The Thistle Archive

Lochlin Highet, 15-Jan-2022, Daily Record

Derek McInnes says he’s disappointed his side blew a chance to go top of the league tonight – but he admits a draw was a good result on reflection. Kilmarnock took a 59th minute lead at Firhill as Oli Shaw bagged his 10th goal of the season with a penalty before former Ayr United captain Ross Docherty fired home a stunning effort to save a point for Partick. Killie would have been heading into the weekend at the summit of the Scottish Championship if they held on – but they must make do with second place.

The first clearcut chance of the match fell to Killie when Blair Alston tried to curl an effort home in the 20th minute but it was well saved by Jamie Sneddon. Zak Rudden tried his luck just after the half-hour mark as he fired a shot towards goal but Zach Hemming got down well as he was equal to the strike. The hosts had a fantastic chance in the 43rd minute when Cammy Smith latched on to a Kevin Holt cross. He fizzed an effort goalbound but Brandon Haunstrup blocked off the line well. Haunstrup was involved at the other end just a minute later as his teasing cross was almost met at the back post but Sneddon cleared the danger.

Killie were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Richard Foster was accused of handling a cross by whistler Nick Walsh. And Shaw made no mistake as he fired his spot-kick down the middle of Sneddon’s goal to give Killie a much-needed lead. But it was heartbreak for McInnes's men as Docherty fired home a spectacular effort in the 87th minute from 20 yards which left Hemming helpless.

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

I thought we were the better team for most of that game. We controlled the middle of the park and the two guys at the centre of that were Ross Docherty and Stuart Bannigan. At the end of the day, to score late like that to earn a point is a great feeling but we thought we shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place. We’ve seen the penalty incident back and we feel really hard done by on that one. If that one is a penalty then the one in the first half when Kevin Holt is going forward should be a penalty too but look, the credit goes to the boys for bouncing back from that and making sure it didn’t decide the game. We had to push right until the end and we did that. It’s a group of players who I know will give their all and will always show that pride while they’re on the pitch. The subs who came on were the same and I thought Kyle, Brian and Ross all contributed well to the way we finished the match. The fans gave us a great backing tonight and it didn’t sound like only 500. I just wish we could have had a few thousand Jags fans in tonight seeing the way the team battled and fought to get the draw. I’ve said since I came in that the link between the crowd and the team is very important to me and hopefully the supporters appreciate the guts the boys showed tonight.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes, via Daily Record

I think on the overall performance we were glad to come away with a point, but when you’re in a winning position with a few minutes remaining you are disappointed not to take all three. It was a tough match, the surface wasn’t the best in terms of players losing their footing and things like that. But I’d say Thistle were better than us, they weren’t much better than us in the second half, I thought we got against them well, they didn’t get it all their own way. We never gave up too many chances when we were in front which was pleasing, and that’s why you’re disappointed not to take the win. It’s important that we get all three points from winning positions from here on in.

Option 1: extended highlights, with commentary

Partick Thistle Fan 1876

BBC Scotland

Option 2: shorter highlights, no commentary

SPFL

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