done better with. Because it stayed 1-0, they knew that it would only take one chance and sent just about everyone forward and fired long balls at us which I thought we stood up to well for the most part although that one that came off the post was a bit scary. We got there in the end though and it could have been a lot more comfortable but at this stage of the season it’s about getting the three points and we managed to do that. Brian Graham was excellent getting back to help out in the air and Brownlie, Bell, Foster and McKenna were all terrific again so I’m glad we’ve got back to our best in defence. We’re now totally focused on a huge game away to Cove on Tuesday because a win in that game would go a long way for us. We’re just taking it one game at a time so we’ll use tomorrow to recover and make sure everyone is raring to go for another massive game.

Option 1: extended highlights

Diamonds TV

Option 2: just the goal

Partick Thistle

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AN HISTORIC WIN TO NIL

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