One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

From out of the squad last Saturday to second half substitute in midweek, to a starting place today to a quickfire matchwinning double, life is on the up for Adam Strachan. Liam Buchanan opened his account as well, as Thistle recorded an unusually comfortable 3-0 victory over an extremely poor Livingston team, who on this form risk being drummed out of the First Division.

Paul Simon’s “Slip Sliding Away” would have been an appropriate anthem for a game where players found it surprisingly difficult to keep their feet, leading to a number of humorous incidents, but sadly also perhaps contributing to some serious injuries which kept the physios and the stretcher bearers busy.

Patrick Noubissie looked to be a player of real quality in the Livingston midfield, ghosting past players and spraying passes. However without the suspended Joe Hamill and Graham Dorrans, and also thankfully deprived of the services of a drum major to beat some life into a measly travelling support, the rest of the Livingston team looked bereft of skill and inspiration. The much vaunted Robert Snodgrass had a shocker of a game and was hooked early, his readiness to kiss the turf every time the ball came anywhere near him prompting my assistant reporter to ask whether his name should be “Snog-grass”.

Enough of Livingston. This was an excellent display from Thistle, keeping the ball on the ground (demonstrated to special effect in the first two goals), defending solidly, using pace and trickery on the flanks, and also breaking through the middle, where Rowson’s industry and McStay’s silky touches are a potent combination.

The experienced pairing of Donnelly and Roberts started up front. However, Donnelly limped off in the 7th minute to be replaced by an eager Liam Buchanan. He nearly opened the scoring two minutes later when a McStay chip led to a scramble in the Livingston box. A goal-saving challenge by Mark Tinkler caused Buchanan’s shot to divert and although the ball hit the net, the last touch was from an offside Mark Roberts. The unfortunate Tinkler (would be a good name for a referee!) paid for his heroics, leading to yet another early substitution.

After 17 minutes another beautifully judged chip by McStay set up Rowson for a flashing volley which looked destined to hit the net, but Manus Liberda (who looked about nine feet tall) extended his frame to produce a magnificent save. However, the big goalie found it more difficult to lower himself when the ball was at ground level. Thistle took advantage of this only a minute later. McStay tiptoed through the Livingston defence and rolled the ball across to the corner of the six yard box where Strachan had a clear sight of goal. The straight shot looked easy but might have been enveloped by Liberda’s enormous arms. Strachan showed great presence of mind to check inside, taking the sliding goalkeeper out of the equation, before tapping the ball into the empty net.

Daisycutting football produced further reward in the 24th minute. Once more McStay unlocked the defence with an exquisite throughball to Buchanan who though clear was forced slightly wide. He probably meant to shoot rather than his pass but at least he hit the ball across the face of the goal. Strachan was again backing up at the far post and with Liberda once more scrambling to get down, Adam did well to find the net from a tight angle.

The referee was making some extraordinary decisions, awarding free kicks for undetectable infringements which left both sides bemused, but missing some serious foul play, including a sequence of over-hefty challenges, beginning with Mark Twaddle being taken out of the game and ending with Archie flattening an opponent and leaving him lying conveniently right next door to the Livingston physio. The inconsistency of Mr Smith led one fan to take note of his surname and encourage him to “get his bag of crisps out”.

Roberts joined Donnelly on the sidelines with what looked like a pulled hamstring, thus ushering in a second substitute keen to prove himself, Scott Chaplain, who slotted in just behind Liam Buchanan. Thistle, with McStay the fulcrum, were playing like Brazil, although sometimes the showmanship was at the expense of an end product. Liberda seemed keen to join in the Shaggy-style football with some cool passes to his defenders which only just eluded the onrushing Buchanan.

McStay showed that he could defend as well, with his foot and then with his head, when a subtle freekick routine almost caught out the Thistle defence. Nevertheless, his tendency to be too casual and to lose possession in exposed midfield positions can be worriying, and McStay was fortunate on one occasion when Archie was on hand to bail him out and shepherd the ball back to Tuffey.

Strachan could have played Chaplain through the middle, but delayed his pass. The half ended with an incredible run from McStay. As the crowd yelled “Pass”, he just kept beating more and more players. Finally he did pass and Murray brought out a good save from Liberda.

Murray started the second half brightly as Livingston pushed forward slightly, giving him more room to display his trickery. A quick throw from Tuffey to Murray sparked a swift move which was snuffed out by the alert Liberda’s headed clearance just outside the box. Murray also earned huge cheers by outjumping a colossal opponent to win a header.

After a Livingston defender had come close to gifting Thistle an own goal, a David Rowson shot was deflected for a 55th minute corner. Mark Twaddle got up well to head the ball down to the edge of the six yard box. Liam Buchanan showed the predator’s instinct which caused Ian McCall to sign him, getting to the ball first, touching it away from the defenders and shooting powerfully home. The goal obviously meant so much to him and it was good to see his team-mates genuinely sharing his pleasure. The first of many, we hope. /p>

Mark Twaddle was coming in for some heavy punishment, especially from the Livingston Number 16, who was lucky that the referee was lenient in his interpretation of a dangerous sliding challenge on the touchline, which did admittedly take the ball but also took out Twaddle and led to a brief feud. When Twaddle refocussed his attention on the game, he participated in yet another flowing move of slide rule passes, and his cross only just eluded Scott Chaplain.

With ten minutes to go, Jonathan Tuffey was called into his only significant action of the match, producing an athletic leap to touch the ball over the bar. Harkins and Archie, well supported by the ever-improving Simon Storey, were breaking up most attacks with ease, and Archie seemed unfortunate to be booked when a Livingston forward went down in instalments.

There was never any prospect of Livingston mounting a fightback and the game ended with Thistle in the ascendancy, with sponsor’s man of the match Murray again prominent. His delightful interchange with Buchanan so nearly led to a goal, but the final ball went between Liam’s feet. Finally Stevie was left screaming for a pass, as a fine move between Strachan, Chaplain and Buchanan fell just short.

It is difficult to remember when Thistle last won a home league game so easily. The injuries to Roberts and Donnelly are concerning in such a small squad, but if Rowson and McStay continue to perform in midfield, the pace, energy, enthusiasm and invention of Strachan, Chaplain, Buchanan and Murray (with Steven Connor no doubt waiting in the wings) provide enough options to challenge most First Division teams.

Man of the match: Adam Strachan