The Thistle Archive

Media report

MONTY HAS REKINDLED ROMANCE OF THE CUP. AT the grand old age of 38 Ray Montgomerie thought he'd missed the boat for another crack at Scottish Cup glory. However, the man who captained Kilmarnock's 1997 trophy winners now finds himself just two games away from featuring in a second final in three years with, wait for it… Partick Thistle. Monty was a rock at the heart of the Jags' defence as John Lambie's unfancied Second Division side came from behind to shock high-flying First Division Livingston - who had Marc Millar sent off in the second half. The Firhill victory gives the Jags their first Scottish Cup quarter-final appearance for 12 years - the last time they went as far in the competition was back in 1988 when they were dumped 3-0 by Celtic. And Monty admits he's loving every minute of the Jags' unexpected cup run. He said: “The Scottish Cup has been a lucky tournament for me and for this to happen at this late stage in my career with Partick Thistle is magnificent. I thought I was too old to get caught up in the romance of the cup but even I was singing and dancing like a daftie along with the boys at the end. I told the Partick boys that they are just one game away from a semi- final at Hampden Park and what more incentive do they need. There is still a long, long way to go though and we won't kid ourselves on. To win the Scottish Cup you need a lot of luck but Thistle are just happy to be in the last eight.”

Monty insists that he won't be boring the Thistle boys rigid about his tales from that glory day at Ibrox nor indeed will he be showing off his winners medal. He said: “It is every schoolboy's dream to lift the Scottish Cup and I'm no different. It was a special feeling to captain Kilmarnock to victory against Falkirk. I was told that I was too old to savour it but it is still as clear as day in my mind and it is a memory that will never leave me. I've not mentioned that fact to any of the lads in the dressing room and unless they ask me about it that's the way it will remain. The priority for Thistle has always been the league as we have to get out of the Second Division and I hope to play my part in that. We came up against a very good side as Livvy are one of the best teams in the First Division and we matched them for commitment and fighting spirit on the day. Hopefully we can take that on for the remainder of the league campaign. It is not that long ago since this club were in the Premier League then went into freefall and were really down and out. But the supporters rallied round with the Save the Jags campaign and it is all credit to them because they got Partick back on their feet again. They deserve a bit of success as we had a shocking start to the season but we have turned it round big style and the club could do with the financial spin-offs that obviously come from being involved in the latter stages of the Scottish Cup.”

For 40 minutes Livvy entertained the crowd of 4850 with their slick and crisp passing game which at times was delightful to watch. It was no surprise when they took the lead through top scorer David Bingham after eight minutes. Paddy Kelly fed Millar who crossed from the right and Bingo executed a superb left-foot volley from 10 yards. There seemed no way back for Thistle but they rolled their sleeves up and chased, harried and hustled their way back into the match. The Jags got their reward just before the break when Danny Lennon's corner was headed goalwards by Scott Miller and Albert Craig forced it home.

Sponsors Man of the Match, Partick goalkeeper Kevin Budinauckas, made great second-half stops from Mark McCormick and substitute Brian McPhee and gradually the game began to turn in Thistle's favour. Enter ex-Caley Thistle hitman Scott McLean after 74 minutes. He came on as Livvy's Millar was receiving his marching orders after committing a second bookable offence in seven minutes after successive fouls on Craig and Lennon. McLean then raced clean through to slot home the winner under Livvy keeper Ian McCaldon in the 79th minute.

Ecstatic Jags boss Lambie said: “The players worked their b**s off for that result. The players deserve all the credit that is going and it was a real team effort. Des McKeown did not have a ghost of a chance on Friday as his leg was badly bruised but he phoned me on Saturday morning and said he wanted to play and that was good enough for me. My goalkeeper kept us in the game with some great saves and I thought Danny Lennon and Ray Montgomerie were tremendous. I'm delighted for the Thistle fans as they have been starved of success for so long and they deserve this moment too.”

Gutted Livvy boss Ray Stewart said: “I felt that we outplayed them in the first half but Thistle outfought us over the tie and Livingston were the fall guys in this round. We played some good football but have nothing to show for it but I don't think the sending off changed the game in any way. When it comes to cup ties you have to show commitment and Thistle showed a lot more of that than we did.”

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