One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle’s momentary midweek relief proved to be just that, as they reverted back to their ruins that have become all too commonplace. Two red cards and two penalties made for a pulsating game at Firhill, but goals from Stevenson and Elebert for the visitors made for painful viewing at the same time.

With Billy Gibson suspended, the enforced change was for Darren Brady to take his place in midfield, whilst Mark McChrystal was deemed fit enough to start in the back four. There was no sign of ex-Jag Derek Fleming in the Accies line-up, but Thistle were sure to have their work cut out nevertheless, with 13-goal Richard Offiong leading the visitors attack.

The blustering wind was in Thistle’s favour – for the first 45 minutes at least – and it was partially due to the conditions that the first talking point of the match arose. After gradually slaving their way down the touchline, Craig Sives’ long throw-in evaded countless bodies, and when it did end up in the ownership of Mark Roberts’, the home support adjudged that he had been bundled of the ball, a view not shared by referee Stuart Dougal – waving play on.

Next up, Keogh’s clumsy and poorly weighted cross-ball still managed to find its way through to Derek Young, who set up Roberts, but only a corner ensued from his central drive. Thereafter, Darren Brady was next to see his attempt fly past Sean Murdoch’s right-hand post and, formerly of Hamilton himself, Keogh was involved again moments later, this time slackly giving away possession. Offiong pounced on the loose ball, but the huge centre backtracked back in time to redeem himself and get to the ball – conceding a corner as an expense. From there, Tuffey – again chosen ahead of Kenny Arthur – swiftly released the play, showing the home side’s intention to capitalise upon the dominance they were displaying.

It was, however, Hamilton who carved out the next opportunity – Marvyn Wilson’s deep cross into the area was considered to have been from an offside position in the first place, though, relieving any possible danger. The fluorescent flag was to raise its ugly head again just seconds later, this time thwarting a Jags’ opening, which had seen a lengthy ball from Robertson fall kindly at the feet of young Sam Morrow. Fresh from midweek, Morrow nearly found his name on the scoresheet for the consecutive fixture, but his powerful header from a Roberts’ corner pounded back into play off the underside of the crossbar.

Offiong’s cutback into the 6 yard box then went begging, but it was Thistle who were in the ascendancy and Elebert blocked a Keogh header on the line before a snapshot from Roberts was palmed behind for a corner by Accies keeper Murdoch, unbeknown to everyone inside the ground but Stuart Dougal, who gave a goal kick.

In what was to follow, the man in the middle was to be at the centre of controversy again, reducing both sides down to 10 men, with five minutes to go until the half-time whistle. With the ball spilling over to the right wing following a Scott Boyd free kick, Keogh went in for the challenge on Offiong, fairly, and despite a severe over-reaction from the latter; lashing out with his feet and provoking him to an extreme extent; both were dealt the red card. This decision would prove pivotal in the remainder of the match.

Just when it looked as if the talking points were to commence between the supporters at half-time itself, the visitors nearly snatched an advantage. A mix up between Tuffey and Boyd saw both chasing down a ball fast running out of steam, and although in the aftermath Brian Easton was presented with an open goal facing him from 25 yards, his scuffed shot could only roll metres wide, much to his distress. With the players retreating into the dressing rooms for some much-needed warmth and comfort, they could think themselves unlucky still to be involved in a stalemate.

However, it was nearly straight from the restart that Thistle were to concede. With the weather worsening, ironically therefore foiling many of the Jags’ attacks to the city end, Tuffey’s goal kick caught out Craig Sives, who was unlucky to an extent, and although tracking back to regain possession, his attempts were in vain as his feet became tangled with another’s – penalty kick. Anthony Stevenson, calm and composed, slotted the ball to Tuffey’s left, sending him the wrong way in the process. For all their grit and determination, it was Thistle who now found themselves trailing.

Despite having to withstand Mother Nature, it seemed that route one was the way to go – Tuffey’s goal kicks usually being met with positive flick ons. One such example saw Sam Morrow’s skill take him to the byline, but his cross had no takers. Next time, nonetheless, the outcome yielded a more encouraging end result. Morrow’s vision sent Mark Roberts’ through into the area, and he was clearly brought down by James McArthur.

The delay before the home side’s top-scorer could even strike the ball, however, was verging on a joke, and this is likely to be a key factor in the fact that, unlike its predecessor, this spot kick wasn’t despatched. The ball was struck rather tamely to Murdoch’s left, the keeper had no trouble in gliding down to gather it safely.

Sives’ thoughtful through-ball to Derek Young was intercepted in the nick of time, and the man between the opposition’s sticks again collected a Roberts’ tame shot with no bother and Thistle’s damp day at Firhill looked to end in disappointment. The introduction of McConalogue in place of Strachan, which resulted in Young dropping back into midfield to accommodate him, did nothing to improve the Jags’ chances, and instead it was Hamilton who were to find the net again.

With just over five minutes to go, and to rub salt in the second-half wounds, David Elebert found the net to put the contest to bed once and for all. Despite numerous red and yellow jerseys rushing to close him down, Elebert still had time to pick his spot from just inside the penalty area following a cut back from Wake, and his blast cannoned from one post to the other, still, however, hitting home. By this point, the majority of the Jackie Husband stand were streaming out into the torrential downpour, and therefore missed an admirable one-on-one stop from Tuffey, when faced against the oncoming Paul McLeod.

For ninety minutes, the fans had to suffer the wind and rain, but it was effectively only in the second period that they were made to endure the on-field action. Thistle’s performance altered alarmingly either side of half time, and from there on in there looked to be no light at the end of the tunnel. The substitutions had little, if any effect, and yet again it was the visiting fans chanting, “There’s only one Dick Campbell”.

With 7 games left to play, Thistle may still only be six points off third spot (with a game in hand), but the form and consequential results shown by the teams above them suggests that they will have little trouble in consolidating their positions – meaning, unfortunately, the Jags will be looking behind and below them for the remainder of the campaign.

Man of the match:
SAM MORROW - The official award went to, ironically, Pat Keogh, much to the amusement of the stand side supporters, but I feel that due to his pace and willingness to impress, there are few contenders other than Morrow.

Thistle: Tuffey 6, Robertson 6, McChrystal (Boyd 25, 5), Brady 6, Keogh 6, Sives 5 (Hodge 82), Ferguson 6, Young 5, Morrow 7, Roberts 5, Strachan 6 (McConalogue 66, 4).
Unused subs; Arthur, Kane

Hamilton: Murdoch, Parratt, Gibson, Swailes (Wilson), Elebert, Easton, Stevenson, McArthur, Offiong, McCarthy (Wake), McLeod (Gilhaney).
Unused subs; Jellema, Winters.