One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Partick Thistle 2 - 1 Greenock Morton

20 September 2008 

Reporter: Tom Hogg

Scorers

Partick Thistle Harkins (37) Maxwell(66)

Greenock Morton Russell (44)

 

A good crowd of over 3000 saw Thistle edge Morton out by the odd goal in three and with Rangers to come visiting, the win was welcome, but not exactly convincing against a Morton team that are clearly stuttering at the start of this season with only three draws from their first seven fixtures.

 Ian McCall made changes to the starting eleven after last week’s below par display against Clyde with Chaplain dropping to the bench, replaced by a fit again McKeown and Roberts and Gray starting up front in preference to Lennon and Donnelly.  John Robertson came in at right wing back with Willie Kinniburgh taking his place in the back three.  There was no place in the squad for either Stevie Lennon or Paul Paton, the first possibly because of his enforced absence against the Gers as part of his loan deal.

 The game started brightly with the Jags on the offensive during the opening period, McKeown and Roberts both causing minor panics in the Morton defence and after nine minutes Thistle created the first half chance from a corner won by a characteristic Roberts wriggle on the edge of the box.  The delivery cleared the far side of the box and when Maxwell eventually dinked it back in a neat McKeown knock down onto the penalty spot found no takers.

 Harkins then took the ball for a mazy “McQuade” dribble before laying it back to McKeown making the third man run.  Unfortunately the ball was just behind him and it stuck below his boot allowing a defender to intervene.

 Thistle definitely had the best of the opening fifteen minutes but Morton came close from a Partaalu flicked header after a McAlister cross followed a huge punt from goalie Cuthbert only being half cleared. 

 McAlister had another useful contribution shortly after, with a dribble and low shot past.  This followed good work at the other end with interplay between Gray, Robertson and Roberts, Marko only denied by a well timed toe at the edge of the visitor’s box.

 The game slowed towards the half hour mark and Morton came more into it with Russell and McAlister both looking dangerous when running at defenders and delivering the ball into the danger area, but events in the last third of the first half caused most half time talking points. 

 First Storey and Kinniburgh both had to go off for treatment at the same time, having bashed into each other defending a set piece and this would prove crucial only minutes later, then Rowson was harshly booked for a ball winning challenge close to the Thistle corner flag and Thistle looked under pressure.  All was forgotten on 37 minutes however, when Roberts twisted and turned at the left edge of the box before delivering a deft cross to Gary Harkins at the back post who made no mistake with the finish.

 Morton worked their way back into the game before the break, but not after Maxwell had stung Cuthbert’s fingertips with a rasping 30 yarder as the whole Morton midfield backed away giving him a clear view of goal.

 Storey’s head knock continued to bleed and when he left the field on 44 minutes for more treatment Iain Russell stole in behind the back line to collect a pass and finish well past Tuffey despite calls for offside.  In reality, the Jags defence was caught flat footed but it would perhaps have been different with the Aussie in position to sweep behind Kinniburgh and Maxwell.

 Ian McCall obviously felt that the front pairing lacked punch and Donnelly came on after the restart to partner Marko up front in a straight swap for Gray, who despite some good movement seemed to lack sharpness with too many lay offs going astray.  In truth, although Sid was more assured on the ball and held it up well, the difference was marginal.  Thistle again started the half as the brighter team with Robertson playing a prominent role bursting forward on the right on a number of occasions.

 Chaplain replaced scorer Harkins on 52 minutes in a straight swap but the Jags fans were concerned to see the talismanic midfielder immediately applying the ice in the dugout, an injury possibly sustained when he was earlier halved by Walker, appropriately on the half hour mark.

 Shortly after, Thistle got the decisive goal from a corner which followed a good turn and shot from Donnelly which was deflected over.  McKeown delivered to Twaddle at the front edge of the six yard area and his flick on was dispatched by Maxwell at the back post, another well worked set piece goal scored with defenders well up the pitch.

 The Jags then tried to make life difficult for themselves in the closing fifteen minutes with Russell shooting wide when clear in the box and no offside given when it looked likely.  Kinniburgh then conceded a dangerous free kick with a clumsy jump on the very edge of the box and Morton sub Alan Jenkins, a Thistle tormentor at Gretna, hammered the ball through the wall forcing a terrific reaction save from Tuffey low to his right.

 By this time Kevin McKinlay had replaced Roberts and he did well on a couple of occasions, taking the ball for a run to wait for support that never arrived as the midfield ran out of steam.  Stevie McKeown had a great chance to make the points safe in the last minute of normal time after being released by Donnelly, but under pressure he neither took the foul or finished the chance, with a wobble causing him to shoot over.  Referee Finnie then conjured up a couple of minutes of non existent stoppage time during which there was a scare from a poor clearing header but Thistle hung on for all three points which on balance they deserved.

 This was a good result rather than a good performance, with a one track Morton side being well controlled by the Thistle back three.  In truth though, there was not much goalmouth action and the Jags midfield again disappointed against frankly mediocre opponents. 

 As a unit, the back of the squad looks fine with Storey and Maxwell in control of most situations.  Up front there is plenty of skill and graft on display but without adequate support this too often goes unrewarded.  This league is tight and possibly McCall feels that his side can’t be too cavalier in pouring forward, but once or twice in this game it looked like Morton conceded ground to us for nothing and we didn’t really take best advantage.  Against Clyde last week, we were never granted that leeway, with the ball being pressed by a team eager not to lose and Thistle lacked the precision to sweep them aside.  These issues need to be addressed if we are going to stay the distance, at least long enough for us to have a tension free February and March. 

 Man of the match – despite Maxwell getting the nod from the match sponsors my vote goes to Simon Storey who never put a foot wrong all day and grows further into the sweeper role with every game.

 Partick Thistle

 Tuffey 8

Robertson 8

Storey 9

Kinniburgh 7

Maxwell 8

McKeown 8

Rowson 7

Gray 7 (Donnelly 46) 8

Roberts 8 (McKinlay 76) 6

Harkins 8 (Chaplain 65) 7

 

Subs not used

 

Turner

Hinchcliffe

 

Greenock Morton

 

Cuthbert

Walker (Jenkins 78)

Smith

Shimmin

Partaalu (Weatherston 78)

Harding

Finlayson (Masterton 68)

McGuffie

Wake

Russell

McAlister

 

Subs not used

 

McManus

Trialist

 

Referee Mr Finnie