12th Feb 2023 Rangers 3 Partick Thistle 2 (Scottish Cup 5th Round)

matches:2022-23: ← 35game 3637 →

	Michael Beale	Ian McCall	58y, 4m, 13d

		Aaron Muirhead; Brian Graham; Scott Tiffoney
		Steven Lawless; Danny Mullen; Aidan Fitzpatrick

Antonio Čolak (1-1, 50 mins); Malik Tillman (1-2, 71 mins); Connor McAvoy (2-3, og 86 mins)		Kevin Holt (1-0, pen 35 mins); Scott Tiffoney (2-2, 74 mins)
Nicolas Raskin (1-1, 50 mins); none (1-2, 71 mins); Borna Barišić (2-3, og 86 mins)		none (1-0, pen 35 mins); Anton Dowds (2-2, 74 mins)
Borna Barišić; Glen Kamara		Brian Graham; Kyle Turner; Scott Tiffoney; Ross Docherty; Jamie Sneddon

Todd Cantwell (Kemar Roofe, HT); Ianis Hagi (Ryan Kent, HT); Antonio Čolak (Alfredo Morelos, 83 mins); Nicolas Raskin (Ryan Jack, 89 mins)		Brian Graham (Anton Dowds, 66 mins); Scott Tiffoney (Aidan Fitzpatrick, 74 mins); Stuart Bannigan (Ross Docherty, 75 mins); Lee Hodson (Zander Mackenzie, 89 mins)

	Allan McGregor	Jamie Sneddon	25y, 5m, 6d
	James Tavernier	Jack McMillan	25y, 1m, 25d
	Borna Barišić	Harry Milne	26y, 3m, 14d
	Ben Davies	Kevin Holt	30y, 0m, 18d
	James Sands	Aaron Muirhead	32y, 5m, 13d
	Nicolas Raskin	Connor McAvoy	20y, 11m, 27d
	Glen Kamara	Stuart Bannigan	30y, 4m, 26d
	Ianis Hagi	Lee Hodson	31y, 4m, 10d
	Antonio Čolak	Brian Graham	35y, 2m, 20d
	Malik Tillman	Kyle Turner	25y, 3m, 2d
	Todd Cantwell	Scott Tiffoney	24y, 5m, 17d

			27y, 10m, 30d

	Jon McLaughlin	David Mitchell	32y, 10m, 8d
	Connor Goldson	Darren Brownlie	28y, 10m, 2d
	Ryan Jack	Anton Dowds	26y, 2m, 24d
	Ryan Kent	Steven Lawless	31y, 10m, 0d
	Alfredo Morelos	Cammy Smith	27y, 5m, 19d
	Scott Wright	Danny Mullen	27y, 11m, 11d
	Kemar Roofe	Aidan Fitzpatrick	21y, 10m, 23d
	Leon King	Ross Docherty	30y, 0m, 20d
	former Jag Adam Devine	Zander MacKenzie	17y, 5m, 15d

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.
Bizarrely, no assist is given by the 'network' for Thistle's second goal, but the ball was played to Scott Tiffoney by Anton Dowds, and we therefore assign the assist to him. The 'network' credits James Sands with Rangers third goal, and it's understandable given that three heads went up for the Borna Barišić corner. Close inspection of the video slo-mo replay shows that it was Thistle's Connor McAvoy who connected his head and shoulder to the cross, diverting the ball into his own net, and we've assigned the goal as such. The own goal was picked up on by numerous commentators, writers and observers, although the stats network stubbornly sits with Sands.

TTA report

Fine saves denied Tiffoney and Turner then Holt converted a soft VAR pen (35). A header made it 1-1 (50). Sneddon punched away a soft VAR pen (65) then, when Holt was about to return the ball to Rangers, he was closed down and they scored (71). Rangers sportingly allowed Tiffoney to score unchallenged (74). A header (86) ruined the dream.

Media report

Andy Campbell, 12-Feb-2023, bbc.co.uk

Rangers "won in the right way" after allowing Partick Thistle to equalise in a tumultuous Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, said manager Michael Beale. Thistle levelled unopposed through Scott Tiffoney when the visitors complained Malik Tillman had been unsportsmanlike when making it 2-1. The midfielder had intercepted the ball as the Championship side intended to surrender possession from a throw-in. Antonio Colak and James Sands also scored for Rangers, who came from behind to book their place in Monday's quarter-final draw with Ayr United, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Raith Rovers and Darvel or Falkirk.

The hosts had a nervous moment early on when Tillman tussled with Holt on the very edge of the Rangers penalty area but referee David Munro offered the 2,500-strong travelling Thistle support no encouragement. The visitors held their own with a disciplined defensive approach and a determination not to allow their hosts time and space. Kyle Turner won and took a free-kick that tested Allan McGregor - and the goalkeeper was forced into an even better stop to deny Tiffoney moments later. But, in the aftermath, the visitors were awarded their spot-kick. Munro was asked to review whether Kevin Holt's header had been handled by Colak and the referee signalled penalty. Holt converted confidently.

Rangers' play had been too narrow and their short passing game food and drink for the Jags. Ibrox manager Michael Beale took action at half-time with Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe sent on in place of Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell. And there was almost instant reward. Kent sent Roofe through and the striker fired narrowly wide. The leveller duly arrived when Nicolas Raskin chipped from the inside right channel for Colak to nod in. The Croatian had gone nine games without a goal since his last on 29 October. The keeper may have done better with that one but stood up well to block Colak's next effort and made his mark again by saving a Rangers' penalty. Tillman was dragged down by Stuart Bannigan, who was adamant the foul had taken place outside the box. The award stood but so did Sneddon as he stayed in a central position to get in the way of Tavernier's spot-kick.

But then, another jaw-dropping twist. Rangers put the ball out after Tillman pulled up with a knock and, after the restart, Tillman robbed Holt and evaded chasing defenders and Sneddon to score. Thistle were furious, insisting the Rangers attacker had stolen the ball just as they were about to kick it back to the home defence. A melee ensued on the pitch and Beale was active in his technical area, with the instruction given before Tiffoney sauntered forward from the re-start to round McGregor and score. It was from a Borna Barisic corner that the decisive goal came, but again confusion reigned. Sands threw himself at the ball and celebrated when the net bulged but replays suggested Thistle's Connor McAvoy may have knocked it over the line. Tillman danced away from a clutch of challenges only to be denied by Sneddon in added time, the last major incident of an enthralling Scottish Cup tie.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall (speaking to the BBC):

We're full of pride but full of disappointment as well. The players were absolutely magnificent. First half, I thought we were terrific. They allowed us to score the goal to get us to 2-2 and then it was game on, And, unfortunately Rangers scored from a set play. [with regards to the Malik Tillman incident] I don't think Malik Tillman knew what he was doing. I think he got mixed up and put it in the net. Michael Beale showed an awful lot of class, so did James Tavernier to do what they did. It was the right to do so there's no blame on anybody, not even the ref. I've been involved in the game since 1981 - I've never seen it before.

Rangers manager Michael Beale (speaking to the BBC):

It was right to make the changes in the second half. I didn't think the performance was great. To be fair to the character and mentality of the players, they have found a way to win. [with regards to the Malik Tillman incident] It was a big misunderstanding, the whole thing. Malik gets injured. We play the ball out. Malik's on the floor, he's unaware that we've played the ball out so when he gets up, he just thinks it's a throw-in to Partick Thistle. He presses innocently and then he's through on goal and he goes and finishes the move. I don't want us to win a football game on a misunderstanding and it was a misunderstanding. It would've been the wrong thing to do. I've got high standards but the club I work for has got high standards as well and as Rangers Football Club, we're in a better place tonight that we did that. It's not an easy thing to do, trust me. We won the game, we won the game in the right way.

VARTICK THISTLE

● History is made as Partick Thistle play in a match overseen by V.A.R. officials. The technology worked in favour for Thistle's first half penalty (correct decision) and against Thistle for Rangers' second-half penalty (woeful decision).

● Thistle have led Rangers in four of the last eight competitive matches between the two clubs, 2016 to date, but have failed to hold the lead every time.

● In "all games" Rangers have failed to convert three successive penalties against Thistle, two of which have featured James Tavernier and Jamie Sneddon (2021 & 2023). Jonny Tuffey saved from Daniel Cousins in the 2008 Scottish Cup Quarter Final.

● With Malik Tillman failing to realise that Thistle were about to return the ball back to them, he unwittingly took advantage of a relaxed situation to put Rangers 2-1 up, which would have been extremely distasteful had it been allowed to stand. The actions of the Rangers management and players in allowing Thistle's Scott Tiffoney to run up the pitch unopposed to score and balance out the matter was a very refreshing sporting gesture. Looking back at the records, the incident is not entirely without precedent… on Sat-21-Dec-1895, with Thistle trailing by 1 goal to 2 at Inchview, Celtic threatened to walk off when Thistle were awarded a late pen. To settle, R. Lamont “shot for the corner flag”!

● Anton Dowds registers his first assist of the season - he's never had it so easy!

● Thistle have exited the Scottish Cup to Rangers way more often than thery have done against any other club; it's now 14 exits out of the 16 ties between the two.

● Thistle go 31 competitive games without a win versus Rangers (1993 to date), currently our longest winless streak against any other side in competitive action.

● The 27th managerial reign ends with Ian McCall's last game in charge (second spell). The 58-year-old was summoned to Firhill and sacked after the match.

ongoing sequences:

● 33 consecutive competitive appearances for Jack McMillan, 9th Jul 2022 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Jamie Sneddon - 41 games, 28th Aug 2021 to 9th Jul 2022. 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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