partickthedog

Only 24 hours to go to kick off, so I will pluck up courage and open the match thread. Hopefully it is not too early. If I understand mathematical progressions, after progressive score lines v Inverness this season of 0-0, 1-1 and 3-3, the score on Saturday should be 6-6. I would take that, but only if we are 0-6 down with 5 minutes to go, and mount an epic comeback. Of course by that time everybody else will have walked out in disgust, and Auld Jag and I will be the only fans left in the John Lambie Stand to witness this.

I have not seen Barton”s social media post and I do not want to see it, but would he not have been better raving about Rachel Donaldson’s wonder strike. I suspect that he will not have scored a better goal than that in his rather up and down football career. Back to Ava Easdon. From my excellent vantage point high in the stand, the gap left for the first goal looked obvious. I am sure that it is not so easy on the ground when you realise that your whole defence has abandoned you and there is no option but to come rushing out trying all the time to protect your near post (which Ava managed successfully!). Beyond that I cannot remember any significant mistakes. I do recall a brave save at the feet of a Rangers attacker, as a result of which Ava had to receive treatment. Absolutely no chance with the 2nd and 4th goals. For the 3rd she had the shall I stay or shall I go dilemma when the Rangers forward outpaced the defence and came through centrally one on one. In the end she came and the attacker poked the ball past her. I do not think that staying would have produced any better outcome. After the 4th goal she adopted Gandalf’s “You shall not pass” declaration from the Bridge of Khazad-dum and kept the Rangers Balrog at bay for 40 minutes with some excellent saves, including from a few high net bound efforts. So, taken in the round, a creditable performance on a challenging day, and a cause for praise and encouragement rather than excessive criticism. Ava Easdon, we salute you!

Very positive start and really took the game to Rangers early on. Strong tackling to win the ball back and putting together some good moves. Did appear to be pressing quite high up the park which left the huge gap for the first goal. Came back brilliantly with Rachel's equaliser. After about half an hour the pace and snap seemed to gradually decline and from then on we found it difficult to retain possession for any great length of time. No doubt that was when the difference between full and part time training was beginning to tell. Agree that the timing of the third goal was really deflating. Half-time at 1-2 could have been the springboard for renewed momentum in the second half. As it was Rangers scored the fourth soon after the interval. From that time on it was backs to the wall, but a spirited defensive performance not to concede further. The team did themselves and Thistle proud. Their spectacular over-achievement this season is worthy of tremendous credit.

Would be only fair to balance that by saying that there was not a lot Ava could have done about the other goals and that she made some great saves, especially in the second half. Indeed, even though obviously tiring, the whole team did really well to keep Rangers out for the last 40 minutes of the game.

Arrived in Edinburgh and looking forward to this. Come on the PTFC Women!

Good to see James Lyon scoring for East Fife today.

In the second half we were much more on top than we were in the first half. Several near things and a mix of bad luck and lack of clinical finishing. Made last 5 minutes rather more nervous than they should have been.

Arbroath had a few dangerous attacks early on, and Mitchell made a good save. Thistle gradually got on top. Some great Lawless McMillan moves, and McBeth again outstanding at the back. Excellent run and shot from Fitzy for the goal, but celebration seemed a bit delayed. Were there some deflections along the way? 1-0 at halftime is fair reflection of the play. Game certainly not over yet. Would like to see another goal or three.

Agreeing with all that, especially as regards Scott Robinson. Does he have special springs in his football boots?

Agreed. Given the amount of time Morton were allowed to move the furniture before each long throw, could we have used the same tactic and run the clock down towards the end of the game by insisting on taking 2 minutes to rearrange the stadium before all of our throw ins?

A muted celebration of a goal which still leaves us behind in the game (ie 2-1 down) would be fairly normal.

Yes, thank you. Apologies!

Underdog choices are straightforward for the men AB For the women my underdog detection software cannot compute the first game as neither of the combatants meet the definition of underdog. So, on principle, it has to be Pass A Thanks BB

Ngwenya did have one brilliant pacy surging run early on, but seemed to regard that as his quota for the afternoon and did not do it again. McBeth put in some great tackles and Robinson was busy throughout. Minutes 60-80 were electrifying. We seemed to be snapping into tackles and winning every second ball, and there was energy coursing all through the team. At that point we looked far more likely to win, but to be fair to Queens, for the last 10 minutes they regained the ascendancy, and in the end I was happy to hear the final whistle.

Created numerous chances. Could not score, although their goalie made some good saves. Then conceded soft goal to a header. Mitchell seemed to dive under the ball

I agree with those posters who have said that we have to be looking to win this game. I would not settle for a draw if offered to me now. Hopefully I will not be eating these words!

I agree that good wing play especially by Fitzy and Lawless is a frequent source of our most promising attacks. However, I think that we often play the ball wide unnecessarily as though we feel we have to do it. If the possibility is there to drive direct towards goal we should not be afraid to do so.. I would also like to see players having more pops at goal from round about the D rather than play the standard wide pass. As McInroy and Bannigan have proved on all too rare occasions, you might just score or at least provoke a ricochet off defender or keeper giving someone else the opportunity to do so.

We have statistics for "Expected Goals", which I never understand, but does anyone produce statistics for XJH or "Expected Jumping Height"? Surely Scott Robinson must exceed every XJH metric with his spring-heeled leaps?!

Strangely I thought that the referee was quite good today and let the game flow. He did not give a foul every time a player fell over, like most referees tend to do.

I thought that it was Wasiri at first, but on a closer look I think that the header came in from McBeth.

I suppose for him it is a question of motivation. Is Mitchell showing the self-drive to come first?

Arbroath on 6th January says my old-fashioned paper diary. PS Lenziejag beat me to the draw!

I am sure that we will all agree with that! The more interesting question is as to whether one would prefer to lose 1-0 or 4-3. It is of course a given that all of us want to win, and none of us wants to lose. However, if loss it has to be, then (as long as we have not thrown away a 3 goal lead!) I am in the camp of preferring to lose 4-3 than 1-0. I suspect many posters will take the opposite view, and that is fair enough!

It's been a good week in training.

Kris Doolan also said that Stevie Lawless was a big player for us.