One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Scottish Football League Division 1

23 August 2008

Partick Thistle v St Johnstone

Firhill Park 3.00pm

PARTICK THISTLE 4 ST JOHNSTONE 0

Robertson 6,Maxwell 48,Paton 67,Harkins 74

Attendance 2961

Report By Tom hogg

The build up to this match suggested that it would be an interesting afternoon in North East Glasgow and as the scoreline shows, fans of the red and yellow were not to be disappointed. St Johnstone travelled to civilisation on the back of a three goal defeat by Dunfermline, Thistle’s opening day challengers, whilst the Jags took a sore one last Sunday from Queen of the South, despite dominating much of the game.

Thistle were without talismanic central midfielder David Rowson who is out for a few weeks with a hamstring problem. Saints fans were hoping to see Nick McKoy, on loan from Cardiff City join the action at some stage whilst Kevin James remained missing from the back four due to injury.

Saints line up included a number of changes from last week with octogenarian Alan Main returning in goal and BMM Hardie in midfield. Thistle lined up with McKeown in Rowser’s position, Chaplain sitting in behind the front two of Donnelly and Lennon and Paton back in at right back. Gray and Roberts could only find places on the bench.

St Johnstone were the first to show anything going forward with Hardie firing a volley wide after a clearance to the edge of the box. In truth, that was the last that we saw of BMM until the dying stages of the game when he was harshly booked for taking a free kick before Mr Tumelty was ready.

The game sprang into life in the sixth minute when Thistle’s first corner of the game saw Maxwell leap like a salmon at the back post to direct the ball back into the danger area where Roberston was on hand to apply an unlikely looping overhead kick that landed in the corner of the net, Main flapping in vain as the ball drifted in.

As if they couldn’t quite believe that they were a goal up, Thistle then let the game drift with a period where both sides seemed to be eyeing each other up and with no real goalmouth action. There were the odd exceptions. Donnelly had a long surging run finished off by a weak shot with Paton doing great work charging up in support and pulling the Saints defence open.

Twaddle then fired over a good cross to the back post after a Lennon lay off but there were no takers. Lennon’s pace, Paton’s surges and the tireless involvement of Harkins down the left were all causing problems to the Saints and the Thistle Shed Boys responded by singing Simon Donnelly’s praises to the rafters. Lennon and Donnelly again linked well on the half hour with lay off to McKeown seeing the goalie make a good save at full stretch.

Thistle were definitely ahead on points as half time approached and straight after the restart another goal arrived, again from the unlikeliest of sources. This time Maxwell was the man with the eye for goal with a precise volley from the edge of the box after Donnelly’s corner had been cleared. It’s worth pointing out that the corner was won by Donnelly’s pressure on Rutkiewitz causing the centre back to put the ball behind and for me again, Sid was our man of the match.

Saints tried to change things around just after that by swapping the ineffectual McDonald for the larger presence of Holmes up front and shortly after Samuel made a couple of good runs but the deliveries were easily dealt with by the Jags back four. At the other end Sid shot narrowly over from a Harkins knock down and a McKeown shot was charged down after Donnelly robbed Irvine and laid it back intelligently.

It seemed inevitable that another goal would be scored and it followed a phase of play that involved what can only be described as shooty-in, with Harkins and Chaplain both seeing shots blocked. One of the clearances looped out towards Paton at the corner of the box and his sweetly struck volley flashed past Main into the far corner. The pick of the goals and young Paul clearly loved it, racing across to the fans with a huge grin on his face and lapping up the adulation.

The gaffer pulled young Lennon and stuck on fellow youngster Gray in the same role, but the final goal came from a defensive mess following a Donnelly corner where the Saints stood and watched Gray Harkins poke the ball past Main and just over the line despite a desperate goal line attempt. The Jags began to show boat a wee bit after this and McCall brought on Roberts and McKinlay for Donnelly and Twaddle both of whom had worked hard in their respective positions. Two of the subs were involved in the classiest move of the game when a Gray lay off to Roberts was passed out to the charging Paton and his good deep cross was plucked off the head of Chaplain with the Saints defence laid waste.

Saints new boy McKoy had come on by this time and the Londoner showed his mettle with a hard shot drilled just wide and a great tackle after a Gray flick. Holmes also had a half chance at this stage, heading by Tuffey’s far post but Thistle were cruising by this time and the game drew to a close with Jags once again tormenting McCaffrey and Irvine on the Saints right.

Once again this was a great game to watch and for all the right reasons. Rowser wasn’t missed with McKeown slotting in well and Harkins seemingly revelling in increased responsibility at the centre of the park. Donnelly has hit a purple patch in form and his close control and tenacity are a joy whilst Lennon has pulled defences all over the place without looking like an out and out goalscorer but maybe just needs time to get his eye in. It almost felt like luxury having Gray and Roberts on the bench and with Buchanan due back soon I wouldn’t bet against Liam polishing the bench for a wee while.

Next stop Dens Park on Tuesday for a frisking by Tayside’s finest and a chance to see how we match up to the bookie’s favourites without too much pressure on the team.

TEAMS

Partick Thistle

Tuffey

Paton

Twaddle

Storey

Robertson

Maxwell

Chaplain

McKeown

Lennon

Donnelly

Harkins

Subs

Hinchcliffe

Roberts

Kinniburgh

McKinlay

Gray

St Johnstone

Main
McCaffrey
Trialist
Anderson
Rutkiewitz
Craig
Miller
Hardie
McDonald
Milne
Samuel

Subs
Irvine
McKoy
McLean
Holmes

Official MOM – Lennon

Tom’s man of the match - simon donnelly

Referee M Tumelty