Kris-crossed! Legend haunts nine-man Jags on Firhill return
PARTICK THISTLE 2
Bannigan (14), Gordon (43)
AYR UNITED 3
McCowan (24), Doolan (72), Kelly (78) Kris Doolan returned to haunt his former club as Ayr United fought back to win a crazy game and send nine-man Partick Thistle to the bottom of the Championship.
The Jags twice led before both their goalscorers, Stuart Bannigan and Shea Gordon, were sent off.
Disappointed Firhill boss Gary Caldwell reserved his criticism for the officials. He said: “I’m really proud of the players. They gave everything in difficult circumstances – we looked comfortable with 10 men.
“Then with nine men we dug in. I think, 11 v 11, we win the game, so it’s a sore one to take.
“The first one isn’t a red card and it’s a massive game-changer for us. I think the Bannigan one is a red card.
“Refs have a very difficult job – they can make wrong decisions. But it’s the speed that the card comes out – it’s like they’re desperate to do it instead of giving themselves thinking time.
“If that is a red card, we’re going to have games of six v seven every week. It was taken out of our hands today.”
Caldwell handed a debut to Dario Zanatta and it paid dividends when the recent signing from Hearts ghosted into the box and was upended by Ayr substitute Mark Kerr.
Andrew Dallas instantly awarded a penalty before Bannigan, stripped of the captaincy after reacting angrily to being substituted in last Friday’s capitulation against Morton, slotted past Ross Doohan.
However, Ayr hit back 10 minutes later when Jags debutant Ben Hall badly misjudged a header back to goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon under pressure from Alan Forrest and Luke McCowan intercepted before sending a glorious chip into the net.
Thistle continued to dominate possession and restored their lead when the impressive Zanatta weaved past four defenders before the ball broke for Gordon to stab home via a deflection.
It was a crazy 60 seconds for Gordon who was harshly shown a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on McCowan immediately after scoring.
Thistle, though, could have no complaints as they were reduced to nine men when Bannigan was shown a straight red on 65 minutes for a knee-high challenge on Stephen Kelly.
A Firhill legend after scoring 121 goals over a 10-year spell, Doolan was on hand to fire in the equaliser after Steven Bell’s 25-yarder rebounded to him off a post.
Ayr took further advantage of their extra men to claim the three points when Kelly curled a delightful effort past Sneddon from 25 yards.
Honest Men boss Ian McCall said: “We were much better than I thought we were going to be – the loans are working well. We are very pleased with how we are doing.
“I don’t think anybody expected it but the target is to be in touch with Dundee United when they come to our place.
McCall was also less than impressed with the officials.
“Doolan’s goal was offside,” he said. “I didn’t see the first red card but the second one was a straight red all day long.
“The one I thought they got wrong was their penalty – it was never a penalty!”