The Thistle Archive

Media report

Stuart Wilson, 27-Oct-2018, Daily Record

Ayr United's title bandwaggon kept on rolling in Glasgow as Michael Rose's second half header earned a deserved three points for the visitors. Ian McCall's men, who saw two penalty appeals turned down, eventually gained their reward when Rose climbed to bullet home a Declan McDaid corner. It was no more than United deserved for another battling display on the road and keeps them firmly in touch with leaders Ross County at the summit.

He's been immense for Ayr at the back this season, but Michael Rose was the hero at the other end today and he climbed to power home United's deserved winner. The former Aberdeen man has formed an impressive defensive partnership with Jamie Adams - and once again the pair were fantastic at Firhill. But Rose proved his threat in the opposition box when rising to bullet home Declan McDaid's corner, coming as it did at the end of concerted Ayr pressure. Rose looks to have a bright future in the game and he deservedly gains the headlines today.

It would be fair to say Ayr boss Ian McCall and ref Bobby Madden aren't the greatest of pals. McCall made his feelings on the whistler well known after Ayr's trip to Ibrox earlier this season - and United were on the end of a string of hotly disputed calls here. Madden waved away two first half penalty shouts and angered Ayr with a number of other baffling calls which threatened to send the game past boiling point in the second half.

On a day when all eyes were on the Thistle dugout and Gary Caldwell making his home debut, Ian McCall made yet another triumphant return to his old stomping ground. Ayr's wily gaffer made two big calls in starting Craig Moore and Declan McDaid and his men responded in style with another fine performance. McCall is not afraid of the big decisions and appears to be juggling his squad to perfection at the moment, as proven by this display where his team selection and tactics proved spot on.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Gary Caldwell (speaking to Jagzone):

I felt that like last week, we played well for large periods of the game. Also, I felt we were much better in the attack than we were at Alloa and the game was there to be won but we give away a poor goal from a set piece which is the reason we lose the game in the end. Once again, the effort was there but I can’t accept losing games of football so there’s plenty of work still to be done. We need to be picking points up and I’ve told the players that. They can’t feel sorry for themselves. That mentality has to change. We know we have quality in this team but we’re struggling to score and that’s going to make getting points very difficult when you come up against teams like Ayr or Alloa who fight for everything.

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