Archibald toasts Thistle’s top-six place
SUCCESS is always relative when you have not won a major trophy for almost half a century. Securing a place in the top half of the Premiership, then, may not seem hugely significant in the wider scheme of things, but for Partick Thistle it represents their highest league finish since 1981.
On the back of top scorer Kris Doolan breaking through the 100goal barrier and a draw at Celtic Park, this has been quite the week for the Maryhill club.
In typical Thistle fashion, they made rather hard work of getting over the line. Utterly dominant in the first half at a sun-drenched Firhill, but with only one goal to show for it, they had to withstand some concerted Motherwell pres- sure after the break before emerging with the victory that extends their undefeated league sequence to eight matches.
Kilmarnock’s defeat at Celtic Park meant Thistle would have made the top six regardless, but to do so under their own steam undoubtedly made it more satisfying for an appreciative home crowd and Alan Archibald too.
“We spoke about not having to rely on anyone else, we wanted to do it in style and with a clean sheet,” said the Thistle manager. “The feeling is similar to winning the Championship, especially when you’ve been down in the lower leagues as long as we were. It’s great for everyone associated with the club and the most important things is we aren’t going to be in the bottom six as that’s horrible.
“We have come through the bad times here. There have been times the club has been maligned and laughed at. These are different times and it’s great the club has been up here for a while now but we won’t rest on our laurels. We don’t have to look over our shoulder and that’s great for the fans.”
What Motherwell would give for such a scenario. This defeat had the effect of sending them into the relegation play-off spot on goal difference ahead of what looks increasingly like a pivotal home game against bottom side Inverness Caledonian Thistle next weekend.
They looked far more assured once manager Stephen Robinson had made his half-time changes – bringing on two substitutes and switching to a back four – but couldn’t make their superiority pay. The closest they came to equalising was a header from Zak Jules that Tomas Cerny somehow clawed off his line when the ball seemed to be already beyond him, adding to Motherwell’s frustration.
“I was an angry man at half time,” said Robinson. “It didn’t look like some of the players realised the impact of losing this game. So they were told in no uncertain terms and I asked for a reaction. They gave me a reaction second half but you can’t start football matches like that, end of story.”
The only goal of the game came, almost predictably, from Doolan after 11 minutes. Chris Erskine was the provider, fastening on to Christie Elliott’s pass before finding his strike partner who couldn’t miss from a matter of yards.
The only surprise was that Thistle didn’t add to that early goal. They were rampant in the first half, playing some fast-flowing, one-touch football to boot. From one such passing move, Doolan probably ought to have done better than squirt a low shot beyond the far post, while a Steven Lawless effort also pranged against the crossbar via a deflection.
Thistle were seen mainly in a defensive sense in the second half, holding firm as Motherwell finally showed some attacking intent.
The celebrations all around Firhill showed what the achievement of sealing their place in the top six meant to players and fans.