Winter of '63

Bit of a strange game...I veered from thinking we would give them a real pasting to fearing Falkirk would get back level...it all made for an entertaining day. An ideal start with the early goal and Erskine's header right after their equaliser was crucial. Fox had to make three very good saves in the first half and Taylor's miss was unbelievable...he looks a really good player too...as has been said , if he played for us we would be out of sight. I didn't think there was much wrong with the challenges on Erskine which led to their goal or by their keeper when Lawless got injured...hope the wee man's injury is not as serious as reported. For such a young guy, Bannigan plays like an experienced pro but Hugh Murray looks like an experienced pro who is past his best. Craigen looked good when he came on...we have excellent options in midfield. Some of Forbes' passing was magnificent and Erskine's second goal was magical...yet another for the growing collection of outstanding goals this season. Both have flaws but I would rather watch players like them playing for Partick Thistle than 110% effort running & tackling journeymen.

The side is set up this season to attack through our full backs pushing forward...it's worked really well. I wasn't at Dumbarton but the reports were that particularly in the second half, it was our poorest performance of the season...maybe it was a coincidence, but I see Paul Paton was moved to right back after Muirhead went off. Paton is certainly better defensively than Stephen O'Donnell but I would rather see him in midfield where he has been the heartbeat of the team this year whereas I think his limitations going forward as a full back tend to make it much easier for the opposition to defend. Would playing Sean Welsh at right back be a better option? It will be freezing tomorrow and the thought of watching Hugh Murray being caught in possession is not too appealing so I would go with Forbes and Bannigan in midfield in the hope that we will be warmed up with scintillating attacking football...though a grinding 1-0 win (Scorer: Murray) will do.

McDiarmid Park is near to Perth Crematorium...funeral parties use their catering/function suite...it's a recession proof business. In fairness, Geoff Brown did not say there was nothing wrong with Scottish Football. However he did say that the Premier League was competitive but while it's a relief to be temporarily spared the Old Firm Punch & Judy show for this season, no tinkering with the number of teams in the Leagues addresses the main issue with Scottish Football - only two clubs have won the League over the last 25 years...that's not very competitive.

The highlights literally give a different view of the game and often I change my opinion after seeing incidents from another angle...and with less of the raging Thistle bias which I have at the game. In this case , the highlights simply confirmed what I thought at the time...I can't see anything wrong with the disallowed goal, the keeper fumbled it...Forbes made a good interception, never a foul & a ludicrous booking...his second challenge was fractionally late and not malicious. Refereeing is very difficult but Mr Madden seemed to be on a bit of an ego trip. Good editing job...the only major incidents I would have liked to have seen were the absurd booking of Sinclair and the foul on him 60 seconds later. Smith didn't look entirely convincing but our main problem was not winning headers in our own box.

On at least two occasions in the second half, Craig stood about 10 yards away from the keeper, allowing him an easy roll out to their centre back who then brought the ball out and drew our midfield giving them time and space to attack. it didn't seem very bright for an experienced player. Craig has done pretty well for us but I would much rather see Lawless and Erskine on the park.

Are Hearts not banned from making any signings?

Not quite sure what to make of that...other than we are are not good at playing with 10 men, despite the practice we're getting. We were very much in control in the first half though in fairness in the second half, Morton were finding space in midfield and a pin-ball scrambled goal was always on the cards. Another when we were a man short was predictable. Bachirou looked a good player and they have some decent First Division journeymen. They might be stronger challengers that Dunfermline because of that experience but I think we are a better team - they weren't that impressive. We all got distracted by the refereeing nonsense particularly after Sinclair's booking - it looked like the Morton guy deliberately ran in to him. Forbes was brought down 5 or 6 times in the game and then was booked for what seemed a good interception. We lost our rhythm following the substitutions and sending-off. Erskine, Lawless and Craig combined well for the goal but I think Doolan links up play better. Spoiled Christmas a bit...Ho Ho Hum.

I wasn't sure if Jackie McNamara was going to be another Derek Whyte - all the right credentials and talked a good game but achieved very little. However this is the sort of Thistle team I have been waiting for about 30 years to see. I'm enjoying it while it lasts but if we maintain the current rate of progress, inevitably we will lose our better players ...and our management team. It might be a question of how long we can keep the Wolves from the door.

The game and our performance were a real mixture of good and bad... a dramatic finish and I thought we just about deserved the win...again getting the sort of result which wins Leagues. More dopey defending for their first goal similar to the Dunfermline Cup game where Muirhead got sent off...an easy goal from a simple through ball. I would have preferred Doolan to start and groaned when Smith punted a long ball to Craig on his own...but he did really well to set up Bannigan. Good strike from Lawless for the second. A few scares at the back and sadly Archibald struggled...good to see Smith was confident enough to nutmeg their striker in the 6 yard box though. Some inexplicable decisions from the officials - ref was definitely not a homer. Some great vocal support and some baffling criticism...it was that sort of day.

You'll Never Walk Alone...unless you support Udinese!

I'm certain the version Thistle fans sang back in the early 70's rhymed "Thistle Bonnet" with "F*** the Rangers on it". Fortunately in more enlightened times this evolved in to "F*** the Old Firm on it". Equal opportunities for bigots

Can't help thinking the Greaves deal was a missed opportunity let down by poorly designed gear. Our club colours are bold and distinctive and it should not have been difficult to produce some imaginative designs - even a simple red & yellow motif or club badge on a pair of black joggers would do. Instead there was training gear in various combinations of white, black, red and grey - not very Partick Thistle. I was in Greaves shop in Sauchiehall St at the weekend. Clearly they have pretty much given up on the idea - there was some reduced stock but only for young kids and XXXL.

After half a century of watching Thistle, I still have most of my own hair and teeth - it must be what keeps me looking forever youthful

A very frustrating day...although I quite enjoyed getting angrier with the endless time Dunfermline took for throw-ins and substitutions and their serial fouling. I thought we got bullied in the first half but deserved a draw with a spirited second half although it was more determination than good football and Dunfermline were particularly inept on the break. Dopey defending to allow Dargo a clear run through and a definite red card. Sometimes you don't really notice that a team is one man down...but not when one of the 10 is Hugh Murray. How often is he caught in possession? Not convinced about Balatoni, O'Donnell looked a bit edgy but was due a quiet game, Forbes use of the ball was excellent(apart from the penalty though that was a good save) and Bannigan did well. We missed Lawless...and Paton & Welsh. That was 50 years to the day since my first game at Firhill...during that time, I would struggle to recall more than 5 occasions that we have got the better of teams of equal status in the Scottish Cup ...we really have an awful Cup record.

I was never entirely convinced about John Lambie though I appreciate that for anyone under the age of 40, he was the only manager of a Thistle team which was wasn't pretty rubbish. However, David McParland is head and shoulders above him as a true Thistle Legend. When Firhill is being refurbished for the Champions League, it should be named the McParland Arena.

That was the sort of victory that wins Leagues. We weren't brilliant but were good enough to win. Great free-kick from Forbes and perfect header from Sinclair. Brannigan's shot was a thing of beauty...our Goal of the Season Competition already has some very impressive contenders. We defended very well as a unit with Erskine and Lawless putting in a shift confining a decent Livingston side to long range efforts which Smith dealt with competently. Surface was a bit slippery - our players seemed to have more difficulty in keeping their feet.

It was a stupidly taken quick free-kick but in fairness, the Ayr player was about 3 yards from the ball when he intercepted...I can still remember that feeling of numbness when there was no whistle and I knew he was going to run on and score.

Old Firm Reserves in the League? Reminds me of the famous cry of anguish from the Glasgow Empire when Mike Winters of the "Comedy" Duo was joined on stage by his brother...Aw' no - there's two of them!

I shouted "Keeper" twice while that free kick was in the air...I really thought Fox could easily have cut out the cross. The ball was at knee height three yards from the goal line when Muirhead was forced into a desperate attempt to clear. Should the goalkeeper's jersey not be a more contrasting colour ? That might explain why not everyone including the ref picked up that Fox was lying injured in the second half - that could have cost a goal...though Dunfermline sportingly shot past the post.

We absolutely blew them away. Wonderful defence-shredding play for O'Donnell's goal and the thunderous shot from Forbes were the highlights. Forbes controlled the game...Erskine was winning back the ball, beating defenders and making incisive passes...Paton stopped them playing and started attacks...O'Donnell was a constant threat. Dunfermline were made to look pedestrian...at times it really did look as if we could score when we wanted. Most exciting Thistle side I've seen since the Class of 70/71...please let it last!

I have retrieved my scrapbook of newspaper cuttings for Season 71/72 and my copy of the Jags Mag from the attic. I can confirm that the second goal was a header by Denis McQuade who also scored the eighth with an overhead kick. As a fashion note for Willjag, although the photos are Black & White , it looks like the usual red shorts with a black stripe at the side. Pictures are a bit grainy but Firhill looks well filled - could well have been 9000. It was a fantastic game...Motherwell were still level after an hour...and 5-2 down after 67 minutes! Some interesting quotes - Tom Forsyth of Motherwell( later of Rangers & Scotland) - "Coulston & Bone destroyed us and the rest poured through the gaps" Frank Coulston on his partnership with Jimmy Bone - " It's almost like telepathy" The Reporter rated it the Entertainment Act of the Year. Glory Days!

That was probably the biggest mis-match I've ever seen - it really should have been stopped to save Airdrie unnecessary punishment. They were hopelessly out of their depth and fortunate to get away with 7-0. This is the best Thistle side I've watched since the 1970's.

I'm also approaching 50 years watching Thistle at Firhill - don't feel that old though! First game was 1 December 1962 - 3-0 win against Airdrieonians - we were at the top of the League then - I'm hoping that we are top again (albeit in a Division below) on my 50th Anniversary.

On Cruise Control for the first half but a bit edgy in the second - in fairness, Cowdenbeath stepped up several gears and closed us down pretty well. ODonnell & Muirhead were excellent particularly in the first half and I was impressed by Bannigan -a great ball to put Sinclair through for the second goal. I remain unconvinced about Elliot and although Lawless & Erskine showed some great touches they weren't as involved as I would have liked. I suspect that Hugh Murray is regarded as a vital part of the team structure but to my untrained eye, he should contribute a little more. Still it was another entertaining game and another win.

Started slowly and it took a good double save from Fox to keep the scores level. We got better as the game went on and with the help of some soft goals ran out comfortable winners even without Doolan and Archibald. Lawless and Welsh both came on to good games and Paton must be the most improved player. Once again, we looked a much better side than the opposition...and without playing to top form...very encouraging.