The Thistle Archive

Media report

THISTLE snuggled up a little closer to the rest of the premier division with a hard-earned point at muddy Firhill last night, to maintain their fine recent run which has brought them only one defeat in seven games. There were moments when Motherwell who stretched their advantage in second-top place to three points, looked a more poised and talented side, but, equally, the Jags had at least as good, if not better scoring chances. Thistle are now one point behind Aberdeen with a game in hand, the home match with Hearts, and will face the struggle to come with even greater desire.

Things had gone along in fairly routine style (if that is ever the case at Firhill) when referee Andrew Waddell made two decisions which livened up the action. It appeared to me that he was wrong on both occasions, first when he ignored a sound claim for a Thistle penalty when a Kevin McKee cross seemed to be handled by Eddie May; and, secondly, when he gave a foul against Miodrag Krivokapic which so incensed Motherwell manager Alex McLeish. Before that Motherwell had seemed comfortable enough, playing reasonable football on the sodden pitch, and they might have gone ahead when Alex Burns, released by a superb Billy Davies pass, shot for goal only to see Nicky Walker make a fine diving save. Just before the interval, Thistle were genuinely unlucky not to score when a Welsh header from Ian Cameron’s corner was cleared off the line by Paul Lambert and then Woods managed to block the return shot from Turner.

Thistle replaced Wayne Foster with Rod McDonald at the start of the second half and they came close to scoring when Woods could only parry a Roddy Grant shot and McDonald was off target with the follow-up. By now Partick had warmed to the task and for a spell gave Motherwell more bother than at any stage in the first half, including a threatening cross by Turner which Woods touched over the bar. Considering all the energy being expended, it was maybe due to the players’ credit that the first booking came in 76 minutes, Pittman for a foul on Davies.

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