The Thistle Archive

Clare Buchanan, 30-Sep-2023, Dunfermline Press

AN UNDER-PAR Dunfermline side slumped to a three nil defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle. One goal in the first half followed by two in the second half was enough to see Athletic go home pointless after the tie at Firhill. It was a challenging afternoon for James McPake’s men and, despite bright spells in the match, they found themselves unable to capitalise on what chances they had. A disappointed McPake described the match as "disappointing to say the least" but acknowledged that their opponents were "by far the better team" on the day.

The first half saw the home side enjoy most of the possession and majority of chances although it wasn’t one-way traffic with Dunfermline still producing several efforts on goal. However, it was Thistle who came out of the traps the quickest and they were troubling the Pars defence in the opening minutes. Steven Lawless floated in a ball into the box in the opening minute but his effort went past everyone and out for a goal kick. There was another close one shortly after when the ball was blasted in by Brian Graham and put out for a corner. Pars had their first real chance just before the 20 minute mark when Edwards whipped in a cross which found the head of Lewis McCann who nodded just wide. Partick Thistle were ahead minutes later however when Scott Robinson did well to control the ball in the box. He turned and slotted the ball past Harrison Sharp. Strong running by Michael O'Halloran won the Pars a corner on 27 minutes. The ball came out to Edwards whose shot was blocked before Lewis McCann puts in a shot which is put out for another corner.

Pars had two calls for a penalty soon after each other. The first came after good work between McCann and Jacubiak in the box while the second, minutes later, followed an interchange with Otoo and Edwards. Otoo crossed in and the ball was blasted into a Thistle player by Aaron Comrie and went out for a corner despite calls that the Thistle defenders hand had got in the way. On 37 minutes, Jakubiak delivers a lovely long range shot which Thistle keeper Sneddon has to tip over the bar. After a bit of a scramble in the box, the resulting corner is cleared. The Jags looked like they would double their lead on 41 minutes Steven Lawless found himself through with just Sharp to beat but he put his shot straight at the Pars keeper.

Hopes of a second half comeback were dealt a blow early in the second half when Partick Thistle got their second. Aidan Fitzpatrick put in a cross which looked like it was going straight into the arms of Harrison Sharp however the ball trickled past him and Brian Graham was on hand at the far post to tap it in from close range. It was three for the home side on 59 minutes when Lawless' cross found Kerr McInroy who, unchallenged, headed it in the goal to head in to make it 3-0 Pars kept playing till the end and Partick keeper Jamie Sneddon had to be alert to tip the ball round the post after McCann had put in a good shot.

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan (speaking to Jagzone):

I fully expected us to show a reaction to last week and just delighted that, from minute 1, we were at it, all the way to the 90 plus minutes, and that's the difference. You have to be like that in the Championship, you've got to be on the front foot, you've got to be on your toes. From the start we made good forward runs, Kieran Ngwenya driving forward, Adrian Fitzpatrick running forward. It sets the tone, and we maintained that for the rest of the game. Ultimately, we looked after the ball better, we got the patterns of play that we usually do, and I felt that the balance was a lot better in midfield; I'm obviously delighted with the result.

advertisement

TOP SCORERS ON FORM

.