The Thistle Archive

Media report

NOT only has the roof fallen in on Hearts, the floorboards are in danger of giving way beneath their feet. This was their fifth successive defeat their worst run for two years but in 1993 they had the luxury of a mid-table position to support them. The self-belief that was evident just a month ago against Rangers has clearly deserted them. A goal early in the second half from Dinnie, the first Partick substitute, and a competent goalkeeping performance from Walker were enough to puncture Hearts. As they chased the equaliser in the closing stages, their defence became shambolic and they could have been punished more severely by a Partick side which is gaining momentum.

With more than half of their team possessing a sick line, Partick were the last team that Hearts wanted to meet. John Lambie’s players are like pack-rats, gnawing away and giving little time for the opposition to settle on the ball resulting in little cohesive play from either side. If Hearts feel that the fates are conspiring against them, then the first half only served to re-emphasise that point. Only a handful of minutes had elapsed when Johnston sent in a header which Walker pushed onto the inside of his post. Johnston claimed the ball had crossed the line but referee Dallas was having none of it. Then Mackay went close before Johnston tried his luck from further out with a measured shot towards the top corner of the net but Walker, his former team mate at Hearts, got his fingertips to it. Much of the play flowed towards Partick’s goal in the first half but Walker stood firm. He held a looping header from Cramb and then managed to get his body behind a fiercely struck shot from Millar.

Partick replaced injured McKee with Dinnie at half-time and the switch proved significant. Just eight minutes had elapsed in the second half when Hearts failed to clear a Cameron corner and, as the ball bobbled around, Dinnie reacted swiftly to hook it into the net. It could have been worse for Hearts as Nelson produced a superb diving save to keep out a Turner shot and, in the closing stages, Partick showed some mercy. Grant, their other substitute, had both time and space in the penalty area and he needed plenty of each before he finally delivered his shot which beat Nelson but spun back into play off the inside of the post. But, by then, Partick had done enough for another win.

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