Match Preview
Tomorrow afternoon, after the phoney war of the pre-season games, season 2008/2009 kicks-off in earnest when Thistle host Queen’s Park in the First Round of this season’s Challenge Cup.
The Challenge Cup is not a competition that we have enjoyed much success in and have yet to progress beyond the last eight of the tournament. Last season after a 3-1 home win against Berwick Rangers our interest in the competition ended when we lost 2-1 at Ayr United, a game that Thistle should have won with some comfort yet conspired to lose.
Our poor record in the competition is something that everyone is keen to see improve this season and earlier today manager Ian McCall brought www.ptfc.co.uk bang up to date with all the team news. “Damon Gray will go straight into the squad for the game, and the only two players still missing are Alan Archibald and Liam Buchanan. I’m really looking forward to the game as it’s back into competitive action, and we can see how the players have progressed from the pre-season games”.
Queen’s Park coach Gardner Speirs is a familiar face here at Firhill as he filled the role of Assistant Manager in the first portion of last season earning the respect of all associated with Thistle. Gardner is a first rate coach and his side are sure to be well prepared this afternoon. He has, however, a tough task on his hands this season as Queen’s have lost a number of key players in the close season including Paul Paton who is set to make his Thistle debut tomorrow against his former club. Paul Cairney too is Firhill bound though he will spend the first half of the season back on loan at Hampden. He is, naturally, unable to play this afternoon.
Tomorrow’s tie will be the third time Thistle and Queen’s Park will have faced each other in the Challenge Cup. The two previous ties were at Firhill and Thistle were victorious on both occasions.
In 1996 Thistle won 3-1. Marc Falconer gave Queen’s Park the lead early in the second half. Thistle’s reply was rapid with Jered Stirling scoring his first Thistle goal with a stunning free-kick. The tie still went to extra-time where goals from Nicky Henderson and Steve Maskrey edged Thistle through to the next round.
Moving forward five years it was an emphatic 5-0 win for Thistle. Danny Lennon scored twice, current Assistant Manager Gerry Britton also netted a double with the scoring completed by Martin Hardie.
Kick-off tomorrow, for a tie played to a finish with extra-time and penalties if required, is 3pm.
