4th Sep 2021 Stranraer 0 Partick Thistle 2 (Challenge Cup 2nd Round)

matches:2021-22: ← 11game 1213 →

Match Information

			Jamie Hamill		Ian McCall			56y, 11m, 5d
					Connor Murray; Ross MacIver; Cammy Smith
					Kyle Turner; Brian Graham; Zak Rudden
					Tunji Akinola (1-0, 12 mins); Kevin Holt (2-0, 90‎+‎2 mins)
					Ross Docherty (1-0, 12 mins); none (2-0, 90‎+‎2 mins)
Ross Irving (Matty Yates, 57 mins); Broque Watson (Joe Moore, 84 mins); Josh Rennie (Josh Walker, 84 mins)					Ross MacIver (Brian Graham, 65 mins); Connor Murray (Kyle Turner, 65 mins); Stuart Bannigan (Ben Stanway, 90+2 mins); Scott Tiffoney (Ji Stevenson, 90+2 mins)
			former Jag Luke Scullion		Jamie Sneddon			23y, 11m, 29d
			Craig Ross		Shea Gordon			23y, 3m, 19d
			Sean Burns		Richard Foster			36y, 1m, 4d
			Ayrton Sonkur		Tunji Akinola			22y, 9m, 14d
			former Jag Scott Robertson		Kevin Holt			28y, 7m, 10d
			Grant Gallagher		Stuart Bannigan			28y, 11m, 18d
			Broque Watson		Ross Docherty			28y, 7m, 12d
			Ross Smith		Connor Murray			24y, 4m, 11d
			Ross Irving		Ross MacIver			22y, 6m, 7d
			Josh Rennie		Cammy Smith			26y, 0m, 11d
			Paul Woods		Scott Tiffoney			23y, 0m, 9d
								26y, 2m, 17d
					Mason McCready			18y, 5m, 30d
			Emile N'Goy		Kyle Turner			23y, 9m, 25d
			Josh Walker		Brian Graham			33y, 9m, 12d
			Joe Moore		Ben Stanway			16y, 11m, 15d
			Matty Yates		Ji Stevenson			16y, 1m, 6d
			Sean McIntosh		Oliver Black			17y, 1m, 30d
			John Gallacher		Matthew Collins			18y, 8m, 0d

notes

Both sides generally in playing order. Stranraer filled only 5 of their 7 allocated bench slots, with no listed goalkeeper.

Match Report

TTA report

598 saw Thistle dominate the first half. Akinola pivoted and found the top corner (12) but lack of a ruthless cutting edge was obvious. After half-time Stranraer saw their chance and had more of the game but they made little impression in the final third. A header by Holt (90+2) settled things but on chances it should have been far more.

Media report

Ben Banks, 04-Sep-2021, Not The Old Firm

Tunji Akinola’s first goal since swapping West Ham United for Partick Thistle secured the Firhill club’s SPFL Trust Trophy 2-0 win over Stranraer. The West Ham United academy graduate joined Ian McCall’s side last month and his maiden goal for the Jags sealed a victory over League Two opposition. McCall’s team had chances to double their lead and progression to the third round was secured in stoppage time as Kevin Holt put one into the net. Akinola’s goal came after Ross MacIver had a shot blocked from a corner. The versatile defender picked up the loose ball, firing hard into the net. Akinola arrived at Thistle on the advice of West Ham United manager David Moyes and he has shown his potential in the opening three matches in Scotland.

Jamie Sneddon in the Thistle goal was called into action twice in the first half as Stranraer attacked but it was a game in which the away side controlled. MacIver had another couple of chances, as did Connor Murray. Thistle had it in the net towards the end of the match but it was ruled out by officials for an infringement. Holt would end the match in the closing stages as another corner caused Stranraer problems. It was partially cleared and Holt followed up to make sure Partick Thistle would not be surprised by lower league opposition.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall (speaking to Jagzone):

It’s good to get the win first and foremost and I was really happy with the first half performance. We were well on top and should have scored a couple more at least but at the end of the day we’re through and that’s what it’s all about in cup football. We used the wide areas well in the first half and created some really good chances but just weren’t ruthless enough when in front of goal and with the score at 1-0 it was still game on going into the second half. Credit to Stranraer though, they came out after half-time and pushed us right to the very end. Tunji and Kevin looked very good together again, winning headers and making blocks so I was happy with how we dealt with what Stranraer threw at us.

Scrapbook

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The Sun, 6th September, 2021

Gallery

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Video Highlights

(credit: Stranraer FC )

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Stats Watch

CAREER MILESTONE FOR TUNJI

● Zak Rudden (on international duty with Scotland U-21) misses his first game since March, ending his personal best run (21-not-out) in competitive Thistle action.

● Tunji Akinola scores his only goal for Thistle, his first goal in senior football.

● 16-year-old Ben Stanway makes his Thistle debut.

● Thistle extend their H2H club-record run versus Stranraer, now sitting at 5 consecutive competitive game away wins (2000 to date).

● Jags remain unbeaten in all 10 Cup matches against the Blues, an 83-year-old run which stretches from 1938 to date.

● Brilliantly, the earlier (1pm) kick-off was deliberately scheduled to accomodate travelling fans hoping to get back up to Glasgow in time for Scotland's World Cup qualifier with Moldova (won 1-0 by the Scots). Thistle and Scotland first played on the same day way back on 25th March, 1876. They've now done so on 169 occasions. It's the 39th time the Jags fan have enjoyed the double celebration!

ongoing sequences:

● 6 consecutive home League wins; 13th Apr 2021 to date. (Longest run since: 7 wins; 19th Jan 2013 to 10th Apr 2013. Joint club-record: 10 wins; 5th Sep 1896 to 25th Sep 1897 & 7th Nov 1970 to 5th Apr 1971.)

● 8 home League games without defeat; 20th Mar 2021 to date. (Longest run since: 11 games; 26th Jan 2013 to 16th Aug 2013. Joint club-record: 23 games; 27th Aug 1910 to 14th Oct 1911 & 29th Aug 1970 to 6th Nov 1971.)

● 19 consecutive competitive appearances for Richard Foster, 3rd Apr 2021 to date. (Longest run since: Zak Rudden - 21 games, 23rd Mar 2021 to 28th Aug 2021. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

Stats Watch adheres to our stated definitions of League, League Max, Major Competitive, Competitive or All Games. Where there is no written qualification, you should presume that the Stat in question is compiled from the All Games criteria.

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