Saints eight-point lead at the top of the William Hill Championship remained intact this evening following a goalless draw with second-placed Partick Thistle in Maryhill.
Saints dominated possession in the first half but were unable to break down a well-organised Jags defence, with Ruari Paton coming closest to finding the opener. At the other end, Ben Stanway almost gave the hosts the lead midway through the half however, Jack Baird produced an excellent intervention to keep the score level.
Saints stepped up the pressure after the break, pinning Thistle back in their own half for long periods, but they were ultimately unable to find the elusive breakthrough.
Next up for Saints is a home game against Queen’s Park next Saturday, kick off 1pm.
MATCH REPORT
It was Friday nights under the lights for Saints this evening as they made the trip to Glasgow to take on Partick Thistle at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill in a top of the table clash which was live on BBC Scotland. Simo Valakari decided to go with the same team which started the 1-0 win at home to Ross County last weekend for this evening’s match. A late goal from Alex Samuel saw Partick Thistle defeat Greenock Morton 2-1 last Friday night. Head coach Mark Wilson made one enforced change to the side which started at Cappielow as Luke McBeth came in to replace Tony Watt who missed out completely after the forward injured his hamstring during the first half of last Friday night’s win in Inverclyde.
Ts’oanelo Lets’osa got the match underway for the hosts at a packed Wyre Stadium at Firhill with both sets of fans in good voice.
Saints made a positive start to the match and they created the first chance of the match on 7 minutes. A throw-in from Liam Smith picked out Sam Stanton and the cut back from the midfielder was gathered by Ruari Paton however, the forward flashed an effort narrowly wide of the far post. The on-loan Port Vale forward then got another sight of goal 10 minutes later, but his low drive was saved at the second attempt by Josh Clarke.
Morgan Boyes won Saints a free kick on 18 minutes after being pulled back by Luke McBeth. Paton took the free kick and his deep delivery into the box was turned behind for a corner by Ben McPherson as Jack Baird looked to get on the end of it at the back post. Saints then took a neat short corner with Stanton picking out McPake and the winger then played the ball to the feet of Paton, but his shot was deflected behind for another corner by Cale Loughrey.
PHOTO: Ruari Paton’s shot is deflected wide
The home side then had a decent spell of pressure as on 26 minutes Robbie Crawford saw his right-footed effort turned behind by Baird. From the resultant corner the ball was worked to Ben Stanway but his curling effort was brilliantly cut out by Baird.
With 37 minutes on the clock Saints were awarded another free kick following a foul on Jason Holt by Ts’oanelo Lets’osa. The free kick was taken by Paton as his delivery into the box was met by Cheick Diabate however, the defender couldn’t make a clean connection as his effort went wide of the target.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear and Ben Stanway
The Jags created the first chance of the second half on 51 minutes as Aidan Fitzpatrick broke forward before picking out Alex Samuel whose curling effort was well held by Toby Steward.
On 56 minutes Jags defender Paddy Reading produced a brilliant block to deny Paton who had been setup by McPake.
On the hour mark McPake won Saints a free kick on the edge of the area which was taken by Paton as he whipped a fierce delivery across the face of the Jags goal before going inches wide of the far post. Then on 62 minutes Holt moved the ball out to the left to McPake, and the winger then picked out Reece McAlear who took a touch before seeing his right footed strike from 25 yards go narrowly wide.
PHOTO: Cheick Diabate’s shot goes wide
Saints had now upped the ante as they controlled possession, peppering the Thistle goal with chances to break the deadlock. On 67 minutes Gullan’s corner from the right was gathered by Paton who produced a brilliant first touch to bring the ball down however, his effort wasn’t clean as he sliced his shot which looked like was going wide before Gullan forced Jags substitute Ricco Diack to deflect the ball behind for another corner.
Gullan again took this from the right and this time his delivery broke to McPake at the back post whose effort was turned behind for another corner by Josh Clarke. Gullan this time took the corner from the left and his ball into the box was met by McPake however, the winger couldn’t find the target with his shot.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan and Patrick Reading
Saints then made their first change of the game as Josh Fowler replaced Jamie Gullan.
Partick Thistle though came back into the game as the half progressed and with 11 minutes remaining Stanway came close to putting the hosts into the lead as his first time strike from an Ethan Ingram pass into the box went narrowly wide of the far post.
There was a nervous moment for Steward with 3 minutes remaining as the Saints number one slipped on the ball after gathering it from a Baird backpass as he took a heavy first touch before being able to scramble it away from Diack.
PHOTO: Simo Valakari shouts instructions
Although Saints applied heavy pressure throughout the second half, Thistle began to find their rhythm in the final 10 minutes. The Maryhill outfit threatened with a number of dangerous deliveries into the box and won a few late corners, but Saints remained resolute defensively to ensure a share of the spoils.
Partick Thistle: Clarke, Reading, Ashcroft, Samuel, Crawford (Turner 63’), McBeth (Diack 63’), Fitzpatrick, Loughrey, McPherson, Stanway, Lets’osa (Ingram 75’)
Unused Substitutes: Budinauckas (GK), Logan, Falconer, Dolan, Gray
Booked: Ashcroft
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt, Gullan (Fowler 74’), Stanton, Baird, Paton, McPake, Smith, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Foulds, Lloyd, Steven, Fotheringham, Mallan, Agyeman, Forrester
Booked: Baird, Paton
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
Attendance: 6,137
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Ruari Paton and Ben Stanway
