Match Preview
After the very pleasant distraction of Alan Archibald's testimonial match with Liverpool on Tuesday night it's back to the pursuit of league points tomorrow when Ross County visit Firhill for the first home league game of the season.
Our season started with a 1-1 draw at newly promoted Ayr United on an afternoon where the home side were desperate to impress. The feeling was, however, that it had been two points lost rather than a point gained. There is, therefore, a little extra determination to collect the first three point haul of the season against Ross County who opened their league season with a 2-1 home win against Airdrie United.
A few Thistle players missed the aforementioned match with Liverpool on Tuesday night and Ian McCall was able to provide www.ptfc.co.uk with the latest news on the injury front.
"We are probably going to be without Liam Buchanan for this game. Liam went for a scan during the week and that scan confirmed the earlier diagnosis provided by physio Kenny Crichton. Liam has suffered a slight thigh strain, the kind of injury that a player who is back playing and training after being out for awhile is prone to pick up. It is felt that with a long season ahead that it is better not to rush him back into action."
"Liam, of course, missed the game midweek as did Simon Donnelly and Stephen McKeown. Stephen through injury and Simon because he was unwell. Both of those players though were back training with the rest of the squad by the end of the week and they will be in contention for a place in the side on Saturday. Alan Archibald and Willie Kinniburgh returned to action during Tuesday's game, Alan playing the first hour or so of his testimonial match and Willie the second half of the game. Both came through that without any problems and will be in the squad for tomorrow."
Ross County have made an unbeaten start to the season. As mentioned above they opened the league season with a 2-1 win against Airdrie United with former Thistle loan signing Paul Di Giacomo scoring on his Ross County debut. They have also had cup wins against Alloa Athletic with Michael Gardyne and Montrose.
Like Thistle they lost some key players during the summer but also like Thistle they have made some shrewd additions as well. In addition to the aforementioned Di Giacomo, Iain Vigurs and Garry wood, who was on target last week against Airdrie United, made the short journey to Dingwall from Inverness Caledonian Thistle and former Clyde player Stuart Kettlewell is also now part of Derek Adams' squad at Victoria Park.
They will, however, be without the services of Steven Watt who is suspended.
Thistle Stats
Scorers Season 2009/2010
Liam Buchanan 3
Chris Erskine 2
Simon Donnelly
Bryan Hodge 1
Last Match
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday August 8th 2009
Ayr United 1, Partick Thistle 1
Ross County Stats
Scorers Season 2009/2010
Michael Gardyne 5
Steven Craig 1
Paul Di Giacomo 1
Scott Morrison 1
John Stewart 1
Garry Wood 1
Last Match
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday August 8th 2009
Ross County 2, Airdrie United 1
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Tuesday March 10th 2009
Ross County 0, Partick Thistle 2
Teams
County: Malin, Corrigan, Golabeck, McCulloch, Dowie, Watt, Scott (Daal), Strachan (Gardyne), Craig, Brewster, Higgins
Thistle: Tuffey, Storey, Twaddle, Chaplain (Paton), Robertson, Archibald, McKeown, Rowson, Akins (McKinlay), Doolan, Harkins
Scorer
Thistle: Doolan (67 & ; 69)
Crowd: 2,107
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday August 15th 2009
Partick Thistle v Ross County
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Prices
Adults: £16
OAP/Full time Education/16-21: £11
Under 16s: FREE
Programme: £2.50
Saturday's Other Fixtures
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Airdrie United v Queen of the South
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Ayr United
Morton v Dunfermline Athletic
Raith Rovers v Dundee
Match Officials
Referee: Crawford Allan
Assistant Referees: Andrew McMillan and John Gilmour
