William Hill Scottish Cup
Mon 4 March, 2019. Kick Off: - 19:05
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill
Fixture Information:
Admission Details:
This fixture is a GENERAL ADMISSION match for Partick Thistle supporters.
HOME ticket prices:
Tickets for Partick Thistle supporters can be purchased right up until kick off on the day of the match.
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £15
Under 16s – £5
A concession is qualified as a person between 17 and 18, over 65 or a student with a valid matriculation card.
AWAY ticket information:
Hearts supporters will be located in the Colin Weir Stand.
All Hearts supporters looking to purchase a ticket should contact Heart of Midlothian Football Club directly.
Monday presents the chance for Thistle to book a place in the semi-final of the William Hill Scottish Cup for the first time since 2002. A temperamental Hearts side is the opponent at the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill and the Jags will be looking to get back to winning ways after two thoroughly disappointing back to back results in the Ladbrokes Championship.
A Monday night kick off has made for something of a disrupted week for Caldwell’s side but he still took time out during final preparations to speak to ptfc.co.uk to preview the night’s action.
Firstly the gaffer focused on just how big an opportunity it was for his side.
“The focus since Tuesday has been on the great opportunity we have in the shape of this quarter final against Hearts. Last Saturday and Tuesday night were obviously both bitterly disappointing but they are in the past now and there isn’t anything we can do about those results. We need to learn from them and move on.
“These opportunities don’t come around very often. When you’re a young player you think they will happen every year but they don’t and we need to make the most of them when they do. When the draw was made we were quite happy. Obviously you’re never going to get an easy game in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup but we wanted a home tie which we got and we look forward to it.”
Thistle’s opponents suffered a devastating injury time defeat to Celtic on Wednesday night but Caldwell is adamant he doesn’t expect them to be carrying a hangover into Monday’s clash. He insists that, if anything, the opposite will be true.
“They are a physical team but they have quality all over the pitch. They have experience right throughout the team as well with guys who have played at the highest level for a long time. It will be a massive challenge but it is one we are looking forward to and enjoy when it come about. We aren’t here to make up numbers though and we believe we can win the game.
“They’ll be looking to bounce straight back from a disappointing night on Wednesday and they are more than capable of doing that on Monday. We need to be ready for them, match them physically, mentally and tactically to earn the right to be in the next round of the cup.”
As a player Caldwell lifted the Scottish Cup and as such knows exactly what the experience can do for a Club and, most importantly the supporters.
“A cup run is more important for the fans than ever, especially at this time when we have struggled for league form as a team and off the back of the disappointment of last season. Every time you get a chance to go to Hampden whether it be a semi or a final it is a chance for the fans to have a great day and really enjoy the occasion.
“When you’re in the latter stages of a cup competition anyone can win it. One of these eight teams is going to lift the trophy and as long as we are in there fighting we will fully believe that it could be us.”
With two defeats coming on the back of such a good run some might expect confidence in the Thistle camp to be low but this is not something Caldwell sees in his players.
“I don’t think confidence is a massive issue to be honest. We’ve been on a great run and while the last two games have been disappointing in general we have been on a great run. A cup run can only improve that though and we always say that winning in football should become a habit, Monday can help us get into that.”
Most may not expect much from Thistle but Caldwell is adamant that neither he nor his players sees this fixture as a “free hit”.
“I don’t believe in that, I don’t believe in free hits and I don’t believe in the idea that it is ok to lose. I see Monday as a massive opportunity to get into the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and we have to be ready to take that opportunity when it comes.
“I think we have the players to match Hearts but we have to be smart with how we approach the game. There are many ways to win the battle and we need to win it our way. We have to be the best team against Hearts and that means sticking together, sticking to our game plan and battling as a group to get over the line with the victory.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Shea Gordon and Jags manager, Gary Caldwell, are available to Jagzone subscribers – log in now to see them.
Jagzone members will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
Can’t make it to The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 7:05pm on Monday.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
Partick Thistle took a break from league action to try to rediscover their winning form as Hearts visited Maryhill in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-finals. The Jags had suffered two straight defeats to Ross County and Dunfermline heading into the tie while the Jambos were winless in three.
Gary Caldwell made two changes to the side which fell to a 3-0 defeat at East End Park with the side changing to a 4-5-1 formation. Conor Hazard started once again in goal behind a defence of James Penrice, Steven Anderson, Steven Saunders and Jack McMillan, who was playing in his natural right-back role for the first time since joining the Club. Christie Elliott was operating on the right of the midfield in a slightly more advanced position than usual with Aidan Fitzpatrick on the opposite side. Blair Spittal, Gary Harkins and Craig Slater played as a midfield trio behind lone forward, Lewis Mansell. On the bench for the hosts were Jamie Sneddon, Sean McGinty, Shea Gordon, Kris Doolan, Scott McDonald, Joe Cardle and Miles Storey.
Hearts started the game firmly on top with their left wing proving particularly dangerous and they were able to take the lead after just 11 minutes through their skipper, Christophe Berra. A lifted pass by Oliver Bozanic from a corner by Ben Garuccio who delivered an angled ball into the box finding the head of Berra. The Scotland international then directed his header goalwards, looping it over Conor Hazard and into the net.
What followed was more Hearts dominance as the Jambos penned their hosts back into the Thistle half and Uche Ikpeazu had a couple of half chances to make it 2-0. The most notable opportunity came when the ex-Cambridge United striker used an over-head flick to evade the attentions of Steven Saunders and fire a volley towards the target. Fortunately for the Jags, his shot veered wide of the far post.
The away side then had a less spectacular but simpler chance to double the deficit as Sean Clare had a sight of goal a minute before the break. Arnaud Djoum burst through on goal after a quick one-two with Steven MacLean but when faced by the covering James Penrice he decided to square the ball for Clare. The number nine took one touch and tried to place the ball with his left foot but ballooned his effort well over the bar.
Thistle came out looking much better at the start of the second half, matching Hearts in energy and desire in a way that they hadn’t up until that point. With that, they managed their first real chance of the night on 58 minutes. A deflected Craig Slater pass fell the way of Aidan Fitzpatrick and the young winger turned before firing an effort towards Zdenek Zlamal’s goal, however, the shot was just too high although it did raise the spirits of the Jags faithful who had seen very little from their team in the attacking third during the opening hour of the game.
Hearts would bounce back and they had a couple of quick-fire opportunities to score a second in the 68th minute as Conor Hazard came to Thistle’s rescue with a bit of help from the cross bar. First it was Sean Clare causing trouble as he shifted away from James Penrice, trying a shot from a tight angle. Hazard was alert though and got a strong hand to the ball, turning it against the bar. The rebound would, however, fall to Uche Ikpeazu but the attacker once again was unable to extend the lead as his header hit the woodwork on its way onto the roof of the net. Shortly thereafter, Joe Cardle made his return from injury, replacing Aidan Fitzpatrick.
The visitors would be made to rue their missed chances on 71 minutes when Christie Elliott restored parity. The goal could be traced back to a lovely through ball by James Penrice which found the run of Craig Slater in the Hearts box. The midfielder then used the outside of his foot to pick out Elliott who was making a bursting run towards the back post and with an all but an empty net, the number two hammered home his second goal in nine days.
After the equaliser, the two teams slogged it out without much attacking quality. The Hearts high balls and crosses which had troubled the Jags so much in the first half had been limited in their effectiveness in the latter stages of the game meaning the Jambos couldn’t really create much. The home side brought on Miles Storey and Sean McGinty for Jack McMillan and Blair Spittal as they held onto the draw and took the tie to a Tynecastle replay.
Thistle had shown a real doggedness and spirit in the second half to come from a goal behind against Premiership opposition and get a draw on the night. That replay in Edinburgh will take place next Tuesday, the 12th of March.
In the meantime, the Jags have a league meeting with Dundee United to think about this weekend. Kick-off is 15:00 from the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill.
PARTICK THISTLE TEAM: Hazard, McMillan (Storey, 74’), Anderson, Saunders, Penrice, Elliott, Harkins, Slater, Spittal (McGinty, 86’), Fitzpatrick (Cardle, 69’), Mansell.
UNUSED SUBS (PTH): Sneddon, Gordon, Doolan, McDonald.
HEARTS TEAM: Zlamal, Godinho, Souttar, Berra, Garuccio, Haring, Bozanic, Djoum, Clare, MacLean (Mulraney, 79’), Ikpeazu.
UNUSED SUBS (HoM): Doyle, Lee, Dikamona, Vanecek, Keena, Hickey.
It was a chance to reach a major semi-final for the first time in 17 years as Hearts visited Maryhill in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarters tonight. The Jags came into the game in poor form but produced a spirited second half performance to take the Jambos to a Tynecastle replay, coming from behind. The away side took the lead after 11 minutes thanks to Christophe Berra’s header and dominated the opening half without adding to that advantage.
They had a number of chances to make it two through the likes of Sean Clare and Uche Ikpeazu but would be made to rue their missed opportunities when Christie Elliott knocked home a leveller with 19 left to play. The number two’s goal confirmed a cup rematch next Tuesday as Thistle travel to the capital. Jags boss, Gary Caldwell, spoke to ptfc.co.uk following the final whistle:
“I think the draw was probably the fair result in the end. The biggest disappointment for us was that it took us more than half an hour to get started and find our footing in the game. However, I was very proud of the boys and the way they came out and played in the second half.
“They showed great determination and desire to stand up to Hearts’ physicality even though we didn’t get our foot on the ball enough, especially in the first 45. The team earned their goal and really earned the chance to have another go at Hearts next week.”
Although the gaffer admits that his side weren’t at their best in the first half, he was pleased with the way they battled and ensured that the score was only 1-0 going into the break.
“Hearts played well to start the game and got a quick goal which really boosted them. They were pushing for that second goal and I think we did pretty well to keep them at bay, albeit, we were maybe a bit more penned in than we’d have liked. The key was to keep ourselves in the game and we managed that.”
Gary picked out goalscorer, Christie Elliott, for individual praise with the defender playing in a more advanced role than he’s become accustomed to in recent years.
“That was one tactical difference we made for this game. We thought that focusing our play down the right would help us to exploit their weaknesses and I thought Christie worked very well in that role. He did brilliantly to get into the position he was in for the goal and it capped off a good all round performance by him.”
A more in depth video interview with Gary Caldwell is available now to Jagzone subscribers and will be followed by reaction from Christie Elliott – log in now to see them.
Highlights will be added shortly and will be free for Jagzone subscribers.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk
Mon 4 March, 2019
William Hill Scottish Cup 
The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill