Match Preview
With no SPL fixtures this coming weekend the First Division finds itself in the domestic spotlight tomorrow and it is an attractive card that the First Division offers. Top billing is probably the clash between the top two with Dundee entertaining Queen of the South at Dens Park. Our own clash with Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park though is no less appealing and is one that manager Ian McCall was clearly relishing when www.ptfc.co.uk spoke to him after training yesterday.
"Dunfermline are bang in form at the moment but I would like to think that we are too. Dunfermline are undefeated in their last six games and in our last 11 matches we have lost just twice, one of which was against Dundee when we played ever so well. It all adds up to a really attractive game that should attract a big crowd and produce a right good atmosphere. It's certainly a match that I am really looking forward to."
As much as we are pleased to know that the manager is looking forward to the game it is the team news that he brings us that we are most interested in.
"We've got just about a full squad to pick from for this match. Jonny Tuffey is away on international duty with Northern Ireland and will obviously miss out because of that. That means Craig Hinchcliffe will come in and will play. I have no hesitation in playing Craig and I have every faith that he will perform just as well as he did when he played against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Challenge Cup earlier in the season."
"Elsewhere Stephen McKeown is a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury during a bounce match with Airdrie United during the week. Chris Erskine also picked up a wee injury in that game but he will be absolutely fine. Alan Archibald and Simon Donnelly were away in the early part of the week as part of their coaching course and both picked up very minor knocks. Both though trained Thursday and will be fine."
"As mentioned above we played a bounce match with Airdrie United during the week and we ran out 5-3 winners with both Jamie Adams and Steve Lovell scoring twice. Both Jamie and Steve are pushing hard for a place from the start against Dunfermline. Jamie did well when he came on at half-time at Morton last weekend and Steve made his debut in the same fixture. Both haven't played much of late so at present it's a case of getting them games as they build up their match fitness and sharpness. Both are going to be important players for us while they are at Firhill and I believe that there are plenty of goals in Steve Lovell."
Partick Thistle Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 1 2 7 6
Scorers Season 2009/2010
Liam Buchanan 11
Simon Donnelly 7
Paul Cairney 3
Mark Corcoran 3
Chris Erskine 3
Kris Doolan 2
Bryan Hodge 2
Jim Hamilton 2
Alan Archibald 1
David Rowson 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday November 7th 2009
Morton 0, Partick Thistle 2
Dunfermline Athletic Stats
Current Form - Last Five Games
W D L F A
2 3 0 7 4
Scorers Season 2009/2010
Andy Kirk 8
Graham Bayne 3
Steven Bell 3
Joe Cardle 3
Own Goals 3
Willie Gibson 2
David Graham 2
Alex Burke 1
Nick Phinn 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday November 7th 2009
Raith Rovers 1, Dunfermline Athletic 2
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday September 19th 2009
Partick Thistle 2, Dunfermline Athletic 0
Teams
Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, Archibald, Hodge, Robertson, Maxwell, Cairney, Rowson, Doolan (Corcoran), Donnelly (Hamilton), Erskine (Boyle).
Dunfermline: Fleming, Woods, McCann (Muirhead), Phinn, McGregor, Dowie, Gibson (Holmes), Burke, Bayne, Kirk, Cardle.
Scorers
Thistle: Cairney (38), Donnelly (69)
Crowd: 3,263
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday November 14th 2009
Dunfermline Athletic v Partick Thistle
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Prices
Adults: £16
Concessions: £10
Under 12s: £5
Travel
By Supporters Bus
By Car
Car Parking is available in a large car park adjoining the East End of the ground and there are also facilities in various side streets. Multi-storey car parking approximately 10 minutes walk from ground.
By Bus
Buses destined for Kelty, Perth, St. Andrews and Kirkcaldy all pass close to East End Park.
By Train
There is a regular train service from Edinburgh to either Dunfermline Town or Dunfermline Queen Margaret Stations. The ground is a 15 minute walk from either Station.
Other First Division Fixtures
Ayr United v Ross County
Dundee v Queen of the South
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Airdrie United
Morton v Raith Rovers
Match Officials
Referee: Mike Tumilty
Assistant Referees: Andrew McWilliam and Michael Wilson
