The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Donnelly turns on the style in Lichties romp
ARBROATH: Joy for ex-celtic striker as he scores one and wins penalty in victory at Firhill
Delighted Luke Donnelly helped Arbroath shock Partick Thistle and insisted the Gayfield team have the talent to mix it with the best in the Championship.
The Jags, who have improved under new boss Ian Mccall, were favourites to claim the points and start moving up the table.
But 23-year-old Donnelly had other ideas, opening the scoring at Firhill before winning the decisive penalty with an outrageous bit of skill which underlines his talent.
Donnelly has struggled to establish himself at a club since leaving Celtic as a youngster but he is loving life under Dick Campbell at Arbroath.
He said: “It was a good win, we played them earlier in the season and I thought we should have won that game.
“We knew we had to be at our best today to get something and I thought we did that.
“I wasn’t sure they deserved their penalty but ours was a definite penalty. I got my body in front and he clipped me.
“The referee heard the noise because he went right through me and didn’t get the ball.
“It took me a little time to settle in but I’m loving it here, it’s brilliant. It’s a great dressing room and everybody is together.
“It was great to get a win at a difficult venue.
“We know the talent we have in the dressing room and we feel we can match anyone in the league because we have a great defence.”
The former Celtic striker gave the visitors the lead on 40 minutes when the excellent Bobby Linn eased past a couple of lacklustre challenges before squaring for Donnelly to fire past the helpless Scott Fox.
Linn is arguably playing the best football of his career at 34 and Donnelly was full of praise for his team-mate, adding: “He’s set up all three of my goals this season.
“You know if you give him the ball then he can create something out of nothing. I didn’t have to break stride to get on the end of his cutback. “He’s an excellent player.” Thistle failed to capitalise on their fine win at Dundee last weekend as their struggles at home continue.
The Jags have lost all five Firhill games in the league, though they were in the ascendancy after Stuart Bannigan’s equaliser from the spot on 58 minutes.
But their momentum was curtailed when referee Gavin Ross awarded the visitors a penalty after a stunning piece of skill from Donnelly drew a foul from Bannigan.
Substitute Michael Mckenna confidently sent Fox the wrong way from the spot and the home support began to stream out of Firhill as Colin Hamilton sealed Arbroath’s win on 79 minutes.
The left-back ghosted into the area and his low shot from the angle squirmed between Fox’s legs.
Arbroath could move into the play-off positions with a win against Dunfermline in midweek as they aim to continue their excellent start to the season.