The Thistle Archive

Media report

08-Mar-2011, ptfc.co.uk

Manager Ian McCall made two changes to his side for tonight’s fixture with Queen of the South. Paul Cairney’s groin injury ruled him out of the match while Chris Erskine dropped to the bench.

In front of a small Firhill crowd it was the visiting side that made the biggest impression in the opening exchanges. Ian McShane making an impression on the leg of Paul Paton with a challenge that the Queens player was fortunate not to pick up a yellow card for. Chances in the opening quarter of the game were few and far between but the longer the half went on the greater grip on proceedings Thistle started to take. In the 21st minute Martin Grehan was able to take advantage of slack play in the Queens defence but unlike the recent fixture at Palmerston Park between the two teams he wasn’t able to find the net, or indeed pick out Kris Doolan with his pass. Thistle though did win a corner with Iain Flannigan’s excellent delivery causing the Queens defence problems, but after John Robertson had won the ball in the air the ball just didn’t fall to a Thistle foot. Another Iain Flannigan corner in the 28th minute once more posed problems for Queens but again the ball wouldn’t fall kindly for Thistle in the box. Flannigan’s delivery from corners at this point was excellent and as Thistle stepped up the pressure, David Hutton did well to claw away another Flannigan corner from the left hand side. Thistle’s play at this point merited a goal and in the 34th minute it arrived. Paul Paton’s cross was met first time on the volley by Kris Doolan and his shot flew past Hutton and into the net. Thistle were good value for this lead and twice David Hutton had to make decent stops to prevent Thistle from going further in front before the break. Firstly, he was well placed to stop a Kris Doolan effort at his right hand post before in first half injury time he just clung on to a Paul Paton effort from 25 yards out. As much as Thistle merited their first half lead it was Queens that started the second half the better and Scott Fox did well to get a hand to a low shot from Allan Johnston.

Queen of the South to be the more assertive side at the start of the second half and in the 58th minute an excellent strike from Stephen McKenna produced an equally impressive save from Scott Fox. Fox though couldn’t hold the shot but the flag went up as Allan Johnston challenged for the loose ball. With 19 minutes of the game remaining Thistle sent on Shaun Fraser for Martin Grehan and Fraser’s first touch nearly produced a goal, his snap shot, after the ball wouldn’t quite sit up for Kris Doolan, being straight at David Hutton. David Weatherston has often been a thorn in Thistle’s side in the past and with 15 minutes of this game remaining he was only denied another goal against Thistle by a fantastic save from Scott Fox low to his left. Two minutes later Thistle were again a whisker away from losing their lead. Derek Holmes beat John Robertson to a high ball which left Allan Johnston with a clear sight of goal. Scott Fox though was sharp off his line but Johnstone still managed to squeeze the ball past him with John Robertson clearing off the line with the Queens fans protesting fiercely that it has crossed the line. A close call no matter what. With the game and Queens pressing hard for an equaliser Thistle were able to give themselves a bit of breathing space with a second goal. Chris Erskine cut inside from the left before drilling a low shot past Hutton and into the corner of the net. Thistle weren’t able to relax for long and with four minutes remaining Danny Carmichael bundled the ball over the line from inside the six yard box. Thoughts naturally turned to the game at Dumfries but the next goal was Thistle’s. Shaun Fraser and Chris Erskine combined with the former finding the net despite Hutton managing to get a hand to his well struck shot.

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