The Thistle Archive

Media report

04-Oct-2008, ptfc.co.uk

Thankfully the heavy rain that had fallen for most of the day had stopped bykick-off time. After the disappointment of defeat at league leaders Livingston Ian McCall shuffled his pack for visit of Dundee. Missing against Livi Marc Twaddle, Simon Storey, Stephen McKeown, Simon Donnelly and Mark Roberts all returned for this fixture.

In the third minute Paul Paton was able to push forward on the right hand side and his dangerous cross looked set to pick out Simon Donnelly but play was halted as Mark Roberts was adjudged to have pushed a Dundee defender. Dundee nearly nudged in front in the 8th minute. A corner to the back post picked out Craig McKeown and it took a well-placed Paul Paton to clear his header off the line. Thistle's first effort on goal arrived in the 17th minute but Paul Paton's shot from 20 yards was well over the bar. At the other end Daquin sent a shot wide from a good position inside the Thistle box. The Thistle performance was a little flat but a Marc Twaddle cross in the 24th minute only needed a touch from a friendly foot to produce a Thistle goal. Twaddle again delivered a magnificent cross with this one, in the 33rd minute, cleared only at the expense of a Thistle corner. Twaddle again posed a threat to the Dundee defence. In the 36th minute yet another left wing cross caused the Dundee defence problems. This time Mark Roberts was able to gather the ball but his shot was blocked and a rare opportunity for either side was cleared. Thistle were having the better of things at this point and five minutes before the break a Simon Donnelly shot from the edge of the box shaved the edge of Douglas' right hand post.

Thistle made their first change 12 minutes into the second half when Stevie Lennon came on for Mark Roberts. A second change soon followed when Scott Chaplain replaced Stephen McKeown. A poor game was Starting to look likely to be settled by one goal and Stevie Lennon created an opening for himself at the box but Douglas although stretched made a routine save. Kevin McKinlay replaced Paul Paton as Ian McCall made his final substitution with little over 15 minutes remaining. Steven Lennon still searching for his first Thistle goal was handed the perfect opportunity to open his account with 12 minutes left. Collecting a Simon Donnelly pass he dragged a shot wide of target from 12 yards out. Another chance came Thistle's way two minutes later. A Kevin McKinlay shot was blocked into the path of Scott Chaplain but from the edge of the box he sent his shot over the bar.

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