IAN McCALL admits that his Partick Thistle side failed to produce a result worthy of the occasion as the Jags were held to a goalless draw at home to Dunfermline on the 50-year anniversary of the club’s sole League Cup triumph.
Thistle had the upper hand for much of the match but were let down by their play in the final third – something that is a little uncharacteristic for the usually free-scoring Jags this term.
“It was a big day for the club. We were dominant throughout the game but we didn’t really cut them open a lot,” he conceded.
“Dunfermline were a lot more direct than earlier in the season and they were set up not to lose.
“We didn’t cross the ball well enough. Our front four did okay but they didn’t get the service.
“It’s a game we didn’t want to lose but we’re disappointed we didn’t win.”
The first half was well-contested at Firhill as both sides searched for the upper hand. Scott Tiffoney’s pace and trickery was causing problems for Aaron Comrie down the left, and the Jags man forced Owain fon Williams into a smart stop after driving through the middle and rifling a shot at goal from 25 yards.
Thistle probably had the best of it during the opening 45 minutes but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Richard Foster blazed a half-volley over the bar shortly before half-time at one end while at the other, Jamie Sneddon had very little to do.
Two chances fell to Kevin Holt within a few minutes of the restart and on both occasions the outcome was the same. After barrelling down the left and being presented with a sight of goal, the left-back elected to drill the ball goalwards but neither shot had the sufficient venom to seriously trouble fon Williams.
A Lewis Mayo header back across the face of goal from Cammy Smith’s corner presented Brian Graham with a half-chance as the big striker turned and hit it on the volley, but the veteran centre-forward’s shot sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Thistle skipper Ross Docherty went close to breaking the deadlock when he demonstrated superb close control to dink the ball beyond his marker before unleashing a dipping half-volley towards goal but fon Williams produced an excellent save to deny him.
The home side were controlling the game at this point as they probed for an opening but a rare lapse at the back almost handed Dunfermline an unlikely lead. A slip from Tunji Akinola allowed Craig Wighton through for a one-on-one but Sneddon was alert to the danger and closed him down quickly.
Connor Murray, Jake Hastie and Ross MacIver were introduced from the bench as McCall tried to add some attacking impetus into his side. Hastie almost provided a winner at the death after scarpering forward on the counter but was denied by the last man as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils and Dunfermline’s winless run stretched to nine league games.
“The boys have shown a lot of spirit over the last two weeks and I thought we deserved more in both games to be honest,” was Pars boss Peter Grant’s assessment at full-time.
“We keep showing that commitment and desire and you hope that little bit of luck changes so we get that victory we so desperately desire.”
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