Do Jags fans have reasons to be fearful against non-league outfit?
As a Jag I fear a potential cup upset when Thistle play Penicuik in the Scottish Cup this weekend. How have we fared against sides outwith the top four leagues in the Cup?
Penicuik Athletic will be the fourth team from outside the top four divisions to take on Partick
Thistle when the two teams meet at Firhill this weekend. In 2011-12 Thistle got a fright when they were drawn away to Culter in the third round. Paul Cairney scored for the Jags in the sixth minute and looked comfortable until Ryan Stott equalised – but back at Firhill Thistle ran out comfortable 4-0 winners thanks to a Cairney double, and Christie Elliot and Chris Erskine strikes. In 2012-13 Cove Rangers still played in the Highland League and were drawn against Thistle in the third round. Ross
Forbes opened the scoring in the 10th minute but the Jags were reduced to 10 men after Steven Craig was sent off. Alan Redford’s own goal from a Kris Doolan header was enough to win Thistle the game, but Cove had a penalty saved in the 59th minute and Thistle held on despite Danny Milne’s 86th-minute consolation goal. More recently, Fortmartine United were dispatched 4-0 at Firhill in 2017-18 thanks to Steven Lawless, Abdul Osman and a double by Chris Erskine.
With Auchinleck Talbot set to play Arbroath this weekend, what is their record like against senior teams in Cup?
Despite Talbot having to wait until 2009 to qualify for the tournament they have played eight seasons in the tournament thus far. In 2011-12 they caught the nation’s interest when they reached the fourth round and were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Hearts at Tynecastle. They reached the third round in 2013-14 where they held Stranraer to a 2-2 draw but were defeated 3-2 in the replay at Beechwood Park. More recently they made headlines in 2018-19 when an unusual Ayrshire Derby was drawn in the fourth round and Ayr United made the short trip to Auchinleck – Talbot stunned the Honest Men with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Craig McCracken. Talbot exited the tournament in the fifth round, losing 4-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle. This season they’ve also dispatched another Senior side in Cove Rangers.