The Thistle Archive

Media report

21-Feb-2009, ptfc.co.uk

Despite fears that such was Thistle's injury and suspension problems that Ian McCall would struggle to put a team on the park his team selection showed just two changes from the team defeated by Dunfermline. John Robertson coming in for Willie Kinniburgh and Stephen McKeown replacing Scott Chaplain.

It was to Thistle that the game's first real chance fell to in the 10th minute. The ball falling nicely into the path of Stephen McKeown whose powerful shot was beaten out by Cuthbert in the Morton goal. This was proving to be a scrappy affair with neither side able to fashion any clear cut opportunities. Liam Buchanan was able to test Cuthbert was a low angled drive before the same Thistle player's tricky run ended with him being crowded out before managing a shot at goal. Thistle were fortunate to keep the score at 0-0 in the 33rd minute. A free kick from the Morton right was left by the Thistle defence with the result that Stewart Greacen was able to get a free header some 8 yards from goal. Fortunately from a Thistle perspective Greacen's header was a wild one and flew well away from goal. Negligent Thistle defending at a set piece nearly cost Thistle dear again in the 40th minute. This time it was Chris Smith that was the player to benefit from having an unchallenged header and while Greacen's effort had gone well wide Smith had to watch his header strike the post and bounce clear. An otherwise poor first half was finishing with a flurry of activity and Cuthbert did well to push away a Harkins header from a Paul Paton corner. Right on half time an excellent Paul Paton cross caused danger in the Morton defence the ball eventually being headed behind for an apparent corner, though referee Charleston rather bizarrely restarted the game with a goal kick.

Thistle started the second half well and in the opening minutes of the half a net back post cross from Paul Paton nearly created an opening. Thistle's bright start to the second half was rewarded in the 49th minute with the game's opening goal. Liam Buchanan and Stephen McKeown combined to create the opening for Kris Doolan and Doolan fairly lashed the ball high into the back of the net. Thistle had held their advantage against Dunfermline for just three minutes and there was anxiety that this would be an equally short held lead when Kevin Finlayson drilled a shot wide of goal from the edge of the Thistle box. Morton did have the ball in the net in the 65th minute but the flag for offside had long been up before Finlayson bundled the ball over the line from close range. A second goal would have given Thistle some breathing space and Marc Twaddle run and cross nearly presented Stephen McKeown with a chance but the midfielder was unable to get on the end of Twaddle's cross. In the 67th minute Thistle made their first change of the afternoon when Liam Buchanan a pre-match doubt was replaced by Kevin McKinlay. Morton, aided by some curious refereeing decisions, were starting to press and after Finlayson skipped by the challenge of Gary Harkins, Peter Weatherson was able to get his head to his cross but his header lacked power and direction and Tuffey was able to make an easy save. Thistle introduced their second sub to the fray in the 76th minute when Scott Chaplain came on in place of Stephen McKeown who, like Buchanan, had been a pre-match injury doubt. Ten minutes later it was Simon Donnelly's turn to be introduced to the action when he replaced Kris Doolan who had been voted Man of the Match. There were a full three minutes of injury time before referee Charleston brought proceedings to a close with Thistle gaining two points on St Johnstone who could only manage a point at Queen of the South.

.