One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

It was a day of firsts today away at Livingston. Thistle recorded a vital first ever win at Almondvale today thanks to Alan Russell’s first Thistle goal after 20 minutes, in doing so gaining their first league win since early December and their first league clean sheet since October. Livingston’s Steven Tweed also nearly scored his first goal from inside his own half, but more about that later.

After the sickening disappointment of losing such a late goal last week against Ross County, Dick Campbell made a few changes to the Jags starting line-up. Billy Gibson came in to the left of midfield after impressing as a substitute last week, and Russell returned to partner Mark Roberts up front. Livingston made just one change to the side that won narrowly at Clyde last week, Garry Miller relegating Steven Craig to the subs bench, from where former Jags loan star Graham Dorrans also started the game.

The opening 45 minutes, despite containing the game’s only goal, was significantly less eventful than the second. Livingston started brightly without creating any clear chances, and it was a similar story for Thistle, with John Robertson twice making it into the box without testing ex-Thistle keeper Colin Stewart in the home goal.

Livingston then had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Scott MacDonald, for an alleged handball by Alan Archibald. Not long after this with 20 minutes gone, Thistle capitalised by taking the lead, as a result of some very poor home defending. There appeared to be little danger as Russell chased a hopeful through ball, but James McPake allowed himself to be beaten to it by Russell, who finished well underneath Stewart.

Tweed then though he had levelled for Livingston fifteen minutes later, but he was offside when he headed home a dangerous cross from the left wing. Thistle were next onto the offensive, with an excellent build up involving Robertson, Simon Donnelly and Billy Gibson resulting in the latter’s low 20 yard shot being held by Stewart.

Half-time arrived and the travelling Jags were fairly content with what they had seen so far. Archibald certainly seems to be making a difference in defence, with Scott Boyd as a consequence gaining in confidence. Captain Jimmy Gibson was not having one of his better days, but his central partner Darren Brady was confounding those, including this writer, who have been calling for him to be dropped recently.

If Livingston had started the first-half in the ascendancy, the reverse was true after half-time, with Thistle appearing determined to secure the second goal that might remove the bad memories of last week. Archie dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area following a Donnelly corner, and after 55 minutes Russell was again able to get in behind the home defence, but his volley lacked enough power to trouble Stewart (those not at the game may find the idea of a shot not troubling Stewart slightly hard to comprehend, but this did actually happen).

It was the home team threatening next, but like most of their efforts today, the header from Joe Hamill was straight at Kenny Arthur. It was by now an entertaining game with both teams keen to attack, and Russell (who looked much sharper and fitter today than in previous games) was only prevented from doubling the lead with half an hour to go by a highly questionably offside flag from the assistant, after Brady had released him.

Archie again joined the Thistle attack by heading over from another Donnelly corner, who unfortunately had to be replaced shortly after with an injury. Without wanting to make a diagnosis from the stand, it looked like one which could keep him out of next week’s quarter final with Dunfermline. His place in right midfield was taken by Brown Ferguson.

The next incident of note was so astonishing it deserves a paragraph, maybe even a full report, of its own. An innocuous clearance from the Livingston defence landed in between the Thistle defence and Kenny, who elected to leave his box and head clear. He made a good job of the header, and the ball made it over the half-way line, but it was then volleyed first time by Tweed, and it soared high into the late afternoon West Lothian sunshine. Everyone else on the pitch then appeared to stop and stare upwards as the ball progressed towards the now vacant Jags goal. Eventually is seemed to dawn on Archie and Boyd that this was no mere aimless punt forward, and some desperate backtracking began. It was too late by then, and players and fans could only look on, half in despair and half in wonderment, as it landed on the bar and bounced back into the Thistle area.

This moment of madness/genius almost acted as a catalyst for a dramatic last ten minutes. Russell again went though on Stewart but his shot was weak and saved. Dave Mackay was then booked for a high and nasty tackle on Brady, who was lucky to avoid injury. Steven McConalogue was summoned from the bench for Thistle, and in the last few minutes he had two glaring chances to make the win more comfortable.

He was first of all sent clean through by Roberts, only to take an eternity before finally slotting the ball narrowly wide of the far post. His second effort was an improvement, and his first time shot from Russell’s cutback was well saved by Stewart.

Despite these chances Thistle were sitting dangerously deep and almost inviting the home team to inflict more injury-time agony. They seemed to have done so, only to be denied by another offside flag. A couple of late corners caused panic amongst the fans, but they were comfortably dealt with, despite the presence of Stewart in the Thistle box. The only delivery he got near was easily claimed by Kenny, in what was an appropriate metaphor for Stewart’s Firhill career.

Referee MacDonald finally called for a finish to this entertaining game, with Roberts in possession and the hapless Stewart somewhere in pursuit behind him. Entertaining? Yes, definitely more so than in recent weeks, and a very welcome three points to help arrest our recent decline.

Man of the match:
DARREN BRADY - Peer pressure has taken its toll; there can only be one winner. Brady was outstanding, making countless important blocks and challenges, and even moving effectively into forward areas.

Thistle: Arthur 7, Smith 6 (McChrystal 54, 6), Robertson 7, Brady 9, Boyd 7, Archibald 8, J Gibson 5, Donnelly 7 (Ferguson 69, 5), Russell 8, Roberts 6, B Gibson 7 (McConalogue 89).
Unused subs; Tuffey, Keogh.

Livingston: Stewart, Miller (Dorrans 46), Golabek, McPake, Tweed, Mitchell, Mole, Walker (Fox 67), Teggart (Craig 64), MacKay, Hamill.
Unused subs; Wight, Smylie.