JAG1970

Looking to next season I see McInroy’s contract is up in the summer with Kilmarnock and wonder if Doolan will try and sign him. He might not be our most consistent player this season but his pass for the first goal yesterday was another example of his eye for a killer pass.

Doolan has certainly fixed that defence. Only 2 goals conceded in 6 games (only one from open play), and he’s certainly signed a player in McBeth. Great to see OReilly back today to give us more defensive options too. Milne deserved his MoTM but great to see us throw bodies on the line to keep a clean sheet. Add to that we destroyed them up front and nice to see Diack get a goal too. All round a great day with the playoffs now secured. Airdrie won’t be looking forward to seeing us again

Play the strongest team which means Robinson should start. £90k or thereabouts for finishing 3rd versus 4th?

The whole league setup is based on self interest of the bigger clubs and not what supporters actually want. Unless the supporters of those clubs pull back on their goodwill (spending) nothing will change.

A good result especially considering how many players were unavailable today. We’ve certainly tightened up defensively as a unit and McBeth is proving to be a good signing.

Don’t know if it was related to this but I recall that dirty little ****** kicking Ian Ross off the ball at Firhill. Of course the officials didn’t see it and he got away with it. Anyway, hopefully we can do to Raith R what we’ve failed to do so far this season.

Airdrie are on one heck of a run… something like 8 wins and 2 draws.. hitting form at the right time. Don’t know if tonight’s result makes it harder for us on Saturday at Kirkcaldy but hopefully Doolan has seen weaknesses that we can exploit (even without Lawless).

I like your 3-5-3 idea and playing with 12 players 😄 But yes a change of formation seems inevitable and will be interesting to see what Doolan does

Copying from other thread but adding a question Wishing him all the best in his recovery. A serious loss which will hamper us in any playoffs, we don’t really have an alternative. Are we allowed to sign a loan and play them in the playoffs? A long shot anyway since most clubs would presumably want their players to have time off ahead of pre season. And the difficulty of finding someone good enough (although Tiffoney would be ideal 😉). Suppose it gives another player within our own squad an opportunity but imagine Doolan will need to change the shape of the team for the remainder of the season.

Wishing him all the best in his recovery. A serious loss which will hamper us in any playoffs, we don’t really have an alternative.

Well done to BBG…. some folk were writing him off last season but he’s been brilliant for us again this season ( and the women’s team too) 🤚

We were quite passive in that second half and only put them under pressure after conceding. A little frustrating as we could have been 2 up at HT. Whether we were trying to win ugly in that second half or just out of steam or ideas., but our lack of alternatives off the bench when Lawless went off (and an off form Fitzy) was clear. Should we make the playoffs we need these guys on form. Don’t know if it was a penalty, maybe a lack of experience by McBeth. Having said that would have taken a point at 3pm! Beat Airdrie and 3rd should almost be secured

Pity as his scoring rate off the bench was pretty good. His loan period expires this season and his contract expires with Swindon at the same time. Only way he would be back at Firhill is if Doolan signs him up.

I might have missed it but I haven’t heard Doolan giving any update on Adeloye’s injury over the last 3 weeks. Is he out for the rest of the season and played his last game for us?

Must have heard you…. Posted minutes after your post. Hopefully we’re faster out the traps tomorrow

A brutal victory. Weird how our legs seemed to go immediately after they went down to 10 men, couldn’t string two passes together and retain possession. Fitzy taking the ball to the corner flag with 20 mins to go summed up our energy levels. The subs didn’t help. But we defended well despite giving away too many cheap fouls. And it’s 3 points and another clean sheet. Winning ugly is something we haven’t done for a long time.,

Indeed, I think we’d all like to see James succeed at Firhill. Perhaps still needs to work on the physical side of the game, and pressing and shutting down when we don’t have possession. But there’s a talent there to be nurtured. He’s got a great touch and an eye for goal. Perhaps our close season transfer activity may create more of a midfield balance to accommodate his potential

Good 3 points and first clean sheet in 11 league games… the last one being against Arbroath

That last minute goal today ruined it 😁

A deserved and badly needed win. Hopefully paves the way for more going forward and builds confidence. Robinson was outstanding and McBeth ran him close for MoTM, but every player worked their socks off. Thought the defence had too much to do in the last 20 mins, too many hurried and misplaced passes in the middle of the park gave possession straight back to Morton. Something still to be worked on. Also some questionable decision making in the final third, two glaring ones from Fitzy and another from Zander, but delighted to get the win which in the end is all that matters. Well done to the players and the manager.

Tough game and our defence will again be under pressure with lots of high balls into the box. I think Doolan will make one change from last week, bringing in Bannigan (or maybe Stanway) for McInroy. Assuming no new injuries. Several teams will now have us in their sights, including Morton, Airdrie, Dunfermline, all chasing a playoff spot, with the later two now having momentum. After today we have just 3 games at Firhill, ICT, Airdrie and Ayr. Tough away schedule to Dunfermline, Raith and Utd after the aforementioned Arbroath. Therefore essential we start picking up points today and next week against Arbroath then ICT. As for those who “would be happy to finish mid table this season”, it raises an interesting point. Let’s imagine Doolan was tasked with just that as a minimum based on whatever his budget was. The fact that we have been sitting quite comfortably in 3rd for so long, if we were to mis out on a playoff would undoubtedly feel like failure regardless of any alleged mid table “target”. And that could result in fewer ST sales next year as the earlier “feel good factor” diminishes. But hopefully we get back on track today.

Andy Dunlop?

McCready doesn’t appear to have played a single game for Spartans this year

Seen this film so often. On top for the first 30 but fail to capitalise. Concede a cheap goal. Feel sorry for ourselves and fall out the game for the next 30. Then huff and puff side ways with no real idea how to break down the opposition because they know how we play. Yes, we went close at the end but I don’t think their keeper had a save to make in the second half. Saturday is massive. Defeat, and assuming Airdrie beat Arbroath, then we’re hanging on by our fingernails to avoid 5th. We really need to find a win somehow or we’re banking everything on OReilly being the answer to our defensive woes by the time we play ICT. But all is well: Thistle manager Kris Doolan said: "We know we were the better side. It's a sore one, but you don't have time to dwell on things. We have to be resilient and come back stronger."

Groundhog Day. Could/should have been 2 up after a good first 30mins. But the opposition then play the sneaky set piece trick….