One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle edged out St Johnstone on penalties after the two sides failed to make the breakthrough in an entertaining game at Firhill tonight. Both sides had their chances but Thistle held the edge for most of the game and sealed their progress to the third round winning 5-4 in the penalty shoot out.

Ian McCall made only one change to the side that lost at the weekend, Chaplain dropping to the bench to allow Strachan to return to the right wing with Di Giacomo moving forward to partner Buchanan in attack. Martin Hardie returned to the St Johnstone line-up after suspension, and pre-match doubt David Weatherston was passed fit to start.

Thistle have made the better start to the season of the two sides, and although St Johnstone looked nowhere near as bad as their opening results suggest, it was the Jags who had the best of the game. There wasn’t too much between the sides in the first half, however Thistle looked the more likely to score, but for the most part failed to find a telling finish.

The partnership of Buchanan and Di Giacomo looks a promising one, and after ten minutes the latter’s diving header was just inches from connecting with Buchanan’s cross after he’d been found by McStay’s excellent pass. Strachan then failed to take advantage of a fine pass from the Kilmarnock striker, having to settle for a corner when a chance to go for goal looked likely.

Stevie Murray was well marshalled in the first half but he found space after some clever play on the left to beat two players, only to see his hard work go to waste when the two strikers failed to get on the end of his cross.

Just before the half hour mark St Johnstone threatened for the first time when McInnes had a couple of efforts on goal, but he failed to test the keeper on both occasions. Buchanan blasted an effort over the bar at the other end and then just before the interval he robbed Irvine of the ball in the box and set up Di Giacomo but Main turned his effort round the post.

Within a couple of minutes of the second half kicking off, Thistle had a narrow escape when Weatherston raced away from Twaddle and fired the ball low across the face of goal, Tuffey managed to get a hand to it doing just enough to touch it away from the two St Johnstone players racing in at the back post.

It was Thistle who were to step up the pace though, and they went on to dominate with Murray beginning to cause the visiting defence problems. He set up the first chance beating his man before finding Buchanan on the edge of the area, the Jags striker did well to create space for the shot but his low drive flashed just wide of Main’s right hand post.

Murray was involved again a few minutes later to set up Rowson inside the area, but he pulled his cutback just behind the Jags strikers and although it came to Strachan who’d arrived late in the box, he had time to set himself but lacked composure and his shot was blocked.

With an hour gone Buchanan sneaked in at the back post to meet Murray’s free kick but from a tight angle could only find the side netting. Buchanan then set up Di Giacomo as Thistle continued to press, but he was quickly closed down and his shot was deflected behind.

Stevie Murray should have been celebrating soon afterwards when he dispossessed Irvine and strode into the box, his low shot beat the keeper but agonisingly hit the foot of the post and though Di Giacomo pounced on the rebound, his effort was tame and easily held by Main.

The introduction of MacDonald and Jackson up front for St Johnstone began to pay dividends for the visitors as the game wore on, and after being second best for the opening 65 minutes, they began to come into the game and look more like the side who had challenged for promotion last season.

Play raged from end-to-end in the closing 20 minutes, and although St Johnstone had the ball in the back of the net following a corner, their joy was short-lived, as the referee had blown for a foul on the keeper.

By this time Stephen Connor had replaced Strachan but the young Evertonian had little success against Stanic, and it was fellow sub Paul Keegan who was to be more involved when he came on in place of Di Giacomo. The Irish striker may be well into his 30’s, but he is pretty mobile and wins his fair share of high balls. He’s not too shabby on the ground either and after a good turn to get away from his marker, only a fine interception from McManus stopped him setting up Buchanan inside the danger area.

Inside the closing ten minutes Thistle had a couple of chances to win it, but McStay sclaffed an effort well wide, Rowson scooped his shot over the bar and Murray’s delicate chip was also too high. At the other end, Martin Hardie came close from a corner then right at the death Connor had a chance to set up Buchanan after getting to the by-line, but his cutback went straight to a defender.

So into extra-time, and with Thistle tiring, it was the fitter looking St Johnstone side who held the upper hand. Their first chance came when Jackson’s cross was flicked goalwards but fortunately Archibald was able to block. Then McStay was caught in possession giving Jackson the chance to run through on goal, but Tuffey stood up well and made a fine block to deny him.

Keegan headed just over from a corner as Thistle threatened at the other end, but the visitors were soon back on the attack and Jackson and MacDonald combined at the back post to beat Tuffey only for Storey to clear on the line, McInnes ran onto the loose ball but pulled his shot wide.

Buchanan had a half chance for Thistle just before half time of extra time, but the tired looking striker could only knock Keegan’s pass high over the bar. St Johnstone came close again in that second period, this time it was Sheerin who found space at the back post but he failed to hit the target – although he was adamant Tuffey had saved his shot.

The visitors had a second opportunity to win it late on from a quick break, but this time from the left of the area it was Hardie who spurned the opportunity. Thistle’s final chance of the game fell to Keegan after Rowson had picked him out in the area, but he couldn’t find any space for a shot and after 120 minutes of action without a goal we headed into the penalty shoot-out.

Even the penalty shoot out went into extra time, as after each side had taken their five spot kicks, the score was tied at 4-4 with Murray and Jackson the players to miss (Chaplain, Buchanan, Harkins & Rowson with the successful spot kicks). Both keepers then saved one apiece from Archibald and Irvine respectively, but Thistle edged in front when Connor held his nerve to score, and Thistle’s progress into the third round was sealed when McInnes sent his penalty wide.

Overall it was a thoroughly entertaining game despite there being no goals, and we certainly can’t complain about not getting our money’s worth!

Man of the match: Stevie Murray