14th May 2024 Partick Thistle 1 Raith Rovers 2 (SPFL Premiership play-off Semi Final, 1st leg)

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matches:2023-24: ← 49game 5051 →

Match Information

37y, 5m, 3d			Kris Doolan		Ian Murray
no changes
no changes
Blair Alston (1-2, 72 mins)					Scott Brown (0-1, 22 mins); Lewis Vaughan (0-2, 40‎ mins)
Scott Robinson (1-2, 72 mins)					none (0-1, 22 mins); Ross Matthews (0-2, 40‎ mins)
Lewis Neilson; Ben Stanway; Scott Robinson; Aidan Fitzpatrick					Kyle Turner
Kerr McInroy (Daniel O'Reilly, 55 mins); Lewis Neilson (Kieran Ngwenya, 55 mins); Ben Stanway (Blair Alston, 71 mins); Aaron Muirhead (Stuart Bannigan, 71 mins); Scott Robinson (Ricco Diack, 90+2 mins)					Aidan Connolly (Callum Smith, 61 mins); Keith Watson (Dylan Corr, 75 mins); Scott Brown (Scott McGill, 80 mins); Lewis Vaughan (Zak Rudden, 80 mins)
34y, 1m, 10d			David Mitchell		Kevin Dąbrowski
26y, 4m, 26d			Jack McMillan		Ross Matthews
27y, 6m, 15d			Harry Milne		Liam Dick
24y, 8m, 5d			Luke McBeth		Keith Watson
33y, 8m, 14d			Aaron Muirhead		Euan Murray
20y, 11m, 29d			Lewis Neilson		Scott Brown
19y, 7m, 24d			Ben Stanway		Shaun Byrne
23y, 8m, 13d			Kerr McInroy		Aidan Connolly
36y, 5m, 21d			Brian Graham		Lewis Vaughan
32y, 2m, 3d			Scott Robinson		Sam Stanton
23y, 1m, 24d			Aidan Fitzpatrick		Kyle Turner former Jag
27y, 6m, 4d
29y, 1m, 4d			Ross Stewart		Andrew McNeil
31y, 7m, 27d			Stuart Bannigan		James Brown
21y, 7m, 19d			Kieran Ngwenya		Callum Smith
29y, 1m, 3d			Daniel O'Reilly		Josh Mullin
32y, 1m, 21d			Blair Alston		Dylan Corr
18y, 8m, 16d			Zander MacKenzie		Jack Hamilton
19y, 0m, 7d			Ricco Diack		Dylan Easton
17y, 6m, 25d			Ché Campbell		Scott McGill
16y, 2m, 1d			Ceiran Loney		Zak Rudden former Jag

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.

Match Report

TTA report

After an even 20 minutes Thistle fell out of the game. Sloppy and off the pace, a headed clearance was volleyed home (22) then the defence was posted AWOL on the break (40). The h-t team "talk" worked wonders and Thistle had the better of the 2nd half. Alston shot home set up with a backward header from the prone Robinson (72). A lifeline! Two tremendous saves denied Thistle an equaliser.

TTA man of the match

A lack of game-time recently seems to have super-charged STUART BANNIGAN who played with a great deal of determination and purpose in the 20-odd minutes he was on the pitch. Didn't waste a ball, and drove the team positively in search of a leveller.

Media report

15-May-2024, bbc.com

Raith Rovers took command of their Scottish Premiership semi-final play-off against Partick Thistle with an impressive performance at Firhill. Rovers captain Scott Brown brilliantly volleyed his side ahead on 22 minutes with a downward strike into the turf that flew past Thistle goalkeeper David Mitchell. The visitors controlled most of the opening period but just as Thistle got a foothold towards the end of the half, Lewis Vaughan controlled a superb volley into the top corner to finish off a devastating counter-attack. Blair Alston got Thistle back into it with a cool finish after an incredible assist by Scott Robinson, who guided the ball into the substitute’s path with his head while flat on his back after slipping. The teams will meet again in the second leg at Stark's Park live on BBC Scotland on Friday, with the winner of the tie facing the side that finishes 11th in the Premiership table.

Vaughan’s 19th goal of the season makes Raith, who have not played in the top flight since 1997, favourites to reach the two-legged play-off against either Ross County or St Johnstone. Man of the match Vaughan was a threat throughout, evading Luke McBeth with a stunning touch and spin after latching onto a low Liam Dick cross and firing just wide as Rovers pressed for an opener. It was Brown, though, who fired them ahead with his second goal of season - his first being a fine strike against Dundee United - thanks to a beautifully controlled volley. Kerr McInroy was inches away from an equaliser with a left-foot shot that went inches past Kevin Dabrowksi’s post but as Thistle pushed forward, Vaughan doubled Rovers' lead with a clinical finish.

The introduction of Alston - who scored a famous Championship-winning goal for Kilmarnock against Arbroath - changed the tempo of the game. After he slid home his goal midway through the second half after Robinson's astonishing assist, he sent in a terrific free-kick from which Brian Graham's glanced header needed a smart save by Dabrowski. Graham then set Alston up but Dabrowski was again defiant with a superb reaction save and the substitute still had time to create another chance for himself with an on-the-spin volley. It was an end to the match that ensured Ian Murray's Rovers, who finished second in table with Thistle third, will know Kris Doolan's side are not to be underestimated in Friday's return.

Reaction

Partick Thistle's Kris Doolan:

In the first 45 minutes we were miles off it. Sloppy. The second half, we were far more like ourselves. I felt the game changed when Blair Alston came on - he gave us that goal threat. We were miles away, sinking at times. You can't do that against a team as good as Raith Rovers. Our slackness allowed them into the game. We changed some things second half and made substitutions quite quickly. We tightened up and we are well in the tie at 2-1. Raith have everything to lose, they need to hold onto a lead. There's a positive feeling and we go to Kirkcaldy with everything to gain.

Raith Rovers boss Ian Murray:

I'm very pleased. It was a tough game. We are not overzealous with our celebrations. There's still a long way to go in this tie. I felt we were a wee bit sloppy but over the piece of the game, I'm very happy with the team. We felt balls into the box and second balls would be really important. We had to get them to drop off so we could get the ball out wide and we managed to follow balls up quicker than Thistle did. We had energy.

Gallery

© Donald Wilson. All rights reserved. View the hi-res original album directly on flickr

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Video Highlights

Option 1: extended highlights

(credit: Raith Rovers FC )

Option 2: shorter highlights

(credit: SPFL )

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Stats Watch

CAN'T BEAT ROVERS

● For the second successive match at Firhill, the John Lambie Stand is 'filled to capacity' as much as the safety rules allow it to be for unallocated seating.

● Blair Alston breaks Thistle's 273 mins goal drought vs. Rovers. He was also the last to score back in December.

● Scott Robinson - with an excellent assist - goes into double figures in direct goal involvements this season, with 5 goals and 5 assists in all competitions.

● It's an unwanted club-record for the current crop who become the first-ever Partick Thistle team to go 6-without-a-win versus Raith Rovers.

● 23-year-old Kerr McInroy plays his last game for Thistle.

ongoing sequences:

● 38 consecutive competitive appearances for Lewis Neilson, 15th Sep 2023 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Steven Lawless - 60 games, 18th Feb 2023 to 6th Apr 2024. 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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