23rd Aug 2025 Ross County 1 Partick Thistle 3 (SPFL Championship - game 3)

matches:2025-26: ← 09game 1011 →

	Don Cowie	Mark Wilson	41y, 2m, 18d

		no changes
		no changes

Connor Randall (2-1, 66‎ mins)		Ben Stanway (1-0, 28‎ mins); Logan Chalmers (2-0, 48 mins); Steven Lawless (3-1, pen 90‎+‎2 mins)
Kieran Phillips (2-1, 66‎ mins)		none (1-0, 28‎ mins); Tony Watt (2-0, 48 mins); none (3-1, pen 90‎+‎2 mins)
Declan Gallagher		Robbie Crawford; Josh Clarke‎

Jamie Lindsay (Arron Lyall, HT); Dean Cornelius (Jay Henderson, HT); James Scott (Kieran Phillips, 55 mins); Ross Docherty (Nicky Clark, 81 mins); Len O'Sullivan (Gary Mackay-Steven, 81 mins)		Tony Watt (Alex Samuel, 67 mins); Aidan Fitzpatrick (Luke McBeth, 72 mins); Ben McPherson (Cammy Logan, 72 mins); Logan Chalmers (Steven Lawless, 83 mins)

	Ross Laidlaw	Josh Clarke	21y, 0m, 26d
	Connor Randall	Ben McPherson	21y, 5m, 4d
	Len O'Sullivan	Paddy Reading	26y, 2m, 25d
	Akil Wright	Daniel O'Reilly	30y, 4m, 12d
	former Jag Declan Gallagher	Lee Ashcroft	31y, 11m, 25d
	Alex Iacovitti	Ben Stanway	20y, 11m, 3d
	former Jag Ross Docherty	Robbie Crawford	31y, 2m, 1d
	Dean Cornelius	Tsoanelo Letsosa	21y, 2m, 17d
	Ronan Hale	Tony Watt	31y, 7m, 25d
	James Scott	Logan Chalmers	25y, 4m, 30d
	Jamie Lindsay	Aidan Fitzpatrick	24y, 5m, 3d

			25y, 11m, 26d

	Brad Foster	Lewis Budinauckas	23y, 2m, 4d
	Ben Crompton	Cammy Logan	23y, 6m, 26d
	Jay Henderson	Alex Samuel	29y, 11m, 3d
	Kieran Phillips	Steven Lawless	34y, 4m, 11d
	Nicky Clark	Zander MacKenzie	19y, 11m, 26d
	Dylan Smith	Luke McBeth	25y, 11m, 14d
	future Jag Gary Mackay-Steven	Thomas Horn	18y, 7m, 12d
	Arron Lyall	Matthew Falconer	18y, 6m, 0d
	Jordan White

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.
Thistle filled 8 of their 9 allocated bench slots.

TTA report

The bar rescued Thistle early on but for more than a hour they played excellent attacking football. A magnificent 30-yarder by Stanway (28) and a long run and cross by Fitzpatrick via Watt was finished by Chalmers (48). A long throw-in led to some head tennis and a snap shot (66) but a strong finish saw Lawless tuck away a pen for handball (90+2).

TTA man of the match

It's a source of great satisfaction to watch the continuing development of BEN STANWAY who was a midfield dynamo today, and to be putting in such a dominant performance at 20 augurs well for the future. His 'Freddy Frans' special from almost 30-yards underlined the confidence in his play, and will live long in the memory.

Media report

David Forrest, 23-Aug-2025, ptfc.co.uk

Partick Thistle enjoyed their second win in Dingwall this season as they picked up three William Hill Championship points courtesy of a 3-1 win over Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium. Jags’ Head Coach Mark Wilson listed the same starting line-up for a second week running with former Staggies striker Alex Samuel remaining on the bench. Robbie Crawford got the game going and the midfielder was involved again quickly as he won a corner at The Jail End with just 30 seconds played. Tony Watt was on the end of the flag kick however his header floated over the far post. Three minutes later Thistle had an escape from the hosts’ first corner when Akil Wright’s header came back off the bar. Wilson’s side won the third corner of the game on seven minutes when a Logan Chalmers shot was deflected wide however the wide-man’s subsequent delivery from the right evaded Dan O’Reilly. Shortly afterwards a long Paddy Reading pass found Watt who skipped past a couple of challenges before teeing up Ben Stanway who was crowded out before he got a shot off from the 18-yard line.

With quarter of an hour played Thistle came close to both a goal and a penalty from a wicked delivery from a Chalmers free-kick on the right. Watt got on the end of the cross and his header brought out a fine stop from Ross Laidlaw and before skipper Lee Ashcroft could get onto the loose ball, he looked to be fouled from behind however no penalty was awarded. A minute later Laidlaw kept his goal intact again as he used his knees to deny Chalmers with the shot-stopper then glad to see a fierce Ts’oanelo Lets’osa drive rise and clear his bar. Ben McPherson and Ashcroft blocked home shots in quick succession before the visitors threatened again with a curling Robbie Crawford drive that flashed just past with referee Sneddon awarding a corner. Aidan Fitzpatrick created danger again on 27 minutes with a low cross that Watt just failed to turn in. A goal finally arrived on 29 minutes, and it arrived in the finest style! Thistle’s pressing game had County pinned back and when they finally cleared the ball it reached STANWAY who sent a rocket shot from 30 yards out fizzing past Laidlaw and high into the net. Ross County were stung into looking for retaliation and Ronan Hale turned quickly and got a shot off from 14 yards however it cleared Josh Clarke’s goal. Ashcroft and co continued to hold firm with the Cricket Cream Jags threatening on the break with the first half drawing to a close with Crawford side-footing a Chalmers cross just past.

County made two substitutions for the second half which got off to a fast start as Chalmers sent an effort rising wide of Laidlaw’s goal and Clarke had to stretch to tip over a header before sixty seconds had been played. Before 120 seconds had been played it was a two-goal advantage for the Maryhill men as Fitzpatrick ran for 30 yards before releasing Watt on the left and his low ball across the home goal was turned in from six yards out by CHALMERS. Just after the hour mark it was almost three as a long ball released Fitzpatrick who bore down on goal and sent in a shot that Laidlaw stuck out an arm to save. The Dingwall men gave a reminder that they were still in things as Hale powered in a drive from 18 yards however Clarke put down both of his hands to block. Midway through the second period the score became 2-1 when Connor Randall found space at the back post and stabbed home from close range. The hosts were looking to build up a head of steam and Reading had to stand strong in the path of a Jay Henderson drive to ensure Clarke was not troubled.

Thistle thought they had restored their two-goal advantage on 76 minutes when Reading cut the ball back to Chalmers who sent an effort towards goal that Samuel flicked into the net however an offside flag cut short the celebrations. Substitute Samuel then picked out Crawford who forced Laidlaw into a save before the hosts came close with a diagonal Kieran Phillips shot that hit the inside of the far post before bouncing into Clarke’s arms. O’Reilly ventured forward to get on the end of a free kick from substitute Steven Lawless and after having his initial attempt blocked the defender sent in a drive that looped over Laidlaw, but a corner was the only reward. In the first of four added on minutes Thistle were awarded a penalty when Declan Gallagher stuck out a hand and blocked a cross from LAWLESS. The number 11 expertly found the net from 12 yards to make the points safe however there was still time for Clarke to make a last gasp save to prevent County grabbing a second.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Mark Wilson (speaking to the media c/o 'The Thistle'

Delighted. It is difficult to come up here, and Don's got a good squad, good players, so we knew it was going to be hard. I know when we came up here last month, we certainly deserved a win and played well, but two games are never the same, and I didn't think this would take on the same form. You know, changes in personnel from both sides since and a change of shape for Ross County today that we had to price into our thinking. We tweaked a few things just before the game, but I thought we got it spot on and the players were excellent throughout. Logan Chalmers is on fire just now, and what a talent he is. He's got direction at the minute that he understands exactly what we want from wide players. Him hugging that touchline makes it difficult for anybody playing against him, and of course, the other pieces of the puzzle have to fall into place just behind him. I thought we got that wee unit just spot on - Ts’oanelo [Lets’osa] in that right side as well, and you've got Ben McPherson, and they complemented each other great. It was similar the other side, although Logan obviously dictates most of the play. So it’s really positive when you're playing against a five like we did today that we moved the ball quickly, side to side, and I thought we did that and got our rewards.

Ross County manager Don Cowie (speaking to the Press & Journal

I’m under pressure because of the start we’ve had. It’s not been good enough. I recognise that. I’m fully aware of the beginning we’ve had and it has been nowhere near good enough. Naturally, as manager, it is my responsibility to get results and we’re not getting them right now. I still retain the belief that with the group that we’ve got that we can get those results. But at the same time, it needs to happen really soon. You can hear the discontent from the supporters because of the results that we’ve had. I fully understand. I have the same frustration. I’ll never hide away from that. I’ll take it on the chin, as I always do, and make sure I work even harder.

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