One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle disappointed at home again today as they lost 3 – 2 to visitors Livingston. After losing a goal against the run of play in the first half, it was only when they conceded a second goal in 73 minutes that Thistle eventually woke up. They scored two goals in a whirlwind four minutes and looked to have enough to grab all three points until a disastrous lack of judgement by Kenny Arthur gave Livingston an early Christmas present of a precious away win.

Both managers had changes forced on their team selection through injury and suspension. Dick Campbell was without the services of stand-in skipper from last week, Billy Gibson. The powerful midfielder, having injured his ankle in training, now may be sidelined for up to a month. Fortunately, Darren Brady was avaliable again after suspension, and was able to slot back into his midfield berth.

Livingston were without top scorer Steven Craig, but Stevie Hislop came into the side, as did new loan signing Scott Cuthbert. Manager John Robertson must have been more than happy to see a few key players, who were doubtful for today’s game, take their place in the starting eleven, namely Neil Teggert and Allan Walker. Both players would play a major part in the outcome of this game.

Thistle started brightly and stroked the ball about nicely on a Firhill pitch that looked incredibly good considering the weather conditions over the last week or so. Roberts, Donnelly and McConalogue moved and passed with ease and the Livingston team were second to every ball.

The signs were looking good as Thistle pushed forward. Brown Ferguson was first to have a shot at goal from the right of the box but it was an easy save for Craig Wight in the Livingston goal. A mighty kick by Kenny Arthur caught the Livingston backline ball watching and McConalogue ran into space but couldn’t make his final ball across goal count.

Thistle were now enjoying the lion’s share of possession and Livingston were retreating more and more into their defensive shell. However, in football, teams get punished for not making possession count and in the 12th minute that’s exactly what happened.

Brown Ferguson played the ball out wide to Keogh. The pass was played in front of Keogh who was caught somewhat on his heels. He surged forward and, rather than take a touch, he chose to take a swing at the ball and clear it up the park. Unfortunately for Thistle, his kick went across the middle of the park and straight to Lee Makel. He simply took the ball to the right which pulled the Thistle defence towards him and played the ball into Neil Teggart. One touch to settle himself and then he rattled the ball low under Arthur and into the corner of the net.

Thistle were rocked but it appeared they had cleared their collective heads quickly when a wonderfully intricate piece of football ended with a delicate chip over the defence by Roberts onto the chest of Ferguson. Before he could shoot, he was forced wide but managed to get the ball back into the box but no Thistle players had gambled and the ball was booted away to safety. Simon Donnelly then tried his luck from a free-kick, but Wight made a good save to deny him.

In the 30th minute, Steven Campbell was taken off and replaced by Scott McCulloch as Campbell seemed to have taken a knock. From the stands, it appeared that the wind had well and truly left the Thistle sails now and the team looked second best. Errors began to appear from almost every part of the Jags team, especially the defence and as the half time whistle blew, the home support could only hope for better in the second 45 minutes.

At the start of the second half, Livingston looked a completely different side to the one that started the match. Graham Dorrans looked to have come back to haunt the Thistle support after his excellent loan period at Firhill. He was full of running and held the ball up well for his team but luckily had left his shooting boots in the car.

In 53rd minute, Thistle broke up the park after Darren Brady had robbed the Livingston midfield. Brady carried the ball forward and found himself with two options, Roberts to his left, Donnelly to his right. He chose Donnelly who proceeded to send the ball high and wide into the stands, much to the distress of Mark Roberts.

Thistle were finding their feet again but just didn’t seem to have the guile or craft to break down the solid and physically intimidating Livingston defence. Campbell decided to throw Adam Strachan on in place of Keogh in the 64th minute. He injected pace to the Thistle attack but still too many passes were going astray.

The game looked beyond Thistle when Livingston doubled their lead in the 73rd minute after Robert Snodgrass, on for Teggart, cut the ball back across the Jags box from the left and Allan Walker’s deflected shot looped high over Kenny Arthur and nestled in the top corner of the Thistle net.

At this point, most Jags fans were dreaming about drowning their sorrows with a pint or two but, to their credit, Thistle got angry. Great interplay between Brady, Ferguson and Donnelly saw the ball finally being played into the feet of Mark Roberts. He shaped to shoot from just outside the six yard box then pulled the ball back and to the side, taking out two desperate defenders. He composed himself and chipped the ball towards the net, only to find a Livingston head blocking the ball.

The Jags fans couldn’t believe it and were just about to sit back down when the ball was cleared as far as the edge of the box. Of all people, Brady ran onto it and hit a wonderful volley from 30 yards. The ball soared over Wight and into the net to give Thistle a lifeline on 74 minutes.

From the re-start, Roberts almost equalised when he collected a pass from Ferguson and shot from the left of goal but the ball rolled just past the far post. However, the home support didn’t have to wait long for a second. From the right of the pitch, Brady gathered the ball and a string of players fed it out wide to the left to almost the exact same position as Roberts had just previously shot from. This time it was McConalogue who took the ball in his stride and rammed it low under Wight to send the Jags support wild.

Thistle tried to press for the winner but the Livingston defence rallied and got their act together again to stop the Jags attack seemingly being able to cut through them at will. Campbell threw on Graham Gibson for McConalogue with eight minutes of the game left, and he immediately made his height count by winning numerous high balls. However, with three minutes remaining, it was to be Livingston who would travel home with all three points.

From a Robert Snodgrass corner, the ball travelled into the Thistle box and James McPake managed to get his head to it first and direct it goal wards. However, his header was not of the strong variety and it was a simple matter of Kenny Arthur plucking it out of the air. To his team-mates horror, Arthur let the ball go past him, perhaps mistakenly believing it was going behind for a goal kick. Instead, the ball settled in the corner of the net and a shocked silence filled the Jackie Husband stand.

There seems to be a growing trend at present within the current Thistle team. It appears that they cannot motivate themselves until it’s almost too late. After starting so well, Thistle found themselves two goals down before they could reply in kind. Individual errors are costing the team and the manager and unless these are sorted out, this team will be going nowhere.

However, on a positive note, it’s clear to see that Campbell has constructed a team of players that have something that previous teams have not. They have an ability to bounce back from defeat and a never say die attitude. If the players could start to make good possession and passing count then they and the fans could perhaps start to believe they are genuine contenders in this league. If not, like today, they will see all their hard work and perseverance come to nothing.

Man of the match:
BROWN FERGUSON - The sponsors named Derek Young MotM today but we can blame that on all the Christmas spirit they were no doubt chucking down their throats. Very few Thistle players got pass marks today as they didn’t begin to play until 15 minutes from the end. However, Brown Ferguson shades it as he didn’t hide when his side were two goals down. He was vocal towards his team-mates and always made himself available for a pass as well as making some decent runs.

Thistle: Arthur 5, Campbell 5 (McCulloch 31, 6), Robertson 6, Ferguson 7, Boyd 6, Keogh 4 (Strachan 65, 5), Brady 6, Donnelly 6, Young 5, Roberts 6, McConalogue 6 (G Gibson 83).
Unused subs; Tuffey, Kane

Livingston: Wight, Mitchell, MacKay, McPake, Cuthbert, Hislop (Smylie 82), Dorrans, Walker, Teggart (Snodgrass 70), Makel, Hamill.
Unused subs; Sinclair, Snodgrass, Shields, Stewart.