WE’LL GIVE OUR ALL ON DEE DAY
PARTICK TH..0 MOTHERWELL..1 GORDON PARKS AT FIRHILL
ALAN ARCHIBALD admits Partick Thistle will go out all guns blazing as their Premiership survival bid comes down to Saturday’s clash with Dundee.
The Jags boss agonised over a host of missed chances as they went down to a second-half Ryan Bowman header on a night when both of their drop rivals failed to win.
Thistle are two points clear of bottom side Ross County and a trip to Dens Park now beckons – yet even victory would only secure a Premiership play-off place with third bottom Hamilton enjoying a hugely superior goal difference.
But Archibald is adamant his side will hold their nerve.
He said: “The result overrides everything as we got the performance we asked for. We were on the front foot and the effort was there.
“We didn’t take our chances and we didn’t defend in our box well enough which sums up our season. It’s not in our own hands to get the play-off spot. We now need to recover and make sure we are ready to go.
“I don’t think we can ever go into a game and look to take a point, especially against a team that are free from any threat and will come out with a free-flowing style. We need to come out against Dundee and try and get the three points.”
Going into the clash, Partick had some positive omens on their side.
Well had won just once in 11 away outings and the Jags were boasting a six-match unbeaten home record against the visitors.
There was also a confidence bashing 5-1 loss from their weekend hammering from Saints to factor into the equation but Thistle’s run of only one win from 12 league matches told a story of why it’s reached crisis point.
The severity of the situation was clear from the first seconds as Kris Doolan fired over a cross from the left which was nodded inches wide by Conor Sammon.
That early pressure should have produced a nerve-calming opener as Doolan provided again from the opposite flank and his delivery fell perfectly for Ryan Edwards but his downward header was blocked by keeper Trevor Carson.
The Steelmen’s response was to force a succession of corners which heaped the tension on a home support already suffering high anxiety.
Fears of a sucker punch were almost realised when Bowman was allowed space to turn in the box but the striker fired wide in 26 minutes.
Martin Woods then tried his luck from distance with a low effort which wasn’t held at the first attempt by Carson but eventually cleared for a corner that came to nothing.
The half was brought to a close with another missed opportunity for Thistle as Edwards found himself free inside the box but his attempt to find Doolan was intercepted by Tom Aldred. Chris Erskine’s strike was then kept out by Carson much to the groans of the Thistle support.
The restart was met with the news that Dee had scored in Dingwall and, with County trailing, the incentive for Thistle to get the win was increased.
Sammon slashed an effort wide in 55 minutes as that clinical edge continued to elude the hosts.
But the moment they were dreading arrived on the hour as the net finally bustled at the other end.
David Turnbull’s terrific free-kick from the right was crying out for a finish and Bowman duly obliged by burying a header past Tomas Cerny.
The fury around Firhill was aimed at referee Bobby Madden for awarding what they felt was a soft set-piece for a barge from Baily Cargill on Chris Cadden but their predicament required an immediate response.
Chances continued to come and go for Thistle with Christie Elliott’s long-ranger tipped around a post and Miles Storey drilling a shot-cum-cross from the left which slipped by the back post with no takers.
An injury time header from Martin Woods into the arms of Carson would be the last act for Partick.
Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “It was an excellent three points and our 19th clean sheet of the season which is a new club record.” THE quality of David Turnbull’s free-kick at Ryan Bowman’s goal for the Steelmen separated the sides and it was a moment of rare class in a game of little technical excellence. BOBBY MADDEN booked Well midfielder Allan Campbell for persistent fouling and striker Ryan Bowman and dished out a yellow to Jags’ Ryan Edwards in a game of surprisingly few big calls.