The Thistle Archive

Media report

Fraser Clarke, 20-Apr-2021, Daily Record

Second-half goals from Zak Rudden and Ross MacIver secured a well-deserved three points for the Glasgow side, with Sons now facing a crunch four game battle to avoid the drop. Dumbarton ensured that they would start the League One split in ninth position, after defeat to table topping Partick Thistle. Second-half strikes from Zak Rudden and substitute Ross MacIver consigned Jim Duffy’s side to a fifth home defeat without scoring of the season. Duffy made two changes to the side which had defeated Clyde five days previous, with Tomas Brindley and Rabin Omar replacing PJ Crossan and Adam Frizzell.

A low key first-half saw only one flashpoint of note, as Brian Graham looked to catch Sons’ defender Sam Wardrop with an elbow on the stroke of half-time. Referee Barry Cook elected to book the veteran Thistle forward, with Wardrop taken off as a result - and expected to have a scan for a cheekbone injury. What the first-half lacked in excitement was more than made up for in a second-half high on intensity, drama and feisty challenges.

In-form Jags forward Zak Rudden was the first to threaten as he burst in own goal, but was denied one-on-one by Dumbarton keeper Sam Ramsbottom. As the game neared the hour mark Rudden came even closer. Ramsbottom reacted brilliantly to deny Ross MacIver’s header with Rudden looking like knocking in the rebound at the far post - Rico Quitongo acrobatically cleared his effort from the line, with replays showing the ball to be at least a yard over. At this stage Sons were living dangerously as the hosts, buoyed by the news that a victory would likely take them top of the League One table, continued to dominate. Shea Gordon rattled the crossbar from Stuart Bannigan’s delivery, before Ross Docherty blazed over a golden chance after working his way into the box.

It felt like only a matter of time before Ian McCall’s side got the breakthrough, but it was the Sons who almost found it with 20 minutes remaining. Adam Frizzell did well to wriggle through a collection of challenges before drilling an effort into the gloves of Jamie Sneddon. Immediately however, the Jags punished Frizzell for not finding the target. Keeper Jamie Sneddon set up a quick counter attack, with Ricky Foster’s cross being turned into the net from six yards by Rudden. And the visitors sealed a priceless victory as the game ticked into the final minute. A long ball forward was flicked on by Rudden to strikepartner MacIver, who finished clinically from close range, to ensure that Sons’ battle for survival will start with a trip to face East Fife at New Bayview this Saturday.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall (speaking to Jagzone):

It was an incredibly tough game of football tonight because Dumbarton are a good team. The pitch wasn’t the greatest and it didn’t allow either team to play a lot on it but the key for us was that we kept at it and in the end Zak Rudden and Ross MacIver do the business to get us a big win. As I say, it didn’t make for a very good game with lots of technical play. It turned into a battle at times which meant effort was vital and we gave everything right up until the very end and that showed in the two late goals we got. It was another really solid showing I thought and again Jamie Sneddon didn’t have much to do. I have to say, Steven Bell and Richard Foster were magnificent; to be playing at the level they are with so many games at their age is brilliant and they’re helping everyone around them too. We’re really happy with how the team are defending at the moment.

Dumbarton manager Jim Duffy (speaking to Daily Record):

I think it was just a step too far for us tonight and Thistle deserved to win the match. Rico (Quitongo), Nick (McAllister) and a couple of others were struggling. All we can do is ask for 100 percent commitment and the players did that. We now look towards the split, and it’ll be down to who performs on the day - because there’s not much between the teams in terms of squad depth and everyone being part-time.

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GOALS + CLEAN-SHEETS = TOP OF THE LEAGUE

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