Match Preview
For the second time this season, Thistle are in Friday night action. Last time it was a home game with Morton and a 5-0 victory, tonight it is an away fixture with Hamilton and it is surely asking too much for Thistle to repeat that particular score line.
With victory in their last league game and a highly credible 0-0 draw with SPL St Mirren in last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie, Hamilton after a sticky period look to be coming back into form and manager Jackie McNamara was anticipating a tough fixture when he spoke to www.ptfc.co.uk
“It’s a game we are really looking forward to and I think there should be a decent crowd at it. Hamilton’s form took a dip recently but they look to be on the way back. There a side with a bit of quality about them and have players, such as Simon Mensing, that are SPL standard. They will be looking to put pressure on those sides above them and get back into the promotion race. It’s certainly going to be a big test for us but one that we are capable of winning. A victory over Hamilton that would consolidate our position in the top four would be a nice little boost ahead of what is a big month for us.”
“Last week’s game was a really frustrating one for us. One of the majorly frustrating things is that the players look really good in training, they were good last week and they have been good this week, but can’t take that form into the actual matches. They do everything right in training but in the games they seem to lack a little belief and seem to be looking for the perfect opportunity to score. It could be a confidence thing but it is something that we need to work on improving as we do need that bit of extra quality in the final third, even just the final pass.”
“We’re in the happy position of seeing players come back from injury. This game comes just too soon for Willie Kinniburgh and his first game back will be Tuesday’s reserve game with Cowdenbeath. David Rowson, however, trained on Thursday and he should be okay for the game. As should Darren Cole who rejoined training yesterday. Kal Naismith will also be added to the squad. Kal is a big lad but he also has good feet and is quite direct and hopefully he can give is a little bit of extra craft up front. I’m hoping that both lads from Rangers can help give the place a bit of a lift.”
Thistle Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
3 0 2 5 4
Scorers Season 2011/2012
Paul Cairney 7
Kris Doolan 6
Christie Elliott 5
Chris Erskine 4
David Rowson 4
Tommy Stewart 2
Conrad Balatoni 1
Stephen O’Donnell 1
Own Goals 1
Last Game
William Hill Scottish Cup Fourth Round
Saturday January 7th 2012
Partick Thistle 0, Queen of the South 1
Hamilton Accies Stats
Current Form – Last Five Games
W D L F A
1 2 2 3 8
Scorers Season 2011/2012
Mark McLaughlin 6
Dougie Imrie 5
Grant Anderson 3
James Chambers 3
Ali Crawford 3
Greig Spence 3
Paul Currie 2
Matthew Paterson 2
David Hopkirk 1
Derek Lyle 1
Simon Mensing 1
Own Goal 1
Last Game
William Hill Scottish Cup Fourth Round
Saturday January 7th 2012
St Mirren 0, Hamilton Accies 0
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday August 20th 2011
Partick Thistle 1, Hamilton Accies 1
Teams
Thistle: Fox, Paton, Sinclair (Lindsay), Robertson (Campbell), Balatoni, Archibald, Cairney, Rowson, Doolan, Stewart (Elliott), Flannigan.
Hamilton: Cerny, McAlister, Hendrie, Canning, Mensing, Kilday, Imrie, Gillespie, Paterson (Lyle), Chambers (McLaren), Crawford (Wilkie).
Scorers
Thistle: Elliott (66)
Hamilton: Own Goal (76)
Crowd: 2,501
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Friday January 13th 2012
Hamilton Accies v Partick Thistle
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Prices
Adults £16
Concessions (under 18s and over 65s) £8. Photo ID required for concession entry.
Thistle fans will be accommodated in the North Stand, turnstiles 7-12.
Travel
Directions to New Douglas Park
Match Officials
Referee: Mike Tumilty
Assistant Referees: Gary Sweeney and Craig Napier
