Saints got their William Hill Championship campaign off to a flier this afternoon as they defeated Partick Thistle 5-1 at McDiarmid Park.
Simo Valakari’s side started brightly however, they would find themselves a goal down after 15 minutes as the Jags took the lead against the run of play when Paddy Reading slotted home a Cammy Logan cross at the back post.
However, Saints got an immediate response and where level two minutes later as Jamie Gullan slotted a composed finish beyond Lewis Budinauckas.
Josh McPake put Saints ahead on 28 minutes with a fine curling effort. The winger then got his second of the game with a close-range finish on 37 minutes to give Saints a 3-1 halftime lead.
McPake completed his hat-trick 3 minutes into the second half with another brilliant curling strike.
Saints completed the rout with 8 minutes remaining as Stevie Mallan sent a fabulous free kick into the top corner of the net for his first Saints goal to cap a fine afternoon in the summer sun.
Saints are back in action next Friday as they travel up the A9 to take on Ross County in Dingwall, kick off 7:45pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints got their William Hill Championship campaign underway this afternoon as they welcomed Partick Thistle to McDiarmid Park. Saints progressed to the last sixteen of the Premier Sports Cup last weekend thanks to an 8-0 win against Elgin City and Simo Valakari made two changes to the side for this afternoon’s league opener as Cheick Diabate and Stevie Mallan came in to replace Makenzie Kirk, who dropped to the bench, whilst Morgan Boyes missed out due to suspension. Partick Thistle also progressed to the last sixteen of the Premier Sports Cup last weekend and head coach Mark Wilson decided to go with the same starting eleven which defeated Ross County 3-1 in Dingwall last Saturday.
It was a glorious sunny afternoon in Perth as Robbie Crawford got the match underway for the visitors.
The first chance of the match came on 4 minutes as a Stevie Mallan corner from the right broke to Reece McAlear and the curling effort from the midfielder looked like it was going wide until Adama Sidibeh got up to force a good save from Lewis Budinauckas with a close-range header. Saints continued to apply early pressure and another Mallan corner a minute later broke to Jack Baird however, his effort went inches over the bar.
With 10 minutes on the clock a good passing move by Saints saw them work the ball out wide to Reghan Tumilty and the right-bank sent over a delightful cross picking out Jamie Gullan however, his header was saved by Budinauckas. Then shortly Gullan got another chance as he was played in by Josh McPake, but Budinauckas made another good save to keep the score level.
Then against the run of play Thistle took the lead on 15 minutes. Cammy Logan sent a dangerous ball into the box from the right which was met by Paddy Reading at the back post who slotted home to put the Jags a goal up.
However, Saints got an instant response as they were level 2 minutes later. McAlear picked out Gullan in the box with a delightful pass and the forward kept his cool to slot a composed finish beyond Budinauckas and into the net.
On 26 minutes the Jags came close to regaining the lead as a Logan Chalmers corner from the right was met by Daniel O’Reilly but the defender put his header narrowly wide.
Play quickly switched to the other end as a minute later McAlear saw his low effort from distance saved by Budinauckas. Saints though completed the turnaround on 28 minutes as Gullan picked out McPake and the winger cut inside before sending a brilliant right-footed curling effort into the far corner of the net.
Then just after the half an hour mark Saints came close to a third. Tumilty’s cross from the right was headed back across goal by McPake as Sidibeh slid in but was inches away from making a connection with the ball to turn it home from close range.
Saints continued to create chances as 3 minutes later Mallan picked out McAlear in the box who produced a neat back heal to play in Tumilty however, he curled his effort wide of the far post.
Saints extended their lead on 37 minutes as McPake squeezed the ball into the net from a tight angle for his second and Saints third of the afternoon.
With 6 minutes of the first half remaining Partick Thistle were awarded a free kick after Logan was fouled by Cheick Diabate. Chalmers took the free kick and his floated delivery into the Saints box was met by Lee Ashcroft however, the Thistle captain put his header wide of the target.
Saints were dominating possession and on 43 minutes Mallan unleashed an effort from 35 yards which went narrowly wide of the post.
Simo Valakari made a change at the break as Sven Sprangler came on to replace Reghan Tumilty.
Saints started the second half where they left off at the end of the first as McPake completed his hat-trick 3 minutes into the second half. Chalmers gifted possession to Sidibeh and the Gambian turned and advanced forward before playing in McPake who cut in for the right and curled another fine strike into the corner of the net.
On 51 minutes Jason Holt came close to making it five when after another fine passing move McPake played in the midfielder however, the Saints captain put his effort inches wide.
Saints pressure on the Thistle goal was relentless and on 54 minutes Gullan produced a lovely ball to play in Sprangler who burst forward before sending another fine ball across the box which Sidibeh was inches away from connection with. Saints kept up the pressure as they gathered the loose ball and worked it to McAlear however, he curled his effort narrowly over from the edge of the area.
Just after the hour mark Saints made another change as McPake got a standing ovation as the winger was replaced by Makenzie Kirk. That was followed by another change on shortly after as Jamie Gullan made way for Jonathan Svedberg.
With 19 minutes remaining a Mallan corner from the left was met by Baird at the near post who flicked his header narrowly over.
Sidibeh won Saints a free kick on 81 minutes after the Gambian was fouled by O’Reilly. The free kick was taken by Mallan and the midfielder sent a sublime effort up and over the wall and into the far corner of the net for his first goal for the club and Saints fifth of the afternoon.
That would prove to be Mallan’s last touch of the ball as the midfielder along with Adama Sidibeh were replaced by Fran Franczak and Uche Ikpeazu before play could resume.
Despite having a four-goal advantage the Saints pressure continued. On 86 minutes Ikpeazu brilliantly setup Kirk on the edge of the box however, Budinauckas produced a good save to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Then in the final minute of the ninety Ikpeazu came close with a shot on the turn that went inches wide as Saints got their William Hill Championship campaign off to an excellent start.
Saints: Steward, Tumilty (Sprangler 45’), Diabate, Holt, Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 82’), Gullan (Svedberg 69’), Foulds, Baird, Mallan (Franczak 83’), McPake (Kirk 61’), McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Stanton, Steven, Bright
Booked: Holt, Tumilty
Scorers: Gullan (17’), McPake (28’, 37’, 48’), Mallan (82’)
Partick Thistle: Budinauckas, Logan, Reading, Ashcroft, Chalmers, Crawford, McBeth, O’Reilly, Fitzpatrick (Stanway 45’), Watt (Horn 74’), Lets’osa (Lawless 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Clarke (GK), MacKenzie, Falconer, Dolan
Booked: O’Reilly, McBeth
Scorer: Reading (15’)
Referee: Ross Hardie
Attendance: 4,991
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jacob Booth
