Partick Thistle 0 Dunfermline 1

Saturday, 5th Apr 2008

Firhill for Thrills?
Craw`s goal take Pars to within a point of QOS.

Kevin Harper was missing from the team that faced St Johnstone, Alex Burke and Nick Phinn came in meaning Stephen Simmons found himself on the bench. Mark Burchill missed the game at Perth but he was named as a sub at Firhill.

Thistle made two changes from the side that defeated Dundee in midweek; Stephen McKeown and Mark Roberts starting in place of Kevin McKinlay and Simon Donnelly.

As Partick kicked off the all white Pars were hoping that the Maryhill men might have an eye on the Scottish Cup replay against Rangers the following Sunday. The Jags are the only team to have reached the Quarter Final of the Scottish Cup in each of the last three seasons and with sun kissing the sandfilled Firhill surface, the relatively small Pars support were hoping a cup atmosphere would emerge for this tussle between the teams challenging for fourth place in the league.

The game took some time to produce goalmouth action as the teams got accustomed to the difficult underfoot conditions. Thistle keeper had a couple of clearances but it was the ninth minute before Paul Gallacher got involved and that was just to launch the ball upfield after Roberts was caught offside.

The first danger to the scoresheet was after ten minutes when Scott Thomson hit a free kick from 27 yards that was headed away by the man on the outside of the five man defensive wall. The game still did not ignite with Thistle misplacing passes and failing to make their crosses find a man. Dunfermline looked in better control but still failed to produce openings.

A Rowson pass into space on the left allowed Scott Chaplain to break into the penalty box but Greg Shields` excellent block removed the need for Gallacher to be brought into serious deployment. In 18 minutes Stephen Glass launched a shot from 30 yards that Jonny Tuffey held diving to his left.

Stevie Crawford blasted the ball into the net on 25 minutes after Muirhead had picked out McIntyre in the box but he was clearly offside. Next minute the Pars striker belted a fierce shot in from the right but when the keeper saved Phinn put the ball behind. Possibly the best chance of the match this far.

Damon Gray launched a 25 yard chance over the crossbar after a slip up in the Pars midfield and McIntyre glanced a Glass free kick wide of Tuffey`s left hand post. Stephen McKeown received a lay off from Roberts to shoot on target but a defender took the sting out of it before Gallacher gathered.

The first corner of the game in 37th minute produced a great opportunity for Thomson to score his first goal since October 2004. Glass` delivery was headed into the six yard box by Wilson and Crawford, back to goal, passed it for Nipper to blast but his sights were too high and ball sailed over the bar.

Just before the interval Stephen Simmons had to come on for Greg Shields who suffered a calf strain and then, just at the right time, Stevie CRAWFORD fired the Pars ahead. A simple ball from the gaffer out to the right side put Craw through one on one with the keeper and he finished with a low drive into the bottom left. The Pars deservedly led at half time.

Half Time: Partick Thistle 0 Dunfermline 1

Thistle boss Ian McCall made two substitutions before the resumption - Stevie Murray and Kevin McKinlay coming on for Chaplain and Twaddle but it was Muirhead who created the first danger of note in the second half. Scott sent over a cross from the left flank that Crawford challenged Tuffey for but he was penalised for it and Phinn was not allowed to capitalise from 15 yards.

Gallacher fisted away Thistle`s first corner in 61st minute but Dunfermline seemed to be getting pushed further and further back. Referee O`Reilly was not endearing himself to the Firhill fans and this helped to raise the atmosphere. Gary Harkins swung the ball out left to Murray but Gallacher easily held the wee man`s effort.

A Donnelly free kick and then a Donnelly corner were headed clear before a loud appeal from the home fans when another ball from the former Par appeared to play Young`s hand in the box. Thistle were beginning to dictate play and had the territorial advantage as the game entered into the final quarter.

Simmons forced the Pars first corner of the second 45 in 76th minute from a Thomson free kick but that was headed away and then Crawford crossed but Phinn`s header was stopped by Tuffey. Jim McIntyre then withdrew himself in favour of Mark Burchill.

The visitors seemed to have stifled the push from their opponents as they began to enjoy much more of the play. Glass fed Burchill in 82 and the Pars sub made Tuffey pull off a fine save to turn the ball over the crossbar. Thistle`s only response was an overstruck cross from Murray that Gallacher held under pressure from the opposing strikers.

Burke broke from half way in 86th minute but Tuffey did well holding the shot on the angle from 15 yards. Iam McCall`s side was feeling the effects of their third game in eight days but mounted one final push but the Pars held out for an important victory.

PARTICK THISTLE: Jonny Tuffey; Simon Storey, John Robertson, Willie Kinniburgh, Marc Twaddle (Kevin McKinlay HT); Stephen McKeown, Scott Chaplain (Stevie Murray HT), David Rowson, Gary Harkins; Damon Gray (Simon Donnelly 54), Mark Roberts.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan McStay, Craig Hinchcliffe (GK)

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Greg Shields (Stephen Simmons 44), Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Muirhead; Nick Phinn, Darren Young, Stephen Glass, Alex Burke (Scott Morrison 91); Stevie Crawford, Jim McIntyre (Mark Burchill 78)
SUBS NOT USED: Iain Williamson, Sean Murdoch (GK)
SCORERS: Crawford (45)
YELLOW CARD: McIntyre (75)

REFEREE: Stevie O`Reilly
WEATHER: Sunny Intervals 12°C
ATTENDANCE

NEXT MATCH: SFL (home) v Clyde, Saturday 12th April 2008, kick off 3.00pm

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Preview Partick Thistle

Tuesday, 1st Apr 2008

This is the Pars third away game in a row. Jim McIntyre`s only away league defeat since taking over from Stephen Kenny was at Hamilton in February.

All supporters should note that this Saturday`s game against Partick Thistle will carry reduced ticket prices for adults and that kids go free.
Adults - only £10;  OAP Concessions - £5;  Under 16`s - Free

Dunfermline v Thistle: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	For	Agst
At East End Park	34	17	12	5	65	48
At Firhill	31	10	8	13	36	52
Division One (up to 1975)	45	18	14	13	77	72
Premier Division (since 1975)	6	3	1	2	8	10
First Division (since 1975)	14	6	5	3	16	18
TOTALS	65	27	20	18	101	100

Partick Away Milestones

In December 2003 Jimmy Calderwood`s team lost 4-1 in one of their worst performances of that season. The last Pars league win there was five games back on the opening day of the 1988-89 season.

Milestones Partick (away)
Last League Victory	13/08/88	2-1	SPL
Last League Defeat	27/12/03	1-4	First Div
Best League Victory	20/04/66	6-2	Div One*
Worst League Defeat	10/11/34	1-7	Div One*
*Pre league reconstruction

Last Twelve League matches

The last dozen league games have seen Dunfermline win six, draw four and lose two. The two defeats were the last two visits to Maryhill on SPL business.  Having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Thistle at the end of January, Dunfermline will be seeking some revenge.

Last Twelve League Matches v Partick Thistle
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
16/02/08	H	1-1	[1-0] Crawford, [1-1] McKeown
15/12/07	A	1-1	[1-0] Burchill. [1-1] Buchanan
29/09/07	H	1-0	[1-0] Burchill
20/03/04	H	1-0	[1-0] Darren Young
27/12/03	A	1-4	[0-1] Thompson, [0-2] Grady (pen), [1-2] Brewster, [1-3] Ross, [1-4] Grady
27/09/03	H	2-1	[0-1] Grady, [1-1] Crawford, [1-2] Crawford
09/03/03	H	0-0
07/12/02	A	0-4	[0-1] Britton, [0-2] Burns, [0-3] Burns, [0-4] McLean
05/10/02	H	4-1	[1-0] Thomson, [1-1] Mitchell (p), [2-1] Nicholson, [3-1] Crawford, [4-1] Crawford
01/04/89	A	0-0
14/01/89	H	3-2	[1-0] Watson, [1-1] Burns (og), [2-1] T Smith, [3-1] Jack, [3-2] McCoy
13/08/88	A	2-1	[0-1] Mitchell, [1-1] G Robertson, [2-1] Jack

League Form

Thistle`s recent form in the last six league matches is much better than Dunfermline`s, in fact they have gone 10 games without defeat and that included a cup tie at Ibrox. The Pars have one win in the last six league matches - at Stirling a week past Tuesday.

Partick Thistle	DDunfermline Athleticne
Current League Position
5	6
Last Six League Results
WWDDDW	DDDLWD
League Points
42	42
Goal Difference
+7	-8
Home / Away Record this season
P15 W6 D8 L1	P16 W5 D7 L4

This is the Pars third away game in a row. Jim McIntyre`s only away league defeat since taking over from Stephen Kenny was at  Hamilton in February. 

Thistle have lost only one match at Firhill all season - in the league against Hamilton when they lost 3-0.  Ian McCall`s men defeated promotion hopefuls, Dundee in midweek. With Queen of the South losing at Livingston and Thistle, with a game in hand against Stirling Albion, now have their sights firmly on a top four finish.

Recent League Form
Partick Thistle Home				Dunfermline Away
Dundee	W	1-0		St Johnstone	D	1-1
St Johnstone	D	0-0		Stirling Albion	W	3-2
Livingston	W	2-1		Queen of the South	D	1-1
Queen of the South	D	0-0		Clyde	W	2-1
Hamilton	W	3-0		Hamilton	L	0-3

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v St Johnstone):Paul Gallacher;  Greg Shields, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Muirhead; Kevin Harper, Darren Young, Stephen Simmons (Alex Burke 63), Stephen Glass; Jim McIntyre, Stevie Crawford.
SUBS: Sean Murdoch (GK), Iain Williamson, Scott Morrison  Paul Willis.

PARTICK THISTLE (v Dundee): Jonny Tuffey; Simon Storey, Michael Robertson, Willie Kinniburgh, Marc Twaddle; Kevin McKinlay (Stevie Murray HT), Scott Chaplain, David Rowson, Gary Harkins; Damon Gray (Mark Roberts 59), Simon Donnelly.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Hinchcliffe (GK), Ryan McStay, Ricky Little.

Referee for this match is  Stevie O`Reilly.  In his only match in charge of Dunfermline this season, against Clyde in December, he sent off the visitors Dougie Imrie and showed three yellow cards to Pars men.

Come on ye Pars!

 

 

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