Partick Thistle 0 Dunfermline 0
Saturday, 23rd Oct 2021cinch Championship: Peter Grant names unchanged starting eleven
For the first fixture of the second quarter Dunfermline travelled to Maryhill to play Partick Thistle for what was the third time this season. They faced a Thistle team coming off the back of a 6-1 victory over Hamilton Academical the previous weekend. In contrast the Fifers were looking for goals and points to take them off the bottom of the league.
For the first time this season Pars manager Peter Grant named an unchanged starting eleven, going again with the one that drew the previous Saturday against Kilmarnock and there was a welcome to the bench for Iain Wilson, his first inclusion of the season.
No surprise that Partick Thistle also made no changes giving the side that won 6-1 at Hamilton the vote of confidence. That meant Dunfermline would be up against former loanee Lewis Mayo.
In the warm up both squads and match officials wore t shirts with the message Show Racism the Red Card on the front and another probably supportive one on the back that was a challenge to read.
Members of Partick Thistle’s Scottish League Cup winning team made a lap of honour pre match, 50 years to the day on from their famous victory 4-1 win over Celtic in the final. Scorers that day for Thistle were Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie, Denis McQuade and Jimmy Bone, all within the first 37 minutes!
Craig Wighton got the match underway with the Fifers defending the goal in front of the stand that housed home supporters. The sun had come out for kick off but both sides started cautiously and neither keeper saw much of the ball as play went back and forward in the middle of the park. Thistle has a couple of balls across the top of the Pars box firstly from Kevin Holt and then from Richard Foster but nothing that troubled them defence. When Owain Fôn Williams held a header back from Vytas Gašpuitis, his first touch had taken eleven minutes to arrive.
In contrast the Thistle keeper Jamie Sneddon had been put under most pressure from defenders weak pass backs. The offside flag was raised on 16 minutes as Dom Thomas picked out Craig Wighton 18 yards out to shoot at the keeper. The first real threat was created by Scott Tiffoney three minutes later as he broke inside and dispatched a shot from just outside the box that Fôn Williams had to beat away.
The home fans rose in anticipation of a 23rd minute conversion but Brian Graham just couldn’t meet Foster’s dangerous cross in from the right. Then a free kick 20 yards out was chipped over the crossbar by Tiffoney as the Jags continued to peg Dunfermline back.
In 29 minutes a cross field move ended up with a Kevin O’Hara shot blocked on the edge of the Thistle box. Then two minutes later a cute Thomas ball to O’Hara earned the visitors their first corner of the match. Allan centred but whilst Gašpuitis had won everything at the other end he was not able to get his head on the cross.
Six minutes from the break Foster latched on to a Gašpuitis knock down but blasted his effort into row Z. Holt headed over from a Bannigan free kick but Thistle could not capitalise on having almost twice the amount of possession. In fact in 44 minutes a deflection kept out O’Hara at the far post after a cross from the right has been defended towards him. The half closed with Thomas making Sneddon hold a 25 yard free kick after Allan had been tugged back.
Half time: Partick Thistle 0 Dunfermline 0
In the third minute of the second half the referee played advantage after Comrie had flattened Tiffoney and Holt was able to get in for a low drive on target that deflected left for a corner. Thistle kept up the pressure and Graham headed an effort narrowly over the crossbar.
Then in 51 minutes Ross Docherty displayed good close skills to control and hit a shot towards the top right corner but Fon Williams pulled off a good save to deny the home captain. Three minutes later Thomas pumped a free kick towards the left upright and Connolly looked to have been impeded by Holt but no penalty and no goal as the ball travelled out at the post.
Dunfermline pushed up again with Wighton driving towards the Thistle box but his lay off to Dow was deflected for corner on the right that Sneddon came out to hold. Then in 58 minutes Wighton nearly capitalised on some weakness in the opposition defence but his shot was wide right.
On the hour mark Iain Wilson came on for Ryan Dow and then Thistle introduced Connor Murray for Cammy Smith. Tiffoney picked out Graham but he drove into the feet of Comrie before play switched rapidly to Wighton one on one with the keeper but Sneddon won.
Thomas’ 68th minute shot from 25 yards out deflected behind off Docherty but again Sneddon held from the Dunfermline corner. Kevin O’Hara was withdrawn and Kai Kennedy came on and next there were a number of chances in quick succession for Thomas to deliver crosses into the Thistle six yard box from the right side but none could be converted.
Nikolay Todorov replaced the luckless Craig Wighton but it was the home side who almost scored but Comrie and Connolly were quick to close down Holt on the left side of the box.
The final ten minutes were played more like a cup tie with Thomas, Allan and Comrie all threatening to break through. Thistle were still dangerous as well but the Fifers defence held out really well. Todorov cleared an added time corner and Kennedy tested Sneddon at the other end.
After five added minutes the contest ended all square with one point each, a clean sheet and the Pars still sitting tenth.
SUBS NOT USED: Ciaran McKenna, Kyle Turner, Shea Gordon, Mason McCready (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Dan Pybus, Paul Allan, Ryan Dow (Iain Wilson 60): Kevin O’Hara (Kai Kennedy 72), Craig Wighton (Nikolay Todorov 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Rhys Breen, Lewis McCann, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
REFEREE: Grant Irvine
WEATHER: Cloudy 13°C
ATTENDANCE 3333
NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (home) v Raith Rovers, Tuesday 26th October 2021, kick off 7.45pm at East End Park.
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Preview Partick Thistle
Saturday, 23rd Oct 2021cinch Championship (away) Saturday 23rd October 2021, kick off 3.00pm at Firhill Stadium
After a sixteen month interval without a match between these clubs, Pars and Jags meet this Saturday for the third time in three months. Promoted as League One champions Thistle have done really well despite losing their opening match of the 2021-2022 season at home to Dunfermline. Since that set back they have won eight of their next 14 matches and have yet to draw a game.
Milestones Partick (away)
Last Victory | 10/07/21 | 4-2 | Premier Sports Cup
Last Defeat | 08/12/18 | 0-2 | Championship
Best Victory | 20/04/66 | 6-2 | Div One*
Worst Defeat | 10/11/34 | 1-7 | Div One*
Last Goalless Draw | 01/04/89 | 0-0 | Div One
First Meeting | 23/10/26 | 1-5 | Div One*
*Pre league reconstruction
In the previous 111 meetings between the clubs Dunfermline have won 51, Partick 31 and 29 have been drawn and at Firhill the honours are even with 20 wins each.
Last time at Firhill, Premier Sports Cup
Partick Thistle 2-4 Dunfermline
Sat, 10th Jul 2021
Thistle started strongly and deservedly took the lead in 16 minutes when a Kyle Turner pass set up GRAHAM on the right side and he cooly found the far side of net. 1-0
On the half hour Nikolay Todorov latched on to an O’Hara pass to slot the ball home at the left goalpost and it was all level. His good finish made it 1-1.
Five minutes later the Fifers then shocked the 665 Thistle fans into silence as Aaron COMRIE met a Thomas free kick from the right, to head his side into the lead. 1-2
Two minutes before half time a fantastic turn of pace from Edwards outstripped Foster, the chance looked gone as Todorov didn’t get a touch on the cross but Kyle MACDONALD was on hand to thrash home his first ever Dunfermline goal. It was cleared but Referee Bobby Madden was in no doubt and the goal was given with little protest. 1-3
Eight minutes into the second half Dunfermline struck again when with a ball over the top TODOROV was sent through one on one against Sneddon. A controlled finish chipping the keeper from 18 yards out made it 1-4.
Sub RUDDEN was to make his impact felt however as he headed home a Murray cross in 65 minutes. The ball from the left being squeezed in at the near post. 2-4
PARTICK THISTLE: Jamie Sneddon: Richard Foster (Ciaran McKenna 82), Tam O’Ware, Steven Bell, Kevin Holt: Scott Tiffoney (Zak Rudden 57), Kyle Turner, Stuart Bannigan (Ross MacIver 74), Brian Graham, Connor Murray, Ross Docherty (c).
SUBS NOT USED: Harry Stone, Gospel Ocholi
DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson (Vytas Gašpuitis 85), Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Allan, Dom Thomas (c), Josh Edwards: Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton (Matty Todd 89), Nikolay Todorov (Dan Pybus 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Owain Fôn Williams (GK)
Last Twelve Matches v Partick Thistle
The last dozen games between the teams have seen Dunfermline win six, drawn three and lost three. Thistle’s win at East End Park in August was their first in seven meetings between the clubs.
Date | H/A | F-A | Scorers
07/08/21: H 0-3 [0-1] Docherty, [0-2] Holt, [0-3] Graham (og 78).
10/07/21: A 4-2 [0-1] Graham, [1-1] Todorov, [2-1] Comrie, [3-1] Macdonald, [4-1] Todorov, [4-2] Rudden.
10/03/20: A 1-1 [1-0] Murray [1-1] Graham.
30/11/19: H 5-1 [1-0] Nisbet [2-0] Martin [3-0] Nisbet [4-0] Nisbet [5-0] Nisbet [5-1] Cole.
21/09/19: A 3-0 [1-0] Nisbet, [2-0] Dow, [3-0] Turner
06/04/19: A 2-2 [1-0] Beadling: [2-0] Anderson: [1-2] Blair (og): [2-2] McDonald.
26/02/19: H 3-0 [1-0] Anderson, [2-0] Devine, [3-0] Anderson
08/12/18: A 0-2 [0-1] Spittal, [0-2] Storey.
28/09/18: H 1-0 [1-0] Connolly
27/04/13: A 3-3 [0-1] McMillan, [1-1] Wallace, [2-1] Thomson, [3-1] Thomson, [2-3] Erskine, [3-3] Lawless.
02/03/13: H 0-4 [0-1] Craig, [0-2] Forbes, [0-3] Craig, [0-4] Craig.
01/12/12: A [1-0] Barrowman.
Recent Form
Dunfermline have now drawn four and lost two of their last six matches. They are still chasing their first league win of the season.
Partick Thistle are the leading scorers in the Championship. Greatly helped by hitting Hamilton for six last Friday night they have scored 23 goals in the first nine league fixtures. Brian Graham is the league’s top goalscorer with eleven goals in all competitions, Zak Rudden follows closely behind on eight.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Kilmarnock (H) D 2-2
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Raith Rovers (A) D 1-1
Hamilton Accies (H) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 0-0
Ayr United (A) L 0-3
PARTICK THISTLE
Hamilton Academical (A) W 6-1
Queens of the South (A) L 0-2
Ayr United (H) W 4-0
Raith Rovers (A) L 2-3
Kilmarnock (H) L 0-2
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) L 1-3
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 10th
League Points: 5
Goal Difference: -9
League Record: P9 W0 D5 L4 GF5 GA14
Last Six Match Form: LDDDLD
PARTICK THISTLE
League Position: 4th
League Points: 15
Goal Difference: +9
League Record: P9 W5 D0 L4 GF23 GA14
Last Six Match Form: LLLWLW
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Kilmarnock): Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis (Rhys Breen 86), Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Dan Pybus (Kai Kennedy 62), Paul Allan, Ryan Dow (Nikolay Todorov 86): Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Lewis McCann, Matty Todd, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
PARTICK THISTLE (v Hamilton Academical): Jamie Sneddon: Richard Foster, Lewis Mayo, Olatunjo Akinola, Kevin Holt (Ciaran McKenna 10): Cammy Smith (Connor Murray 67), Ross Docherty, Stuart Bannigan, Scott Tiffoney, Brian Graham (Jake Hastie 75), Zak Rudden.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Turner, Shea Gordon, Ross MacIver, Mason McCready (GK).
Other Championship Fixtures
Arbroath v Ayr United
Kilmarnock v Hamilton Academical
Queen of the South v Morton
Raith Rovers v Inverness Caley Thistle
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