Partick thistle0

aberdeen3

PARTICK Thistle's board of directors came over all Christmassy last week. Carrots were being dangled throughout the place. Having carefully considered the contents of their managerial selection box, news was filtered down the media chimneys that the current incumbents, Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte, would have the job wrapped-up if victory over Aberdeen was secured.

Those in the position to spread festive cheer among the Firhill choir were offered a sledgeful of sterling, too; a double-your-money win bonus for one weekend only.

Sadly for Thistle, the Ebeneezer Scrooge of Scottish football came from the north and sneered at this grotesque goodwill. Tis the season to be jolly? I.M. Jolly more like. An animated Steve Paterson is

as unimaginable as Christmas without a freshly-Botoxed Sir Cliff, but even the Aberdeen manager must have been tempted to let out a hearty

ho-ho-ho at all the goalmouth gift-bearing.

For all Thistle's incentives,

so indiscreetly offered that

desperation can be the only logical conclusion, the chasm is now so wide at the Premierleague pit that the job of

salvaging their season is becoming less appealing with every passing week.

According to Allan Cowan, their vice-chairman, the club are in no hurry to appoint from their six-strong wish list. John Connolly and Billy Davies apparently head the queue, with Graham Rix, and the Britton/Whyte joint application the others under serious consideration.

''We met last week to consider the various applications and, we will meet again to consider further, but no decision has been reached,'' Cowan maintained, while attempting to underplay the Saturday afternoon suggestions the caretaker managers were on a promise. ''If we had won it would not have hindered their application, but they have not been given any assurances. It is more important to make the right appointment than a quick one, and Derek and Gerry are very happy to continue until then.''

Saturday was symptomatic of the problems which ultimately cost Gerry Collins his job. For 30 minutes, Thistle overwhelmed their opponents. Well, at least until they found themselves within one final touch of bringing David Preece into play. Kenny Milne, who along with Derek Fleming was one of only two Thistle players to leave with a clear conscience, gave a performance reminiscent of Ted McMinn in his marvellously unfathomable heyday.

With the physical dimensions of a telegraph pole, and at times possessing all the subtlety of one, he somehow managed to mesmerise Kevin Rutkiewicz down the left flank. Again, and again, he thundered down the touchline, skipping past the young full back's pitiful interventions and delivering crosses which would have been more greatly appreciated had James Grady been two feet taller or Jamie Mitchell two yards sharper.

As it was, Preece regularly plucked the ammunition out of the air while the exotically named Zander Diamond dealt with the rest. At 17 years of age, the youngster is regarded as the hottest prospect at Pittodrie for many a year. While others have panicked under the weight of expectation, the rough gem thrives on it to vindicate Willie Miller's authoritative assertion that ''he is the best defender I've seen at the club since Alex McLeish.'' Russell Anderson, a golden oldie by comparison, also enjoyed a tidy day's work.

He gave the visitors an undeserved but, in the circumstances, unsurprising lead with only two minutes left until the interval. Scott Morrison, another sapling who has benefitted from Paterson's accelerated promotion scheme, delivered a missile of a free-kick which hung in the air long enough for Anderson to dart past Thistle's static defence and head the ball beyond Kenny Arthur.

Suddenly Britton and Whyte realised the enormity of the task and the gut-wrenching frustration felt by Collins on a weekly basis. Still, at least they had the second half to salvage the situation. Oops. Just three minutes into their fightback, Thistle were counted out. Chris Clark provided a corner as tempting as Morrison's earlier free kick and Anderson raced from the edge of the D to finish to a T.

Anderson ought to have completed a memorable headed hat trick before Clark eventually rounded off the rout in added-on time. Fleming, having worked himself to a standstill, was helpless as Clark picked up his loose pass, sprayed it sideways to Scott Booth, and charged goalward to earn his reward.

''We still have 20 league games still to play so that is potentially 60 points available,'' said an optimistic Fleming. Now there's an incentive for the new manager.