DEMOLITION MAN
Nisbet nets four to stun toiling Jags
DUNFERMLINE boss Stevie Crawford heaped praise on Kevin Nisbet after the striker netted four times in Dunfermline’s ruthless rout of 10-man Partick Thistle.
The Jags found themselves a goal and a man down after just four minutes when skipper Tam O’Ware was sent off for an inexplicable push on Greg Kiltie in the box and things just went from bad to worse thereafter.
Nisbet scored the penalty and netted again from the spot in the 22nd minute after defender Lewis Martin had added a second for the Pars just 10 minutes in.
When the striker brilliantly arrowed in his hat-trick after just half an hour it was too much for some Jags fans, who headed for an early exit.
Nisbet was the SPFL’s top scorer with 34 for Raith Rovers last season before moving to East End Park in the summer and, with Rangers amongst those reportedly keeping an eye on his progress, he will have won new admirers by adding his fourth early in the second half.
Reece Cole’s magnificent 35-yard free-kick 16 minutes from time was such a footnote for Thistle he barely even bothered to celebrate.
‘I was delighted with Kevin,’ said Crawford, who was equally as pleased with the way his team had bounced back in style from last weekend’s shock Scottish Cup third-round defeat to Stranraer.
‘Kevin’s third goal was a really pleasing one. I’ve looked back at it and there’s technique in it — the outside of the foot, his posture and his style when he strikes the ball. ‘It’s great for him. He scored a lot of goals in the league below last season and he’s now starting to get a good goal return in the league above. ‘Credit to Kevin that he’s maturing. Players get to an age where they have to take responsibility and it showed during the week that last weekend had mattered to him.
‘It was disappointing last week, being knocked out of the cup. We needed a reaction and the boys were magnificent. But there will be highs and lows this season, so we’re not going to get carried away.’
Thistle manager Ian McCall looked on in disbelief at what he was seeing just four minutes in. O’Ware allowed himself to be robbed of possession by Kiltie before needlessly shoving the winger in the back just as he shaped to shoot.
From the moment Nisbet rolled the ball in from the spot, there was only going to be one outcome.
Martin’s calm finish shortly after belied the fact it was his first goal in nearly five years but Nisbet’s half volley, after his second penalty, was clinical, as was his fourth early in the second half.
‘We prepared all week and were really confident of winning,’ said a shell-shocked McCall (left). ‘After four minutes, the game turned on its head. After that it was a horrible, horrible 90 minutes.
‘It was an awful day for our club and I really feel for our fans. I’ll be thinking about it all weekend.’