Partick and County facing last-day sweat
THE battle to avoid automatic relegation will go down to the wire on Saturday after strugglers Partick Thistle and Ross County crashed to defeat at home to Motherwell and Dundee respectively last night. It means Hamilton are all but safe, despite their own 2-1 loss to St Johnstone. But, with only two points separating the Jags and bottom-side County, their trips to Dens Park and Perth on the final day of the season will now be nail-biting affairs.
THE agony goes on for Partick Thistle. Any hope of blessed relief about their Premiership status was extinguished on a night of bitter frustration at Firhill.
A final-day trip to Dens Park will determine the fate of Alan Archibald’s side after Ryan Bowman’s second-half header condemned them to a first post-split defeat. With heads bowed at the final whistle, their only consolation was in learning of Ross County’s similar loss to Dundee.
Even so, a play-off against either Livingston or Dundee United is now the best Thistle can hope to secure. A significantly inferior goal difference in comparison to Hamilton means the sanctuary of tenth place would require the outlandish miracle of a 13-goal swing.
More pertinently, the spectre of automatic relegation still looms at the shoulder of the Maryhill men. Victory over Dundee is required to be certain of dispelling it. A draw would not be enough on Saturday if Ross County were to win at St Johnstone.
Thistle had enough chances here to quell the anxiety, particularly during the opening period. None were taken.
‘The result overrides everything,’ grimaced Archibald. ‘Our performance in the first half was what we had asked for, in terms of the way we started and creating opportunities.
‘You have to take them when you are on top but we didn’t. Motherwell then came out better in the second half. I thought we had ridden the storm but we lost a goal to a set-play.
‘It probably sums up our season that we don’t take our chances and then we don’t defend our box well enough.
‘It is in our own hands in terms of the play-off spot, we know that. We have to recover and be ready to go. We have to try to go and get the win.’
For Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson, this counted as the required response to their 5-1 home thrashing from St Johnstone last weekend. A derby with Accies closes their Premiership season on Saturday ahead of the Scottish Cup final against Celtic seven days later.
‘It was an excellent three points and our 19th clean sheet of the season, which is a new club record, I believe,’ said Robinson.
‘We fought our way into the game and it was important after last Saturday. It was important we bounced back but we were defending for our lives at the end.’
Firhill demanded a positive start from the home team. Something to set the tone. Thistle duly obliged but a failure to convert meant their momentum slowed.
There was barely a minute on the clock when Ryan Edwards and Kris Doolan combined to create space for the latter on the left edge of the area. The cross was nicely measured towards the near post but Conor Sammon got his angles wrong with a glancing header that drifted off target.
Energy glowed from Thistle in these opening exchanges. While their midfield diamond channelled possession with precision, Sammon and Doolan pulled wide to stretch Motherwell’s three-man defence.
Right-back Paul McGinn fed Doolan on the same flank and, again, the delivery he provided was more than inviting. Edwards rose to meet it and would have been celebrating the opener had he been able to pick a side. Instead, the Australian’s header was straight down the middle and was blocked by Trevor Carson as the goalkeeper dropped to his knees.
Having survived that flurry, Motherwell stabilised and began to push back. A series of set-pieces caused concern with a home backline that struggles to exude assurance.
Thistle would, however, bracket the opening period with its best chances. A long-range strike from Martin Woods forced a scrambling save from Carson. When the ball broke from his grasp, Charles Dunne cleared just ahead of the onrushing Sammon.
The Irish striker then achieved the near-impossible by out-muscling Cedric Kipre.
Chris Erskine took over from there, nicking the ball around Tom Aldred before whipping in a right-foot drive that was beaten away by Carson.
The interval brought a Motherwell change. Stephen Hendrie had offered precious little at left wing-back and was withdrawn in favour of Gael Bigirimana. With 18-year-old David Turnbull bringing composure to midfield on his first start, there was a better look about Robinson’s side.
News of a Dundee breakthrough in Dingwall delivered some relief to Firhill, yet it was a goal of their own that the Thistle fans craved.
Sammon cracked a low attempt just wide from 18 yards but the first moment of real incision arrived at the other end with an hour gone.
Referee Bobby Madden penalised Baily Cargill for clipping Chris Cadden’s heels, bringing Motherwell a free-kick in a promising position.
Thistle were unhappy with the award but forgot their defensive duties amid the complaints.
Turnbull delivered with precision and Bowman was unmarked as he bulleted home a header.
Archibald’s men sought to summon a rapid response but Christie Elliot was denied by Carson when he surged forward to unload with power.
From there it became increasingly frantic. Substitute Miles Storey had the last real glimpse of goal but his angled shot slid just wide.