One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

An equaliser three minutes from time denied Thistle all three points in a highly competitive and entertaining game at Almondvale today. Mark Roberts twice had Thistle in front, but goals from Mitchell, and in the 87th minute Dave McKay, earned Livingston a share of the points.

Dick Campbell led his squad into the lions den at Livingston today in search of further progress in the SFL Division One. Awaiting them were close rivals bossed by the familiar shape of the roly-poly John Robertson. Both teams were looking to make up for early exists from the Challenge Cup in midweek. So a match with an edge was expected.

Both managers sprung surprises on the fans with former Thistle keeper Colin Stewart making his first appearance for Livingston and Dick Campbell electing to propel new loan signing Steven Campbell straight into first team action. The Jags lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Robertson at the heart of the defence and the aforementioned on-loan Ranger on the right flank and Billy Gibson on the left. Donnelly and Roberts were paired as Thistle’s strike partnership with the latter replacing Graham Gibson who missed out due to illness.

Livingston kicked off the match but Thistle were first to show their teeth with a long-range shot from Darren Brady which did not trouble the new Livvy keeper. The Jags fans took every opportunity to express their appreciation of Big Col as in the fifth minute when he cleared poorly to the middle of the park but Thistle could not capitalise on this opportunity. Just prior to this incident Livingston had had their first chance from a free kick which the bulky figure of Tweed had headed safely well over keeper Arthur’s bar.

In six minutes a cross from the right wing by new boy Campbell was met by Donnelly and his header was deflected wide for a Thistle corner, and it was from this set-piece that Thistle went in front. The high in-swinging ball was met by a huge leap from Boyd and his knock down to the Livingston front post was nudged into the net by none other than Mark Roberts (not Campbell as was reported by the media!).

Livingston responded positively. They forced a couple of corners the first of which had to be scrambled clear by the defence, and in the eleventh minute a mistake by Robertson saw Livingston’s Thompson break to the by-line but his cut back was missed by everyone.

The speedy Thompson was to feature in several dangerous attacks during the first half. The home team also tried to penetrate the Jags defence by pounding them with high balls. Boyd in particular was under a lot of pressure from Hislop. Thistle responded by getting the ball on the deck and at times the interchanges between the midfielders looked impressive if a little lacking in bite.

In the eighteenth minute the Jags were awarded a free kick in a promising position twenty two yards from goal. The absence of McCulloch meant that Billy Gibson was assigned this duty. His kick was well arced but narrowly over the Livvy goal.

There then followed a period where the home side took the upper hand and in the 28th minute the Jags survived a strong penalty claim when a cross from the right saw the ball bounce awkwardly upwards to strike Sives on the arm but referee Brines waved appeals away. A couple of minutes later Kenny Arthur had to save well from Hamill’s free kick then the Jags defence had to work hard to blunt the threat of the troublesome Thompson. And despite their efforts, the home side finished the half a goal down.

They started the second half in a determined mood and Hammill’s header was deflected for a corner. An attack down the centre saw a shot sail high over Kenny Arthur’s bar then in their next attack Walker picked up possession after the ball had broken to him but his shot went harmlessly past the right post.

The second half was a much more even affair though and Thistle hit back soon after ex-loan star Graeme Dorrans was introduced as a sub, to warm applause from the travelling support. Ferguson was first to be denied when he latched on to a knock down at the edge of the Livingston box but he could not find enough space to get in a telling blow.

Ferguson then turned supplier at a free kick and Billy Gibson’s effort was blocked by the Livvy defence before Mark Roberts saw his shot deflected for a corner. The home side responded when well worked short corner was blasted over the bar by McPake.

Livingston were battling to gain the upper hand in the contest. For McPake this took the form of two consecutive lunging tackles the latter one earning him a yellow card. A subsequent offence further upfield saw Thistle awarded a free kick in a threatening position. Billy Gibson was called to duty again and his dipping effort was touched over by Stewart.

In seventy six minutes a Livingston free kick crossed deep into the Thistle penalty area resulted in a corner for the home team. Campbell was hurt in clearing the ball for a corner and was off the field for treatment when the ball was swung in to the back post then headed back across the goal and netted from close range by Mitchell.

Thistle’s response was immediate. A long ball played down the middle for once found Donnelly short of the close attention of the Livingston defence. He turned to his right and slipped the ball into the path of Roberts who calmly slotted it low passed Stewart from 12 yards.

The Jags could have wrapped up the win when Donnelly shot narrowly past the post, but with just three minutes left Livingston broke up the park and a cross deep from the right was poorly defended by Thistle and in the scramble that followed MacKay managed to squeeze the ball into the net.

In the closing stages Thistle had a shout for a penalty denied by Ian Brines, details of which were lost when this correspondent flung his notepad to the ground in disgust. The game finished with the visitors on the attack but both teams had to settle in the end for a point each.

Thistle will be heartened by a much-improved performance after the midweek shenanigans with Albion Rovers. Disappointed at losing a lead twice but lifted by a valuable away point against a team who were two division above them this time last year.

Man of the match:
SCOTT BOYD - Roberts strikes again and again. He is an invaluable asset in this department, yet at times he and the willing Donnelly were swamped by the home defence. The midfield played well in the first half but were less effective in the second. A lot of nice touches and inter passing but we need more of the killer urge that was shown by our second goal. But for me, Boyd stood out given that he was under severe pressure from high ball raining down towards the very physical Hislop, and remember the comparative youth of this player. He also made several telling tackles that broke up Livingston attacks in the second half.

Thistle: Arthur 6, Sives 6, Robertson 6, Brady 6, Boyd 7, Ferguson 6, J Gibson 7, Donnelly 6, Campbell 6 (Strachan 81), Roberts 7, B Gibson 6.
Unused subs; Tuffey, Kane, McCulloch, McConalogue.

Livingston: Stewart, Thomson, McPake, Tweed, MacKay, Mitchell, Hamill, Makel, Craig, Walker (Smylie 81), Hislop (Dorrans 56).
Unused subs; Wight, Weir, Fox.