The Thistle Archive

Media report

Iain Collin, 12-Mar-2024, The Courier

RAITH ROVERS closed the gap on Dundee United at the top of the Championship with a hard-fought victory over Partick Thistle. Euan Murray nodded in the opener for the Stark’s Park side 11 minutes from the interval. And the strike proved to be enough as Ian Murray’s side held the Jags at bay in a grandstand finish. Harry Milne hit the post for the hosts with a header in injury-time as Rovers dug in for a crucial three points.

Subdued start. There was little to write home about in the opening exchanges as both sides felt their way into the game. Raith were happy to allow the Jags possession in front of them as they kept to their defensive shape. And it was the 11th minute before either team threatened in attack. Thistle’s threats were predictably Aidan Fitzpatrick and Steven Lawless who combined expertly to send the former haring towards the box. But the wide man, tasked with a more central role, lashed at the ball to send a poor shot well wide.

Route one works for Rovers. Seven minutes later, a little more of the composure missing from Fitzpatrick might have brought the opening goal for Raith. Turner seized on a loose ball and intentionally played a first-time pass over the top of the Thistle defence for Jack Hamilton. Home goalkeeper David Mitchell was suddenly caught in no-man’s land. But Hamilton seemed unaware as he failed to get enough on a header that looped towards goal without the power to trouble the backtracking Mitchell. Rovers almost rued that six minutes later as Lawless found Brian Graham with a diagonal and the striker nodded down for the supporting Scott Robinson. But Kevin Dabrowski was equal to his skidding shot as he batted it away.

Thistle on top but Raith make breakthrough. The Firhill outfit were dominant at this stage. Murray needed to look smart to block from Graham before the striker tested Dabrowski’s reflexes again. This time it was from a set-piece following a perceived foul on Kerr McInroy and the Raith number one dived to his right to het a strong hand to the rasping low effort. At the other end in the 34th minute, Graham fouled Sam Stanton as Rovers made the breakthrough. It was that man Turner with the set-piece to find Murray’s run and the defender nodded down powerfully to beat Mitchell.

Hunting another. A mistake from the Partick keeper two minutes after the restart then almost gifted Raith a second. A pass back from Aaron Muirhead died on the Firhill surface just as Mitchell went to clear and he only succeeded in mis-kicking the ball to Hamilton, but the Stark’s Park striker was as surprised as any and Mitchell was able to close him down and snuff out the opportunity. Nine minutes later, Connolly landed a curling shot onto the roof of the net as the visitors strove to double their advantage. Thistle piled the pressure as time ticked away and a Graham header skimmed the top of the crossbar on its way over when he seemed certain to nod in the equaliser. But with Milne’s header hit the upright in stoppage time, Raith held firm for a vital victory in the title race.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan (speaking to the BBC):

It's a real tough one. The first goal in any Championship game is vital. It felt like their goal was their first chance of the evening. We threw the kitchen sink at Raith right at the end. It just felt like one of those nights where nothing was landing. When it's going against you, it's going against you. We know we were the better side. It's a sore one, but you don't have time to dwell on things. We have to be resilient and come back stronger.

Raith Rovers manager Ian Murray (speaking to the BBC):

Towards the end, Partick did put us under pressure but we had our chances as well. Clean sheets are so, so important. This is the time of the season to pick them up. For us, it's about hanging on to Dundee United. Defensive performances like we put in are very welcome. We know there are bumps in the road to come, there are loads of twists along the way, but we're chalking the games off.

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