One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle were left to rue a first half penalty miss by Mark Roberts at Firhill tonight, as Aberdeen recovered to go on and win 2-0 with goals from Young and Considine securing their passage into the fourth round.

Both sides made two changes for tonight’s game. For Thistle, Gibson and Chaplain dropped to the bench in favour of Twaddle and McKinlay, with both lining up on the left while Storey moved into the defensive midfield role vacated by Gibson. Diamond and Maguire missed out for Aberdeen with De Visscher and ex-Jag Derek Young coming into the starting line-up in midfield.

There was little to choose between the two sides in a brisk opening period, indeed it was Thistle who looked the most likely to open the scoring and both Storey and Harkins had early efforts narrowly off target. At the other end Robertson made a fine tackle to deny Miller an opening before Hinchcliffe had a couple of comfortable saves from tame efforts by Smith and Clark.

Thistle’s promising start to the game looked liked producing an opening goal in the 14th minute when a quick break saw Buchanan slip the ball through to Roberts inside the area, the Jags striker was fouled by Conisidine and the ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Roberts hit his spot kick firmly enough, low to the keepers right, but a combination of Langfield and the post denied him.

The Jags didn’t let the penalty miss affect them and they continued to pass the ball about well, putting pressure on the Dons defence. The lively Buchanan got on the end of Murray’s free kick from the left but couldn’t direct his header past Langfield, and he came close again a few minutes later with a long range effort that had the keeper beaten, but sailed narrowly over the bar.

In the 20th minute good wing play by Murray resulted in the ball being played to Rowson on the edge of the area, but his driven effort was just off target. At the other end Aberdeen almost stole the lead against the run of play when Lee Miller got on the end of Smith’s cross and guided a clever header goalwards, it beat Hinchcliffe but luckily for Thistle it dropped just inches wide of his far post.

With half an hour gone the game began to become a more even contest and both sides had a couple of half chances apiece before Mark Roberts was presented with a great opportunity from 10-yards following excellent play by Buchanan, but his half-volley was well blocked by the keeper and his goalless run continued.

With just three minutes of the half remaining, Thistle were made to pay for their missed chances when Aberdeen broke forward through Miller on the left and when his cross came into the box, although Hinchcliffe made a fine block with his legs to deny Nicholson, the Jags defence were slow to react to the loose ball allowing Derek Young to come a long way to run onto it on the edge of the area and rifle a shot into the back of the net.

It was a hammer blow from which the Jags never really recovered, as right from the start of the second half Aberdeen began to take control of the game. The visitors looked far more comfortable in possession after the interval and Thistle’s earlier crisp passing had gone astray as they struggled to keep hold of the ball.

McCall tried to change things round by replacing Murray with Gibson and switching to a 4-3-3 formation with McKinlay joining Buchanan and Roberts in attack, but although they battled away, it was to little effect.

With 64 minutes on the clock Aberdeen effectively sealed their progress into the next round when the Jags defence failed to clear a corner and Considine’s downward header at the back post made it 2-0.

Paul Keegan replaced McKinlay with 15 minutes remaining and linked up well with Buchanan in particular, but Thistle continued to huff and puff without really causing the Aberdeen defence any problems. A glancing header from Mark Roberts was the only time Langfield was called into action, and even then it was a comfortable save.

As the game headed towards it’s conclusion Aberdeen had a couple of half-chances to seal the win but Chris Clark drove an effort wide before Hinchcliffe made a fine save to deny Miller from close range from Smith’s driven cross. Right at the death Keegan tried a spectacular overhead kick after Buchanan had beaten his man to deliver the ball into the danger area, but the keeper easily claimed it.

It was a game of what might have been for Thistle. They really needed to take one of their early chances when they were in command, but they failed to do so and after Aberdeen had taken the lead, they never really looked in danger of losing it. However, the Jags can take plenty of positives from their performance, though next time, it might be a good idea to let someone else try taking the penalty Marko!

Man of the match: David Rowson