One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

If you thought things couldn’t get much worse after the dismal defeat at Dens Park on Boxing Day, think again, as the Jags - under strength again - went down with little more than a whimper at Broadwood today, and not only had Scott McCulloch red-carded, but saw Scott Boyd carried off on a stretcher.

New signing Mark McChrystal started in defence while Robertson and Strachan both returned to the side, but there were a number of players still missing, and although trialist Colin Marshall was named as a sub, the Jags still couldn’t find enough players to fill the bench. Clyde made just two changes to the side that drew at Hamilton last week, Masterton and fit-again Bryson starting in place of Williams and O’Donnell.

Clashes between Thistle and Clyde haven’t been the most entertaining of matches in recent years, and unfortunately, for the much of the game, this one was no different, although the home support are unlikely to agree.

Both sides had a couple of half-chances early on in the game, Higgins was given two chances to go for goal but rather wastefully shot straight at Arthur from a great position, while at the other end McChrystal headed McConalogue’s corner to the unmarked Ferguson at the back post, but he leant back and blasted over the bar.

Kenny Arthur then had a nervy moment when he failed to deal with McGowan’s low cross whipped in from the right, he spilled it at his near post and had Boyd to thank for knocking the ball to safety.

After those early exchanges there was plenty of effort but very little entertainment served up, with neither side able to pose any real threat on goal, but that was to change just after the half hour mark when Robertson gave away a free kick right on the by-line and the defence were slow to react when it was quickly knocked back to Masterton and he rifled a 20-yard shot past Arthur at his near post.

Thistle’s hopes were further dented five minutes later when Boyd was injured while blocking an attempt from Imrie. The young defender suffered what looks to be a bad injury and had to go off on a stretcher, and it seems likely he’ll be joining Sives on the long-term injury list. The more moronic element of the home support showed their class by chanting “only 1 Dougie Imrie” after the incident, although the bulk of the noise from the stands was applause while he was being carried off the pitch.

Former Clyde midfielder Colin Marshall was called into action as a replacement, he lined up on the right wing as the Jags changed to a 3-5-2 formation, but although he did manage to put in one good cross in the closing five minutes, the half finished with Thistle still a goal behind.

We could only hope for better after the interval, but with barely a minute of the second half gone it was the home side who were celebrating again when Masterton’s free kick was met by the head of McKeown, and he headed past a flat-footed Arthur from close range to double their lead.

Thistle’s response was summed up a few minutes later when good play between Strachan and Billy Gibson resulted in the latter having a dig from the edge of the box, only for his powerful effort to be blocked by the head of Graham Gibson.

At the other end, Imrie tested Arthur from a similar distance, but the Jags keeper was able to tip the ball over the bar. An unfit looking Brown Ferguson trudged off to be replaced by John Kane soon afterwards, the former Motherwell youngster slotting into Ferguson’s midfield role.

With just over an hour gone McConalogue pounced on a mistake by Clyde’s Neil McGregor and brought out a good save from Hutton, the first time the Clyde keeper had really been tested in the game. This was the first of a number of chances that fell to Stef in a short period of the game, but he twice wastefully shot wide and failed to even get a shot away on two other occasions.

With Thistle failing to get themselves back into the game Clyde sensed the chance to seal the win with a third and in-form striker Gary Arbuckle did well to hold off the challenge of McCulloch, only to be denied by Kenny Arthur. The Jags keeper was kept busy towards the end of the game and he blocked another excellent effort from McGowan and then raced from his line to beat Arbuckle to a through ball.

Thistle continued to huff and puff without much effect, and a miserable afternoon was completed when Scott McCulloch picked up a second booking for a shoulder charge in the final minute of the game and off he went.

So 2007 got off to just about the worst possible start, and although two defeats in their last two games is hardly surprising given the circumstances, with Thistle now languishing 14 points adrift of leaders Gretna, and with more injuries to contend with, the unexpected promotion challenge is definitely over and on current form, it’s at the other end of the table where Thistle will need to be casting a wary eye.

Man of the match:
In all honesty, I couldn’t pick one. Arthur stopped the defeat being any heavier with a few saves in the second half, while McChrystal and Brady did ok in the first half but were poor after the break. It was a distinctly average performance througout and playing ‘ok’ in one half is hardly worthy of MotM…

Thistle: Arthur 6, Robertson 5, McCulloch 5, Brady (McGoldrick 87), Boyd 6 (Trialist 43), McChrystal 6, Ferguson 4 (Kane 53), B Gibson 5, McConalogue 5, G Gibson 4, Strachan 4.
Unused subs; Tuffey

Clyde: Hutton, McGregor, Malone, Higgins, McKeown, McHale, Bryson, Masterton (O’ Donnell 75), Arbuckle (Ferguson 85), Imrie, McGowan.
Unused subs; Cherrie, Harris, McLennan.