The Thistle Archive

Media report

09-Mar-2004, bbc.com

Stand-in goalkeeper Jamie Langfield rescued a point for Partick Thistle by saving Paul Sheerin's penalty. But the Glasgow side needed a victory to reduce the 14-point gap between themselves and second-bottom Aberdeen. The Dons dominated at Pittodrie and Chris Clark had a shot cleared off the line, while David Zdrilic and Phil McGuire came close for the home side. Langfield, who had come in for Kenny Arthur, beat away the spot kick after Adrian Madaschi pulled down Lee Hinds. Former Celtic striker Jorge Cadete had also been given his first start for Thistle since coming out of an 18-month retirement. Aberdeen made five changes to the side that drew with Livingston in the Scottish Cup. Out went the injured Steve Tosh, Zander Diamond and Russell Anderson, along with Richard Foster and Bryan Prunty, and in came Michael Hart, Kevin McNaughton, Paul Sheerin, Scott Muirhead and Zdrilic.

Thistle created a chance in the eighth minute when Jean Yves Anis picked out Billy Gibson with a decent ball into the box, but the former Rangers midfielder headed wide. The home side came agonisingly close to grabbing the opener 10 minutes later but were left frustrated as Ian Ross managed to dive at the back post and knock away Clark's shot. Aberdeen came close again in the 32nd minute when McNaughton found Zdrilic with a pinpoint cross, but the forward missed the target by a matter of inches from 16 yards out. The Dons were awarded a penalty three minutes later, after Madaschi pulled down Hinds inside the area. But Langfield justified his inclusion by beating away Sheerin's effort.

Thistle brought on Italian defender Daniele Chiarini for Madaschi at half time. But the home side continued to control midfield and launch sustained attacks on the Thistle defence. Cadete's night came to an end after 57 minutes, when the veteran was replaced with Andy Gibson. Clark created a chance for himself to give the Dons the lead by beating four defenders, only for team-mate Hinds to get in his way as he lined up his shot. Langfield pulled off a great stop in the 65th minute to deny Zdrilic, who expertly flicked a McNaughton cross from the right on target. McGuire spurned two excellent chances to give Aberdeen the lead. First, he knocked Hinds' drilled cross wide from three yards then somehow managed to head over from a similar distance despite Zdrilic's flick-on falling perfectly for him.

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