Ross County Reaction
Wednesday 11th March 2009
It will surprise no one to learn that it was a tired but contented group of players and coaching staff that boarded the bas back to Glasgow from Dingwall last night.
Manager Ian McCall was a man of relatively few words when he spoke to www.ptfc.co.uk a short time after the final whistle but in the space of just a few short sentences he was able to convey just how pleased he was with a group of players that he clearly has great faith in.
"There was a bit of stick flying around after the game on Saturday but I've watched the game on video and we really should have been 2-0 ahead before Jonny made his unfortunate mistake."
"A few days later we head north to play Ross County with just 15 players and a young boy. Of those players, two require operations and one was ill. Yet they produced a performance full of guts and determination."
"The Board of Directors and the supporters should be very proud of these players."
As happy as the manager was there were few happier than Jonny Tuffey. Jonny, so often a hero this season, made an uncharacteristic error on Saturday. Ever the consummate professional he never allowed that to affect his game. His performance against Ross County though not full of spectacular saves was confident and assured and underlined once more why he is so highly regarded in the game - we had expected little else.
His one real save of note in the 65th minute, with the score still 0-0, proved to be a pivotal moment in a game that was firmly hanging in the balance at the time. Four minutes later Thistle were 2-0 ahead and on the way to three points.
"I'm just delighted that we got that win. I actually thought that when the ball dropped to the Ross County player that he would just try and lift the ball over me. It was fortunate then that he tried to blast the ball as that gave me the chance to get a touch to it. I thought at one point though that a corner wasn't going to be given and that I wouldn't get credit for my save!"
