[FT] Partick Thistle 1 - 2 Rangers (Dodoo 81; 94)

[Norris Cole 0]

v

 

 

Scottish Premier League

 

Saturday 26th November, KO 12.15

 

 

Partick Thistle, the only show in town for that small, peculiar band of West End luvvies, right-on student types, and minor celebrities whose childhood bedrooms had their fair share of red, white and blue. And the destination for the Rangers on Saturday as we make the shortest trip of the league season to Firhill.

 

Thistle are perhaps unique in the modern era in that for a team regularly playing in the top flight, they haven’t seemed to achieve anything of note whatsoever. They’ve never reached the higher echelons of the league table, nor won a major trophy, and predictably lie in 10th place at the time of going to press. What they have done, on the other hand, is given Rangers a game on a consistent basis. From memory, since they were put to the sword in 1996 by the big Danish fellow whom Paul Gascoigne once mistook for a urinal, we’ve only ever beaten them by one or two goals. Even if I’m not 100% spot-on with that, they’ve put up more fight than a good few other teams down the years, even if they have difficulty getting over the line and actually beating us. Since the shock of a 3-0 defeat to Thistle in May 1993 (yes, that of all seasons! Gerry Britton!), we’ve generally managed to put the Jags away in the end, the best game for me being turning round a 1-0 deficit in the last 20 minutes at Firhill in a must-win match during the 2002/03 season, Ronald De Boer’s late winner in front of the away end resulting in absolute scenes.

 

I’m led to believe a few things have happened in Scottish football since then, and we find ourselves living in changed times. This season is proving to be hard work, but then the saner amongst us would have predicted it to be so. I wasn’t particularly impressed by Aberdeen when we played them up there, and though consistently one of the better sides in Scottish football over the last few years, ultimately being a diddy team they are liable to lose silly games, so if we can maintain a level of consistency and keep winning games like Saturday, we should absolutely be looking at 2nd place which would represent a successful first season back. I can’t think of another promoted team getting 2nd place in the top flight the following year.

 

The major positive development in recent weeks has been finally looking like we are starting to defend better than a Karl Svensson/Dave McPherson-on-a-bad-day hybrid, leaking only four goals since the drubbing at Parkhead, back in the Joseph Barton era 11 games ago. I was of the opinion Danny Wilson was the best centre back at the club when the season started, but you can’t argue with Hill and Kiernan’s stats since they got a settled run in the team together.

 

Unfortunately, we’re proving a tad powderpuff up the other end of the park. I’ve always been a big fan of Kenny Miller, but I’d like to see Garner and Forrester given an extended run together in a top two. Forrester strikes me as someone who needs the confidence of a series of starts, rather than the fits and bursts Warburton tends to use him in. And Garner, well, I just see something in the guy and liked the look of him even during his first couple of games where he was getting a bit of stick from some quarters. It would also be nice to see Dodoo get some action – at the time I got the impression he was signed as a First XI player, which hasn’t transpired thus far.

 

In the midfield, Josh Windass is another I have liked the look of from an early stage this season. Hopefully he doesn’t join the fabled ranks of injury prone Rangers players, because I would be starting him most weeks. I’m still not sure where his best position is, but he looks a type that will add something from most areas of the park.

 

The others in the line-up pretty much speak for themselves, even big Wes between the sticks whom I reckon is the second best keeper at the club, but who am I to argue with the magic hat?

 

Prediction: Thistle 1-2 Rangers

Foderingham

 

Tavernier Kiernan Hill Wallace

 

Windass Halliday Holt O'Halloran

 

Garner Forrester

[Scott7 6,018]

I think Phissell might have gone second in the table if they'd beaten us New Year time 1970-ish.

 

And might I suggest that you remove big Davie from your calamity centre defence and put Konterman in instead?

Edited November 24, 2016 by Scott7

[Norris Cole 0]

I think Phissell might have gone second in the table if they'd beaten us New Year time 1970-ish.

 

And might I suggest that you remove big Davie from your calamity centre defence and put Konterman in instead?

 

Bertie Bombscare gets an honorary exemption for 'that' goal.

 

Plus he was a very nice man, I could never bring myself to disparage him so.

[Scott7 6,018]

Ok, young fellow. Johnny Valentine, then.

 

But you're right about Thistle usually giving us a game. I can't offhand remember any trouncings.

 

Having looked at the FF Stats page, 5 - 0, Rangers 1993. Some threes and a four and an early 60s 6 - 3.

 

How can you forget that? (I wish I could forget Valentine.)

Edited November 24, 2016 by Scott7
To compensate memory failure.

[Norris Cole 0]

The 5-0 was towards the end of the 1995/96 season.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995%E2%80%9396_Rangers_F.C._season

[Frankie 8,570]

Many thanks mate - I'll publish it to the main site tomorrow.

[26th of foot 6,084]

Before a horde of Guardianistas arrive, waving their Equity cards and sporting a pyoor hissy; let me retell the accepted revisionism of that day.

 

It was the 23rd October'71, we were playing Clyde at Shawfield. The League Cup final was being played out a mile away, at Hampden. It was ra Sellik against Partick Thistle, give the cup to the green'n'grey now, what's the point of playing? After 40 minutes, Thistle were 4-zip up. It was announced at Shawfield at half time and two thirds of the Bears immediately departed to trudge the length of Polmadie Road, and catch the second half at the national stadium. The game finished 4-1, and the cup returned to Firhill.

 

Further, I think Thistle beat us in the Scottish Cup final, i-0 in the early twenties?

 

Reference Saturday, please Rangers, hold and maintain a high line. Do not allow the Jags to continually loft balls into our box. Play the game in their half and we will secure a comfortable 2/3 zip victory.

Edited November 24, 2016 by 26th of foot

[boabie 230]

I've many good memories of attending games against the Jags. One year around 1972/73 when a cop held my carry-out of 18 cans of beer while I went through the turnstile stands out. Same game when some madman threw of of those big Party six cans [it held six pints of beer] during a wee bit of disorder.

My dad leaving the New Years match at half time, being steaming drunk and assisted into the drivers seat of his car by an enormous cop who got rewarded with a very large hauf by my grandad being another.

Youngsters - you don't know you've lived.

[Norris Cole 0]

I've many good memories of attending games against the Jags. One year around 1972/73 when a cop held my carry-out of 18 cans of beer while I went through the turnstile stands out. Same game when some madman threw of of those big Party six cans [it held six pints of beer] during a wee bit of disorder.

My dad leaving the New Years match at half time, being steaming drunk and assisted into the drivers seat of his car by an enormous cop who got rewarded with a very large hauf by my grandad being another.

Youngsters - you don't know you've lived.

 

You know, suddenly, living in my generation seems depressingly sterile....

[ian1964 10,724]