One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle rebounded from last weeks debacle at home to St Johnstone by winning away at New Douglas Park today, although they had to survive a second half resurgence from the home team before Graham Gibson’s late goal secured the win and maintained our impressive recent away form.

As the teams were announced there was one glaring omission from Dick Campbell’s line-up, with Kenny Arthur dropping to the bench in favour of Jonny Tuffey. The formation change that many fans had been calling for during the week was also made, with Thistle reverting to a 4-4-2 with McCulloch and Steven Campbell the two full-backs and Adam Strachan and Derek Young occupying the wide midfield positions. For Accies, their new signing from Ross County, David Winters, started up front, and ex-Jag Derek Fleming featuring in the centre of the home midfield, doubtless surprising those who feel he has made his career at left-back.

The first half hour of this match was uneventful to say the least, prompting comparisons with our recent yawn-inducing visit to Broadwood. Accies forced plenty of corners, and although they were unable to create any real chances, Tuffey looked uncomfortable and some good deliveries led to a few awkward moments.

For Thistle, Billy Gibson dragged a volley wide from the edge of the area after ten minutes, and five minutes later Mark Roberts headed wide from a corner at the near post. A couple of free-kicks in promising central positions raised the hopes of the fans behind the goal as McCulloch lined up to strike them, but both were blocked before threatening the Raymond Jellema in the Hamiton goal.

Thistle began to control possession towards the end of the first half, and a good McCulloch cross from the left reached Sives arriving at the back post, but his header was blocked by a Hamilton defender, leading Mike McCurry to inexplicably award a goal kick. Shortly after, however, Thistle did move ahead. Strachan picked up possession on the left and drifted inside, before passing to Young on the right-hand side of the Accies box. He did well to escape the attentions of his marker, before firing a low shot past Jellema.

Campbell, unsurprisingly as we had finished the first half as the stronger team, elected not to make any changes at half time, and shortly after the break Thistle could have extended their advantage. The best move of the game saw a crossfield ball from McCulloch headed on by Campbell to Young, and his lay off found Billy Gibson arriving in the box, but he couldn’t keep his half-volley down.

Thistle were playing quite well at this stage, but gradually, as so often happens when we are one goal ahead, began to defend deeper and deeper and Hamilton began to exert more pressure. Scott Boyd did well to clear a threatening cross from Tom Parratt, before substitute Richard Offiong’s low ball across the front of Tuffey found no Accies striker waiting to finish.

In this sense, it was no real surprise when Accies equalised after 66 minutes, although Billy Gibson might have some explaining to do tonight after punching away a dangerous Fleming corner. Tony Stevenson gave Tuffey absolutely no chance with the resultant penalty, crashing the ball home via the underside of the bar.

The equaliser lifted the home team, and Thistle were fortunate not to concede further goals in the aftermath. Offiong was causing serious problems for the Jags defence, shooting just wide after finding space down the Thistle left, and then again having a shot well blocked by Boyd. A 20 yard free kick from Winters also flashed narrowly past the post, with Tuffey a mere spectator.

Having said all that, Thistle rallied in the last ten minutes, and the introduction of both Pat Keogh and Gibson began to have an impact. Strachan played Keogh clean through on Jellema, but the ex-Hamilton striker’s attempted lob was very well saved. If this was a warning, it was not heeded, as Thistle snatched the winner with just 2 minutes remaining. A long ball was flicked on by Keogh for Graham Gibson, and his finish was composed as he scored past the advancing Jellema.

There remained time for Thistle to almost extend their advantage, although had they done so this would have been an unfair reflection of the second half. Strachan again did extremely well to cut inside and slip the ball through for Graham Gibson, but his shot was well saved.

After the performance last week, this was a great result for Thistle, although we were far from convincing for large parts of the second half. Hamilton is not an easy place to win though, and on an unfamiliar surface the team deserves credit for surviving a spell of pressure and emerging in the last ten minutes to create three excellent chances.

Man of the match:
Scott Boyd - There are no obvious candidates; Adam Strachan was inconsistent, but produced some good moments and set up the first goal, so for me, Scott Boyd just edges it. He put in some important challenges when we were struggling in the second half, and he showed a lot of determination to carry on despite a painful looking fall in a challenge with Offiong.

Also, a special mention the Jags fan who organised the banner in support of Ross McCabe, the young Hamilton player involved in the serious accident at New Douglas Park last week. A superb gesture, and clearly one appreciated by the home fans.

Thistle: Tuffey 6, Campbell 6, McCulloch 6, Sives 7, Boyd 7, Brady 6, B Gibson 5, Young 6, Donnelly 5 (Keogh 72), Roberts 6 (G Gibson72), Strachan 7.
Unused subs; Arthur, Ferguson, Hodge

Hamilton: Jellema, Parratt (McLaughlin 63), Fleming, Elebert, Easton, McArthur, Stevenson, Turnbridge (McLeod 56), Wake (Offiong 56), Winters, Gilhaney.
Unused subs; White, McCarthy