Jags want SPFL review over Tynecastle saga

Jags boss Alan Archibald remained unhappy about late confirmation that their game against Hearts would go ahead despite a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle.

The Jambos returned home for the first time since July after their renovated main stand was eventually passed safe yesterday morning, hours ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership fixture.

Kick-off was then delayed for 15 minutes due to queues at the turnstiles.

Less than two hours before the scheduled 3pm start the Firhill club released a statement claiming the uncertainty had been unfair on the fans, with questions now arising for the Scottish Professional Football League to answer.

The Thistle statement said: “We will be asking the SPFL for an extensive review into the circumstances that allowed this situation to arise.”

Thistle left with a point after an 85th-minute strike by substitute Kris Doolan cancelled out Isma Goncalves’ opener, but Archibald said: “I totally back the statement. It wouldn’t have happened if Rangers were coming would it, let’s be honest?

“That is not a wee club mentality. I just think with the amount of traffic, personnel, they wouldn’t have allowed that to go to the last minute.

“I think there would have been more common sense rather than Hearts having to do the work that they had to do to rush about to get it on.”

Hearts boss Craig Levein was frustrated with the Jags’ leveller, and claimed the officials missed two infringements in the leadup to Doolan scoring.

Levein said: “I feel frustrated and a bit disappointed, particularly in the officials because the goal is offside and a handball.

“We managed to restrict Thistle to one shot on target, which was the goal.

“I don’t know who it was. He’s offside when the ball has gone in, challenged for it, then he’s punched it to Doolan.

“For me it’s a clear offside, even if there are enough bodies so the linesman didn’t see the handball. I thought it would take something like that to beat us.”

Kris Doolan celebrates his late equaliser for Partick.