Preview - Partick Thistle (h)

Last updated : 22 August 2006 By Firparkcorner

Partick Thistle benefited from the new play off system in the SFL last season and moved up to Division One despite finishing fourth in Division Two. Some doubted whether they would be able to cope with a higher level but an excellent start to the season has seen them pick up seven points from three games. They will be looking at the match against us as a great chance to progress in the cup and their confidence will be sky high after the positive start in the league.

What a strip, what a haircut!

As for us, confidence couldn't be much lower, certainly amongst the fans at any rate. The players are still making the usual noises about just needing a break and continuing to work hard and perhaps they are a right. A good win, even against lower league opposition, could be the boost our season so desperately needs. With the proposed move for Calum Elliot imminent it will be interesting to see if Jim Hamilton is restored to the squad or if his departure, presumably to Dunfermline, is now set in stone. As for other changes, surely McGarry and McBride must be worried for their places after further disappointing efforts against Hibs. Foran, McCormack and in particular Mark Fitzpatrick must be champing at the bit. Or are we better sticking with the same XI to try and get consistency? Is chopping and changing for appearances sake after every game or two actually causing a problem? That is for Malpas to decide.

Our record against Partick Thistle recently is fairly average in general and in the League Cup we have to go all the way back to 1985 for the last meeting between the sides. We won that encounter 1-0 at Fir Park with Alex Kennedy getting the winner. However we lost 6-1 at Easter Road in the next round!


Surely this is a match we can win, by some way or another, but the performance is probably just as important as the end result. For the sake of our season we need to show some organisation and determination and for once things will go smoothly in a 2-0 win.