The Thistle Archive

Media report

James Cairney, 12-Oct-2024, The Herald

The Jags came from behind to grab a point at home to William Hill Championship leaders Falkirk. Thistle struggled to fashion opportunities throughout the contest, particularly in the first half, and the home side could have few complaints when Ethan Ross nudged the visitors in front shortly before the hour mark. Brian Graham would level things up a few minutes later with the Jags’ only real sight at goal from the entire game – and Doolan admits his side must create more if the promotion hopefuls are to kick-start their campaign.

Falkirk attempted to seize the initiative early on, with the visitors dominating possession during the game’s opening exchanges. John McGlynn’s men really ought to have taken the lead on 10 minutes when a neat passing move resulted in Aidan Nesbitt being slipped through, only for the midfielder to drag his shot wide of goal. The away side would keep up the early momentum and very nearly opened the scoring via a corner kick on 18 minutes. The ball was swung in towards the back post where centre-half Liam Henderson rose highest to meet it. The defender connected well with the ball, which struck the top of the bar before bouncing behind for a goal kick. Thistle have struggled to create chances lately, particularly during the first half of games, and this was no exception. By the time the half-time whistle rang out and the two sets of players trudged off the park, the Jags had failed to register a single shot on target, and there were one or two boos as the home supporters made their feelings known.

Falkirk came out for the second half and once again looked far more threatening than their hosts. Calvin Miller had a great opportunity minutes after the restart when he hit a direct free-kick 25 yards from goal, but he was unable to keep his shot down. Then, shortly before the hour mark, Falkirk got the goal that their play deserved. A neat flick from Nesbitt caught out Thistle’s high line. Ross latched onto the through ball and kept his composure to coolly slot the ball past Myles Roberts. Thistle might well have been down, but they were not out. Barely two minutes later, Doolan’s men equalised with their first shot on target. It all started with a powerful run from left-back Harry Milne, who charged forward before playing the ball inside where it was intercepted. Scott Robinson won it back for the Jags, nudging the ball into the path of Graham on the edge of the box, and the veteran striker found the bottom corner with a fine first-time drive to register his first league goal of the campaign. Falkirk remained on the front foot and racked up a series of corners. Twice Gary Oliver went close: the first close-range header was denied by an excellent reaction stop from Roberts; while the second was glanced just wide of the far post. There was still time for the visitors to hit the woodwork one last time. Substitute Alfredo Agyeman used his pace to buy a yard of space out wide and rifled a low cross into the box where Keelan Adams nicked in ahead of his marker, but his effort rebounded off of the near post as both sides settled for a point apiece.

Reaction

Kris Doolan has called for his Partick Thistle side to be more adventurous in the final third:

When things aren’t coming off for you and confidence levels go down, people stop taking risks. Previously we would be quite risky and we lost a lot of goals, which was to our detriment. We maybe would have mounted a better title challenge against Dundee United [last season] if we hadn’t conceded as much because we scored plenty. It’s about finding that balance. Maybe this year because we’re not scoring we are putting more pressure on our defenders to defend, but I still feel that as a team we seem very solid. I think if we are a wee bit more adventurous in the final third – which we are trying to be – and we take the shackles off. There is still a wee step to go with that – but if you can’t win the game, don’t lose it. I think on the balance of play a point for us because they had most of the ball. They seem to be more threatening. But defensively, we still looked strong enough and I think we scored a good goal. Again, we can still maybe do more in the final third. But I thought second half we looked a bit more adventurous in terms of getting forward. But on the balance of play, we'll take a good point.

John McGlynn was naturally disappointed not to have clinched another three points, but he was very impressed with his team’s all-round display:

I thought the boys played exceptionally well. I think if you're a purist there, you walked in and watched us play football, you would have been raving about the way that Falkirk played. The football we played was amazing. I think if we do that more often than not, we're going to win. They must have only had one look at the goal, never mind shot at the goal, and the big man [Graham] stuck it away. I'm glad for our players. They put so much into the game and I think we should be walking out of here with three points.

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