Frans finds his shooting boots at just the right time to put Partick on an even keel
FREDERIC FRANS will never claim to be a prolific scorer but the Belgian weighed in with a crucial strike at Rugby Park to earn a deserved point for the Jags.
The centre-half netted his first goal for Thistle since joining from Lierse last October to secure a draw and cancel out the lead Manuel Pascali had given Kilmarnock just five minutes earlier.
Even Kris Doolan, who had scored four for Thistle last Wednesday in the 5-0 rout of Hamilton, would have been pleased to show the same type of predatory touch in the box as Frans did in the 84th minute for a merited result in this entertaining match.
‘I am so happy with my goal,’ said Frans. ‘My first thought was that I was offside but then I looked and saw no one was complaining, so I went to the Thistle fans.
‘It is my first goal since I scored for Lierse a few years ago. My best total there was five in a season, so I would like to do that here.’
Pascali, on the other hand, had a rollercoaster of emotions after he thought he had netted the winner in 79 minutes, putting Kilmarnock 2-1 ahead after Josh Magennis had cancelled out the early lead Ryan Stevenson had given Partick.
‘I was crying when they scored their second,’ said Pascali. ‘But I think that performance was more like us. We had the same spirit back we showed at the start of the season and everyone is fighting for the team, which is what we need.’ Killie
boss Allan Johnston admitted: ‘When they scored so early, I thought: “Oh, oh, we could be under pressure here”. However, the team showed real character to get back into the game.’
The home side went behind inside two minutes. A sumptuous move down the left saw Kallum Higginbotham find James Craigen, who laid it off to Stevenson — and he conjured up a breathtaking 20-yard left-foot shot which flew past Craig Samson.
The hosts emerged from their state of shock and Sammy Clingan produced a drop volley which flew over the bar. The pace of Tope Obedeyi was a principal weapon on the left, while the work of Rory McKenzie saw the midfielder cover every blade of this artificial surface.
McKenzie’s value was underlined in the 33rd minute when he created the equaliser for Magennis. McKenzie nullified the threat of Stevenson outside the Kilmarnock box and then ran 40 yards before threading a fine pass into the path of Magennis, who advanced and planted a raking right-foot finish beyond Paul Gallacher from the edge of the area.
Kilmarnock thought they had fashioned another chance on the hour when McKenzie’s free-kick was headed on by Pascali for Lee Ashcroft to try to finish off with a hook shot, which crept just wide. He injured himself in the process and was replaced by Mark O’Hara.
The hosts went in front in the 79th minute after McKenzie’s corner was driven across the box by O’Hara and Pascali was at the back post to stab the ball into the net.
However, the lead lasted just three minutes before Partick restored parity.
Substitute Stuart Bannigan swung in a free-kick which was met by his fellow sub, Declan McDaid, on the volley and that was turned past Samson from eight yards by the boot of Frans, with his back to goal.
The raucous acclaim from 1,000 Thistle supporters could be heard all the way back in Glasgow.