The Thistle Archive

Media report

07-Dec-2024, ptfc.co.uk

A late penalty cooly taken by Kyle Turner was enough for Partick Thistle to defeat Ayr United 1-0 at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill. Lee Ashcroft captained The Jags in the absence of Brian Graham who had picked up a knock with Scott Robinson leading the line and Luke McBeth in midfield with Terry Ablade and James Lyon also unavailable. Zander MacKenzie was back on the bench after an injury absence.

The visitors forced the first corner in three minutes however any danger was short-lived as referee Scott blew for a foul when the dead ball was crossed. The hosts’ first opening came on six minutes when Logan Chalmers teed up Turner at the edge of the box with the full-back curling an effort over. Turner was involved again six minutes later when he slipped a pass to Robinson on the 18 yard out with referee Scott surprising many by not awarding a free-kick to Thistle when The William Hill Player of the Month for November looked to be clattered into from behind. Harry Milne, who netted against the Honest Men earlier in the season, charged down the left shortly afterwards with his low cross scooped up by Liam Russell in the Ayr goal. Stuart Bannigan was perfectly placed on 17 minutes to mop up a potential Ayr attack and find Chalmers on the right with a pass that the former Ayr man crossed into the box looking for Robinson only for Russell to intervene. McRea Financial Services Player of the Month Bannigan was then in the right spot to concede a corner as Jay Henderson threatened with Ashcroft likewise placed as George Oakley waited to pounce.

On 27 minutes McBeth, Chalmers and Robinson combined well to create space on the right with Chalmers crowded out before he could fire at goal. Three minutes later Thistle came close as Aidan Fitzpatrick darted forward and rolled a pass left into the path of Robbie Crawford who fired across the face of the away goal with the ball just missing the far post. Thistle threatened again sixty seconds later as Turner whipped in a free-kick that was met by the head of Robinson only for Russell to grab hold of the ball. As Kris Doolan’s side continued to press Russell darted out of his box to kick away as Robinson looked to run clear. Bannigan was penalised for a challenge 30 yards from the home goal with Myles Roberts moving sharply to the right to save Henderson’s curling free-kick. Two minutes later it was Russell’s turn to scamper across his line to save from a free-kick with the shot-stopper keeping out Turner’s dead ball. Fitzpatrick was the next to be denied by the visiting shot-stopper with the wide-man dancing his way off the left wing before warming Russell’s hands with a stinging shot. Just before the break Bannigan showed his defensive prowess again with a perfectly timed penalty box sliding tackle to concede a corner that was cleared as the first 45 minutes finished goalless.

Thistle kicked the second half on and in the opening seconds Fitzpatrick fed Milne with his dangerous cross blocked for a corner. On 48 minutes McBeth was caught by Charlie Musonda on the half-way line with the Ayr skipper, who was already on a booking fortunate that no further action was taken, a fact recognised by visiting manager Scott Brown who quickly substituted the defender. McBeth returned to action and hit a firm shot that was saved by Russell before an injured Milne was replaced by Charlie Sayers. On 57 minutes Roberts showed his class with a fine tip around the post after Henderson had wriggled clear and fired for goal. Thistle were soon back on the attack and a Fitzpatrick cut back found McBeth but this time the midfielder was off target and just after the hour mark Turner drove forward to the 18-yard line and twisted and turned looking to get a shot away however he was crowded out. On 68 minutes it looked like Fitzpatrick and Robinson were going to get free and run on the Ayr goal only for Russell to kick clear and for an offside flag to end the striker’s run.

Rus put in a crude challenge on Fitzpatrick on the half-way line on 71 minutes and was rightly booked with McBeth’s header from Dan O’Reilly’s free-kick not leading to any danger. Robinson won a corner on the left six minutes later however no Thistle head could get on the end of the cross with substitute Steven Lawless getting his first touches as he tried to recycle the ball. Charlie Sayers charged forward to win another corner on 82 minutes that Turner floated in with referee Scott pointing to the penalty spot after Ashcroft was pushed in the back by Ryan Howley. TURNER stepped up and took an immaculate job from 12 yards with Russell going left and the ball right. Ayr thought they had drawn level five minutes later when George Oakley drilled in however Scott’s whistle had long sounded after Turner had been flattened as looked to head a timely Ashcroft clearance away. Thistle saw the five minutes of added time out with neither side making any chances of note.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan (speaking to Jagzone & the Daily Record):

In the first half both teams turned the ball over too much. Ayr had some nice passages of play, but they never really cut us right open. I thought in the second half we showed a wee bit more composure, we slowed it down and built the play better, although the conditions for both teams were difficult at times. On the penalty, I've seen it back and the referee was six yards away in a good position to give it. The referee was consistent with that all game in terms of giving fouls for pulls like that. We're quick to blast referees when they're not consistent but I felt he was consistent in each box today.

Ayr manager Scott Brown (speaking to the Daily Record):

The referee wanted to make it about himself today and he did a really good job of that. He wouldn't let us talk to him - I went to try and speak to him at the end and got exactly the same treatment. It's good as a player when you can have a little bit of banter with a referee. Bobby Madden was the best at it during my time - he would push you to the side and say 'shut up!' But the ref today was disrespectful to every one of our players with the way he went on. I've no idea why he booked me - I was calm and collected. To make it worse, he couldn't wait to blow his whistle when we go up the other end and score. George [Oakley] walks over to him to ask why and he gets a yellow card for no reason whatsoever. Take nothing away from our performance, I thought we defended really well and never looked in any real danger. We dealt with their physicality and quality on the ball and we had more running power and created more chances…maybe not great, open-play chances, but throughout the whole game we were okay and I was happy with the lads.

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