RAITH ROVERS 0 PARTICK THISTLE 0
The ongoing promotion battle in the Championship continues to provide suitable levels of intrigue and two of the protagonists, fourth-placed Raith Rovers and nearest challengers Partick Thistle, fought out a goalless draw at Starks Park yesterday.
Allied to other results elsewhere in the league, this did little to help solve the mystery of who will be battling out the end of season play-offs.
Raith’s John Mcglynn appeared the happier of the two managers, despite his team’s winless streak now reaching double figures.
“I felt we dominated large chunks of the game,” he said. “We were on the front foot and took the game to Thistle. Everything’s so tight in this league – its still all to play for.”
Thistle came into the game in the knowledge that a victory would take them into third place in the Championship table but it was Raith who displayed the early initiative.
Dario Zanatta began brightly, seeing his curling free-kick held by Jamie Sneddon in the fourth minute.
Rovers were beginning to assume control of proceedings at this stage of the contest but Thistle battled back as the interval approached.
Jags captain Ross Docherty sent in a fiercely-struck drive that was parried by the diving Jamie Macdonald in goal, before striker Alex Jakubiak further tested the Raith keeper with a powerful low shot The threat of Jakubiak in the Partick attack had been largely nullified by Rovers’ central defender Christophe Berra in the first period, with Thistle boss Ian Mccall choosing to replace him at half-time with Brian Graham.
With the benefit of a strong wind at their backs, the introduction of their top scorer looked to give the Firhill side fresh impetus.
Graham shot over from 12 yards and Stephen Hendrie stung Macdonald’s palms with a blistering shot as Thistle probed for the opener.
At the other end Sneddon saved well from Zanatta before the game lurched along towards its goalless conclusion.
“It wasn’t a great game to watch,” reflected Jags boss Mccall.
“I’m pleased we kept a clean sheet and a draw was probably a fair result.
“We take the point and move on.”