Match Preview
After the frustration of last week's postponement of our fixture against Morton Thistle return to action this weekend with the visit to Firhill of Airdrie United.
www.ptfc.co.uk caught up with Thistle manager Ian McCall who provided us with all the latest team news ahead of an eagerly anticipated fixture.
"We had real selection problems for our last fixture against Stirling Albion but those had cleared up prior to our scheduled fixture against Morton last weekend. For that reason alone there was an increased sense of frustration when that match was called off. We are though fairly well placed in terms of player availability ahead of this weekend's game with Airdrie United."
"Damon Gray will miss out again because of injury and Stephen McKeown will also be missing because of a hamstring injury. Stephen is an important player for us as the number of goals that he has scored for us is testimony to. With that in mind we are determined to get to the bottom of his injury problems."
"Those two players aside I have a full squad to pick from which gives me a problem, particularly with regard to who will play at the back. It is a nice problem to have but a problem all the same. John Robertson should be available but the best he can perhaps hope for is a place on the bench. John has been unwell this week and hadn't done a lot of training. We also have a big decision to make as to whether Alan Archibald starts this game. As outstanding as Alan was against Stirling Albion it shouldn't be forgotten that the 75 minutes or so he played in that game is all the football, 45 minutes in a reserve game aside, that he has played in the last 8 months or so. Had he played last week against Morton or in either of the two reserve games that have been cancelled recently then chances are he would have been a certain starter. However, with the Firhill pitch quite a big surface it might be asking a lot of him to start this game."
"There is a real derby feel to a fixture with Airdrie United but we are fast reaching the stage of the season where every game is a massive match for us if we hope to do anything in the First Division this season. There has been little between the two teams in the previous meetings this season and I can't see it being anything other than the same this time around. The support of the Thistle fans might just be enough to see us collect another vitally important three points."
Thistle Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
4 0 1 9 4
Scorers Season 2008/2009
Stephen McKeown 7
Gary Harkins 6
Damon Gray 4
Ian Maxwell 4
Liam Buchanan 3
Scott Chaplain 3
Simon Donnelly 1
Kevin McKinlay 1
Paul Paton 1
Mark Roberts 1
John Robertson 1
Chris Turner 1
Marc Twaddle 1
Last Game
The Homecoming Scottish Cup Third Round
Stirling Albion 2, Partick Thistle 3
Airdrie United Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L ; F A
1 2 2 5 6
Scorers Season 2008/2009
Paul Di Giacomo 8
Simon Lynch 7
Joe Cardle 3
Scott McLaughlin 3
David Nixon 2
Stuart Noble 2
Stephen McKenna 1
Darren Smith 1
Own Goal 1
Last Fixture
The Homecoming Scottish Cup Third Round
Airdrie United 3, Cove Rangers 0
Last Meeting
Alba Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Sunday October 12th 2008
Partick Thistle 0, Airdrie United 1
Teams
Thistle: Hinchcliffe, Storey, Twaddle, Turner, Robertson, Maxwell, McKeown (Paton), Rowson (Chaplain), Donnelly, Roberts( Buchanan), McKinlay
Airdrie United: Robertson, Donnelly, Nixon, Smith, Lovering, McKenna, McDougall (Brown), McLaughlin, Di Giacomo, Lynch (Noble), Cardle
Scorer
Airdrie United: Di Giacomo (4)
Crowd: 2,761
Match Details
Partick Thistle v Airdrie United
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Prices
Adults £15
OAPs/Students/16-21: £10
Under 16s: Free
Programme*: £2.50
*Four lucky readers will get the opportunity to win hospitality for two to the Ross County game on December 27th. Watch out for a special message and the signature of Club Secretary Antonia Kerr inside your programme to be a winner.
Other First Division Fixtures
Clyde v Dundee
Queen of the South v Dunfermline Athletic
Ross County v Livingston
St Johnstone v Morton
Match Officials
Referee: Michael McCurry
Assistant Referees: Charlie Smith & Frank Connor
