Despite a fighting performance, the Binos suffered their 8th league defeat of the season, going down 2-1 to high flying Partick Thistle. The Albion players seemed to revel in the atmosphere generated by the big crowd, boosted by a travelling support which filled the East Stand.
The Binos line up showed 4 changes from the team which was heavily defeated at Forfar. Hogarth had recovered from the fractured cheekbone which he suffered against Morton to replace Giacomi whilst the two Hays, Paul and Chris, were relegated to the bench to be replaced by McNally and Connolly. Wilson took the place of trialist McClare in a team which looked more like the team which won the Stirlingshire Cup on Tuesday night playing a 4-5-1 formation.
Partick Thistle were without top scorer Santala.
The Binos were not overawed and Stewart had to be on his toes to cut out an early cross from Wilson. Fraser lost possession when receiving a throw in from Nugent but Roberts shot straight at Hogarth.
Wilson was very energetic and did well to win the ball which he played to Connolly whose shot didn’t trouble Stewart. Hogarth was on his toes to deny Roberts’ quickly taken free kick. Just before half time, Wilson and Bell combined on the right but the latter’s shot whistled past the post. Half time and both teams went in goalless.
The second half started with a succession of corners by Partick but the Binos’ defence stood up to the onslaught. A quick break away almost saw the home team take the lead but Bell’s final pass to Wilson was a fraction wide forcing the winger to shoot on his weaker left foot.
Another quick break saw O’Brien and Wilson combining but, again, the final pass could have been better and Wilson was unable to get in a shot. Partick took the lead just before the hour mark. The defence failed to clear a corner from the left and McCulloch’s shot hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Partick.
However, the big travelling support were silenced almost immediately when Connolly threaded the ball to Bell who took it in his stride and sent a left foot shot past Stewart. 1-1.
Partick made the first change of the match bringing on Willie Gibson in place of Gillies. 5 minutes later, McConalogue went off to be replaced by Strachan.
Partick then regained the lead in 73 minutes when Brady headed a Kilgannon cross past Hogarth. A minute after the restart, Forsyth was booked for a foul on the aforementioned Brady. The Binos then brought on Taggart for Wilson. The substitute was quickly involved as Kilgannon was booked for a foul on him.
The Binos were determined to take something out of this game and a strong run and cross by O’Brien found Connolly whose shot was parried away by Stewart. Taggart was following up but the ball was just out of reach.
A long range effort from Devine wasn’t held by Stewart but no Albion forward was following up. With 10 minutes to go, ex-Bino, Steven Nicholas, replaced Dorrans. Devine came close with a curling left foot free kick.
Into added time, and the Binos threw everyone forward, including keeper Hogarth, as they searched for the equaliser but the closest they came was a Graham header which was tipped over the bar by Stewart.
Referee Fyfe brought the proceedings to a close to consign the Binos to yet another defeat. Results elsewhere also meant that the gap at the bottom is now getting bigger and a victory is becoming more and more essential.
Next up is a visit to Cappielow, which is not a happy hunting ground, but the team is beginning to look more settled and there is no lack of fight. The biggest problem is the lack of firepower up front and we can only hope that Morton will be a bit complacent.