BewareofthePogas Thistle stifle Stenny
HIS brother could become the most expensive player in the world in a matter of days. But it was Mathias Pogba who was the man of the moment for Partick Thistle against Stenhousemuir.
As sibling superstar Paul closes in on a £100million move from Juventus to Manchester United, the Jags forward inspired Alan Archibald’s side to their third win of the campaign as they moved to within touching distance of securing top spot in Group E.
After seeing off Airdrieonians and Queen of the South in their first two outings this term, Thistle continued their preparations for the new Premiership campaign with a deserved 4-1 win over the Warriors. Just 90 minutes against Queen’s Park this weekend are left for Archibald to tweak and plan before the league action gets underway.
His side will head into the top-flight schedule high in confidence, especially with the knowledge that they still have several first-team players to return to action in the coming weeks.
A lack of firepower has often proven to be Partick’s downfall in the Premiership in recent years but Archibald has options at his disposal ahead of another bid to break into the top six.
The Jags were positive from the off at Ochilview, with Pogba as the focal point of their attack, and the visitors would pass up a number of opportunities before the striker met a Callum Booth cross and headed the ball into the top corner of Colin McCabe’s net after 21 minutes.
Chances came at a regular rate for the Jags and it was Pogba who came closest to breaking the deadlock as he saw an acrobatic effort go just wide of the target and then a header blocked on the line before another bounced over the bar.
The next time Pogba was in the air, he found the target with a well-placed effort.
Within two minutes, Thistle were 2-0 up as Sean Welsh converted from the spot, and the game was all but won for Archibald’s side.
ATHIRD goal before the break wouldn’t have flattered Thistle and they had laid the foundations for victory.
Pogba almost added to his tally with a volley from the edge of the area and a powerful shot on the angle, while Steven Lawless saw a curling effort go just wide of target. The misses, thankfully for Archibald, wouldn’t prove costly.
It was not just Pogba who was frustrated in front of goal but the Guinean was almost the provider on the hour mark as substitute Kevin Nisbet met his low cross from the right. The Firhill kid saw his effort, his first touch of the ball, come back off the post, though.
There was less urgency about Archibald’s side as the clock ticked down and they closed in on a deserved win but the final stages would become more fraught than they ought to have been when Liam McCroary rifled a shot beyond David Crawford from the edge of the area.
It wasn’t the start of a Stenny fightback, though, as Thistle finally found their shooting boots once again.
It was Amoo who clinched the points as he converted after Ade Azeez was denied by McCabe, before the striker completed the scoring just seconds later after a neat turn in the area.