Match Preview
It's third time lucky this evening as we, after two postponements, finally make our second trip of the season to the seaside to take on Ayr United.
We are undefeated against Ayr this season, an opening day 1-1 draw at Somerset Park being followed up with a comprehensive 2-0 win at Firhill in October. A further, much needed, three points against an Ayr side that are fighting for their First Division lives and could climb out the bottom two tonight with a win, though is far from a given.
Said manager Ian McCall to www.ptfc.co.uk earlier today;
"Ayr are a much improved side from earlier in the season and are a side that are bang in form at the moment. We are under no illusions as just how tough this game tonight will be. I had about a ten minute conversation with Mark Roberts last night when he told me exactly what Ayr would do to us tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing Marko this evening!"
As tough as tonight's game will unquestionably be and despite our current league position the manager isn't quite ready to concede that our title challenge is over.
"Last night's results just prove that anything can happen in this division and we aren't ready to give up yet. Everyone expects that Dundee will go on and win the league but if we can win tonight we would move to within 7 points of them and with that in mind tonight's game is a big, big match for us. I know that Dundee have games in hand over us but in this type of league that doesn't necessarily mean too much."
We go into tonight's game with just a couple of players missing.
"Greg Shields and Martyn Corrigan are our only two absentees for this evening's match. It's a shame for Martyn who has been doing well for us but had he been fit today's game would have been his second game in four days and I may well have left him out and brought in Paul Paton in any case. "
Partick Thistle Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 0 3 5 5
Scorers Season 2009/2010
Liam Buchanan 13
Paul Cairney 8
Simon Donnelly 8
Mark Corcoran 4
Bryan Hodge 3
Chris Erskine 3
Steve Lovell 3
Jamie Adams 2
Kris Doolan 2
Jim Hamilton 2
Alan Archibald 1
Paul Paton 1
David Rowson 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday March 6th 2010
Queen of the South 1, Partick Thistle 0
Ayr United Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 1 2 7 8
Scorers season 2009/2010
Mark Roberts 8
Tam McManus 4
Ryan Stevenson 3
Andy Aitken 2
Chris Aitken 1
Kenny Connolly 1
William Easton 1
Ryan McGowan 1
Stephen Reynolds 1
Own Goal 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday March 6th 2010
Ayr United 2, Morton 0
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday October 17th 2009
Partick Thistle 2, Ayr United 0
Teams
Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, Archibald, Hodge, Robertson, Maxwell, Cairney, Rowson, Buchanan (Hamilton), Donnelly (Doolan), Corcoran (Erskine).
Ayr: Samson, Keenan, N McGowan (Gormley), Gibson, Campbell, Stevenson, R McGowan (Cawley), C Aitken, Easton, Roberts (Prunty), Borris.
Scorers
Thistle: Corcoran (7), Buchanan (37)
Crowd: 3,055
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Wednesday March 10th 2010
Ayr United v Partick Thistle
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Prices
Adults :£15
Concessions (under 16s and senior citizens only): £8
How to Get There
By Supporters Bus
By Rail
There is a half hourly train service from Glasgow to either Ayr or Newton-on-Ayr. The ground is a ten minute walk from both stations.
By Car
A77 to Ayr, and at Whitletts roundabout take third exit (A719) and follow until after Ayr Racecourse. Take first right at traffic lights then left and right into Somerset Road.
There is, limited, car parking located next to the Main Stand. Price £1.50.
Match Officials
Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referees: Tommy Johnston and Stuart Hodge
