Thistle fight back to deny Killie top spot
PARTICK TH
Docherty 87
KILMARNOCK
THROUGHOUT his eight years as Aberdeen boss, Derek McInnes was never short of free advice when it came to the importance of winning matches in Glasgow.
While this share of the spoils in the north of the city was no disaster for the now Kilmarnock manager, put in context, it will have hurt him almost as much as any failure down the years at Celtic Park or Ibrox.
With three minutes remaining, McInnes’ side were a goal to the good and heading back to the top of the Championship for the first time since late October.
Quite why no visiting player thought about bringing the progress of Jags’ defender Lewis Mayo to a stop as he motored up the field, only they could possibly say.
In the blink of an eye, the ball was at the feet of home skipper Ross Docherty and the arrowing into the bottom corner of the net.
Partick had the point that keeps them very much in contention in this title race.
Killie remain four points ahead of them, having played a game more, but will consider this as one that got away. McInnes’ men were much improved after the break and edged ahead from the penalty spot through Oli Shaw after Richard Foster had been penalised for handball.
Credit to Ian McCall’s players thereafter, though. They refused to let their frustrations get the better of them and worked tirelessly for the equalised which could invaluable come May.
Credit to both teams, however. If you are going to be forced to play in a training ground atmosphere, you shouldn’t expect anything more than a training ground game.
Yet both outfits tried their utmost to provide some Friday night entertainment with the second half a vast improvement on the first.
Where to even begin with the fact that only 500 supporters were allowed into Firhill to see this game in the flesh?
A measure that was generally accepted as a necessity in recent times simply seemed absurd in light of the fact that we’ll witness near capacity crowds across the land next week.
It detracted from an occasion that might have drawn up to 10 times that gate if a modicum of common sense had been applied.
Among the privileged few were a number of scouts. Most eyes would have been trained on Zak Rudden, Thistle’s free-scoring forward, who Motherwell see as a natural replacement for Dundee United-bound Tony Watt.
For Killie fans watching from afar, this was a first look at Ash Taylor, the former Aberdeen defender having joined the club yesterday morning after leaving Walsall.
McCall had flagged up Scott Tiffoney as another player who might catch the eye and he was not wrong. The winger’s ability to ghost away from players made for a tough start for Lee Hodson, with the supply lines to Rudden being opened.
Kilmarnock had an extra man in midfield yet showed a willingness to go long to Callum Hendry or Shaw.
It took a deep Chris Burke cross to call Jamie Sneddon into action but Hendry’s shoulder barge ensured the ball that slipped from the grasp of the Jags’ keeper posed no danger.
Both sides at least tried to play some football on a rutted surface. One move from the home side involving Tiffoney, Rudden and Stuart Bannigan ended with Ross Docherty’s shot being blocked by Chris Stokes.
Killie replied with a lovely onetouch move of their own involving Shaw, Hendry and Blair Alston. Sneddon did well to spring to his left to deny the midfielder the opening goal.
For all they were enjoying plenty of possession in good areas, Thistle didn’t work Zach Hemming enough. Cammy Smith’s weak header following Richard Foster’s cross was a case in point. Another dangerous low centre from the right — this time from Rudden — found no takers in the six-yard box.
Foster was starting to ask questions in advanced areas and his next delivery fell perfectly for Rudden. Perhaps the forward had too much time to think about this one as his weak shot ran harmlessly into the arms of Hemming.
Moments of quality remained hard to come by. The launching of one ball from Hemming straight into the arms of his opposite number Sneddon was all too typical.
Kilmarnock had Brandon Haunstrup’s vigilance on the line to thank for still being level at the break, as Smith’s strike looked in all the way.
Tunji Akinola had not put a foot wrong in the first half at the heart of Thistle’s defence but a lapse in the opening minute of the second period gifted Burke a chance. The veteran winger ought to have done better than stick his shot into the stand.
A chance to make amends moments later ended with Foster producing a timely block on the six-yard line while stretching.
Killie now had their tails up. Hendry’s shot broke off Lewis Mayo and straight to Shaw at the far post. Sneddon was alert to gather on his line.
But the pressure eventually told. Shaw drifted left and saw his cross blocked by the outstretched arm of Foster. Despite Partick’s protests, it looked like the right decision by referee Nick Walsh. Shaw did all that was required of him, blasting the spot-kick straight down the middle to claim the opener.
The forward passed up a fine chance to give his side a two-goal cushion when he couldn’t prevent his shot from ten yards rising.
Thistle sub Brian Graham served notice that the game was not done with two decent attempts which worked Hemming.
As Rudden made way for Ross MacIver, Thistle’s frustration grew through bookings for Kevin Holt and Foster.
They badly needed something special to happen. With three minutes left, Mayo provided it, stepping out from defence, eliminating three players and playing a great pass to Docherty.
The Jags’ skipper fired the ball across goal and found the only part of the net that Hemming could not reach. Justice just about done.
PARTICK THISTLE (4-5-1): Sneddon 6, Foster 6, Mayo 6, Akinola 6, Holt 6, Crawford 5 (Graham 64) Smith 5 (Turner 64) Docherty 7, Brannigan 6, Tiffoney 7, Rudden 5 (MacIver 78). Subs not used: McCready, McKenna, Murray, Hendrix. Booked: Holt, Foster. KILMARNOCK (3-5-2): Hemming 6, Taylor 6, Stokes 6, Haunstrup 6, Hodson 5, Burke 6 (Mackay 61) McGinn (F Murray 90) Alston 6, McKenzie 6, Shaw 7, Hendry 6 (E Murray 75). Subs not used: Walker, Waters, Polworth, Cameron. Booked: Hodson. Man of the match: Scott Tiffoney. Referee: Nick Walsh. Attendance: 500.