Scottish Premiership
Partick ThistlePartick Thistle1Ross CountyRoss County1

Partick Thistle 1-1 Ross County

By Alasdair LamontBBC Scotland at Firhill
Sean Welsh scores
Sean Welsh netted his third penalty of the season

Partick Thistle were pegged back late on by Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Thistle got in front from the penalty spot, Sean Welsh netting after Ryan Dow had fouled Kris Doolan.

County threatened when Craig Curran fired against the post.

The hosts lost Liam Lindsay to a neck injury in the second half and Welsh threatened again before Chris Burke fired County level.

Typical Thistle

It had appeared Thistle, who were the better side for much of the game, were about to record their first victory since the opening day of the season.

But, just as they have done recently against Hamilton Academical and Hearts, they conceded a late goal to drop points.

In fact, they could have lost all three points as Ryan Scully saved instinctively from Ryan Dow moments after Burke's equaliser.

Alan Archibald will once again rue missed opportunities and a failure to capitalise on their overall dominance of the match.

Lindsay's serious-looking injury after coming into collision with Scully and Andrew Davies caused disruption to the Thistle backline but the points should already have been safe.

Partick Thistle and Ross County players
Lindsay (bottom) was taken off injured in the second half

Tactical tinkering

Archibald's managerial acumen - despite Thistle's lowly league position - was recognised by Shrewsbury Town's enquiry this week.

As he sought to put an end to his side's eight-game winless run, he shuffled his pack, dropping Adam Barton into a back three and using Callum Booth and Christie Elliott as wing-backs.

Not only did that provide Thistle with energy and width, but it allowed their central midfield trio of Welsh, Abdul Osman and Ryan Edwards to dominate the County duo of Ian McShane and Martin Woods.

It meant they bossed the game and though Lindsay had to be replaced by Ziggy Gordon, it appeared Thistle had found the means to finally win again.

Concern for County

Just as Thistle's winless run continues, so does County's, though Jim McIntyre will be a lot happier that it does so with a draw rather than another defeat.

They are now without a victory in seven matches, but Burke's injury-time strike at least put an end to their goalless streak.

County scarcely threatened Scully's goal before that but did come within a couple of inches of an equaliser when Craig Curran steered a shot against the post.

But the continuing absence of striker Liam Boyce through injury is hurting the Staggies and McIntyre will hope his return comes sooner rather than later.

Chris Burke scores
Burke (number 22) scored his first goal for Ross County

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald: "We were very good, dominant for most of the match, but County nearly stole it. We need to turn those into victories. That's too many points that have been dropped at home."

Burke was bundled over in the box as County began to press in injury time before eventually grabbing the equaliser through the former Rangers and Scotland winger.

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre: "It's a stonewall penalty. I've watched it back. If the ref deems the first one a penalty, that's every bit as much a penalty. He's got one right and one wrong. He's made a mistake so that's disappointing."

Line-ups

Partick Thistle

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 12Scully
  • 14Elliott
  • 15Devine
  • 5LindsaySubstituted forGordonat 77'minutes
  • 3Booth
  • 6Osman
  • 4Welsh
  • 16AzeezBooked at 58mins
  • 19Edwards
  • 13Barton
  • 9DoolanSubstituted forAmooat 85'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Amoo
  • 18Wilson
  • 20McDaid
  • 21Syme
  • 23Gordon
  • 29Penrice
  • 35Stuckmann

Ross County

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Fox
  • 2FraserSubstituted forBurkeat 63'minutes
  • 43Quinn
  • 15DaviesBooked at 12mins
  • 28van der Weg
  • 23SchalkSubstituted forMorrisonat 62'minutes
  • 18McShane
  • 8Woods
  • 7Gardyne
  • 9DowBooked at 90mins
  • 11CurranBooked at 50minsSubstituted forDingwallat 83'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Cikos
  • 4Routis
  • 5McEveley
  • 16Dingwall
  • 22Burke
  • 31McCarey
  • 53Morrison
Referee:
Don Robertson
Attendance:
3,777

Match Stats

Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamRoss County
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home14
Away11
Shots on Target
Home3
Away3
Corners
Home11
Away3
Fouls
Home16
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 1.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Danny Devine.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.

  5. Post update

    Attempt saved. Ryan Dow (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

  6. Goal!

    Goal! Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 1. Chris Burke (Ross County) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner from a direct free kick.

  8. Booking

    Ryan Dow (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  9. Post update

    David Amoo (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Dow (Ross County).

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Chris Burke (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Edwards (Partick Thistle).

  13. Post update

    Tony Dingwall (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  14. Post update

    Tony Dingwall (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Callum Booth (Partick Thistle).

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Chris Burke (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Partick Thistle. David Amoo replaces Kris Doolan.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Ross County. Tony Dingwall replaces Craig Curran.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Celtic87102681822
2Aberdeen9531178918
3Hearts9522167917
4Rangers94321111015
5St Johnstone9423119214
6Inverness CT102441318-510
7Ross County10244814-610
8Kilmarnock102441020-1010
9Motherwell92341114-39
10Hamilton91531115-48
11Partick Thistle91441014-47
12Dundee9135814-66
View full Scottish Premiership table