1. Alexander, 2. Boyle, 3. Deas, 4. McManus, 5. Watson, 6. Millar, 7. King, 8. Sherry,
9. Robertson, 10. Fleming, 11. McPhee 12. McCormick, 14. Conway, 15. Little
1. Arthur, 2. Kennedy, 3. McKeown, 4. Archibald, 5. Jamieson, 6. Gaughan, 7. Connell, 8. McKenzie.
9. Tosh, 10. Dunn, 11 McDonald. Subs: Johnston, Flannigan, Bryce
The first impression of Partick Thistle's Firhill (as a Livingston fan) was the completely extortionate £10 admission charge. The home team also decided the house all fans in the new Jackie Husband stand - opposite the Main stand and directors box and dugouts - I wonder why that was?.
Interesting reading in the match programme included Thistle chairman Brown McMaster completely laying responsibility for on field events and results at the door of player-manager Tommy Bryce; McMaster also apologised for cancelling a kids coaching event feeling that players had to concentrate on their "own skills". Thistle captain McKeown also is quoted that he hoped never to have to use the phrase "run of six straight defeats" again - he got his wish it's now SEVEN!
Seven defeats is a record I find difficult to believe for a Partick side that have given Livingston two of their hardest games this season. The big problem appears to be a lack of confidence - not ability.
Livingston had the better of the early exchanges and created more chances before Derek Fleming opened the scoring after 38 minutes with a crisp left foot drive low past Kenny Arthur in the Thistle goal. It could have been oh so different however as Thistle spurned two gilt edged chances mid way through the first half, the better chance being a point blank header from Jamieson. Credit for these "misses" can only go to
Neil Alexander for producing two wonder saves, especially the save from Jamiseon , the entire Partick support thought his header was in as did a few of the Livingston support.Once Fleming's strike had gone in Livi began to dominate and added a second slightly bizarre strike. The ball broke to Millar on the edge of the six yard box, his strike hit the post and ran along the line before being cleared back to Millar. He then hit the other post and the ball was then cleared to Sherry who bulleted the ball home through a ruck of players for number two with the home defence claiming offside against two Livingston men on the line.
Tommy Bryce then decided to replace Thistle's most dangerous looking player ,No 11 Mcdonald to the obvious disgust of the Home fans and my suprise. Shortly afterwards the Jags pulled one back with a blistering strike from Dunn near the end.
The Jags took a big lift from that and started playing with real conviction and confidence and for a while it seemed that they might earn a draw. This provided the cue for the old master John Robertson to break clear of the offside trap and beat two men before slotting past Arthur from a tight angle.
MoM:
Neil Alexander: To give the Man of the Match award to the goalkeeper risks a false impression of the game being implied. Neil did, however, make to vital saves with the game still goal-less and another couple late on. Which had Partick scored them the game would have been oh so different.