Last week’s review with Partick Thistle’s title winning Manager, Alan Archibald, took us to the eve of a vital clash against Morton back in February.
The game was Archibald’s first in charge and he had decided not to play and he explained the decision by saying: “I brought experience to the team but I thought that Conrad Balatoni and Aaron Muirhead were our best central defensive partnership. I went with them and it paid off.”
Thistle took the lead early through Chris Erskine and the players acknowledged their new boss with Archibald saying: “They ran to me when we scored which was nice. They had backed me for the job and I knew where they were coming from. They are a young bunch and they knew me and I knew them. The last thing they probably wanted was someone new to come in and a bit of that was behind their support.
“We went two up just after half-time but Morton hit back to make it 2-2 with a penalty that saw Hugh Murray sent off for a second time down at Cappielow. It is a hard venue at the best of times and Morton bombarded us for the last five minutes but we held on.”
Despite losing a two goal advantage, Archibald was happy saying: “The fact that we saw things out was great for our confidence.”
As well as confidence, Thistle needed resilience and they got it in their next game with the Firhill boss saying: “Three days later, Aaron Muirhead stood up and took a second half penalty to get us a 1-0 win over Hamilton at home. Hamilton along with Raith are the sides from the middle of the table that have given us the most trouble this season. It took a wee bit of magic from Chris Erskine to win us the penalty and Aaron showed great composure to put it into the net.
“It was not a high profile win and neither was our next one over Airdrie which was also a 1-0 success. I actually got a bit of stick over the closeness of the scorelines but I pointed out at the time that the last time we played Hamilton, we had lost and that we had recently drawn with Airdrie. Those 1-0 wins gave us five more points than the last two games against the same opposition.
“We had chances in the Airdrie game and missed them but at that stage of the season, you simply have to win games.”
Thistle’s next game will go down in folklore as the night the destiny of the title was decided, or rather, it wasn’t as their contest at Cowdenbeath’s Central Park was abandoned deep into the second half due to fog that had rolled in and covered the Fife ground.
Thistle were trailing 2-1 and Archibald said: “That game was the biggest pivotal moment in our season. We started the game playing terribly and it could have been 4-4 at half-time and not 1-1. I had some harsh words at half-time but when we went back out, they scored. After that, it looked like they would add to that lead.
“Getting the game called off was a real blessing in disguise and in fact, it was a real wake up call.”
Whilst the game didn’t count, injuries did with Archibald adding: “We picked-up a couple of knocks and had our two holding midfielders, Hugh Murray and Paul Paton, out for the next game which was an away trip to Dunfermline.”
"We changed things about and put Stuart Bannigan and Sean Welsh in the centre with Ross Forbes just off them. The financial problems at Dunfermline were well known by then but despite this, the report we had on their previous game was that they were unlucky to lose 4-1 to Morton. They had been the better team in the first half.
“We were getting a bit of criticism at the time for our away record as we had not picked up a win on the road for nearly six months so there was a bit of pressure on us to turn them over. I was therefore delighted to leave with a 4-0 win.
That result gained more significance as Morton lost 2-1 to Hamilton on the following Tuesday before Dumbarton were beaten 3-0 at home by Archibald’s side.
Thistle visited Hamilton the following Saturday and more points were gained in a 2-0 win with Archibald saying: “That result was a great one as we do not have a good record at New Douglas Park. We turned up and the pitch was starting to get covered in snow and at one stage, it looked like the game was going to be called off.
“Thankfully, it went ahead and we got a vital goal from Conrad as we have a few times this season thanks to a great delivery from Ross. Conrad’s goal just before half-time hurt Hamilton as they had probably been the better team up until then.
“Christie Elliott came off the bench and wrapped things up.”
Livingston were next up and when Thistle took to the field at Firhill, they had a new permanent Manager in charge with Archibald explaining: “I was given the job on the Friday night as the Board wanted to do it as opposed to attaching it to a result good or bad.
“There was a wee bit of pressure on me and the players as a result of that but the players were fantastic and we won 6-1. We then had two wins in a row at Cowdenbeath 3-0 and 2-1 and we gained points we could have lost.”
It was two satisfying wins with Archibald commenting: “The first game at Central Park was probably the best we have played away from home all season and it was the complete opposite of our previous performance there. In the first five to 10 minutes, we were fantastic and that set the tone. It was good to go back and win again on the Saturday although that game was a bit tighter.”
Games were coming thick and fast and the Jags played out a goalless draw at Raith Rovers on the Tuesday night before The Ramsdens Cup Final with Archibald saying: “Morton had lost to Raith on the Saturday so they were well up for playing us. We had Aaron Muirhead sent off in the second half but held on with the ten men.
“It was Saturday – Tuesday for what seemed like weeks and to be honest, it took some of the gloss off our preparations for the Cup Final. Normally, you get a lot of positive activities in the week building up to a Cup Final and we missed out on that.”
The Ramsdens Cup Final came at a bad time for League reasons as well with Archibald adding: “We were playing two games a week and Morton weren’t. They were playing that weekend against Airdrie and I expected them to win it and be coming to us three days after The Ramsdens Cup Final looking for the win that would take them back to the top of the table. Mentally that was good for them and horrible for us.”
That may explain why Thistle were not at their swashbuckling best at The Braidwood Motor Company Stadium and lost to Second Division Champions Queen of the South 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.
The game only really sparked into life during extra-time and Archibald said: “We were nervous in that game and the boys did not turn up.”
As well as losing out in the club’s first ever Cup Final in over 40 years, there were fears for the big clash against the Greenock side as Archibald explained: “It was the worst case scenario for us ahead of the Morton game as we had extra-time, a man sent off, a penalty shoot-out and we were beaten.
“Every box was ticked for a disaster but one thing The Ramsdens Cup Final did show me was the spirit in the squad. We were behind, missed a penalty, down to ten men and still came back to draw. I had to lift the players for the Wednesday night and, of course, up popped James Craigen to win the game.”
Craigen has written his own chapter in the Maryhill club’s history as Archibald explained: “A year ago he was playing University football and funnily enough he was the first disgruntled player to come in and see me. It was the first player I had to deal with about not playing.
“He had got a start in Jackie’s last game and then I changed things about and brought back boys who had taken us to the top of the League. I explained my thinking to James and he went away and worked hard. When he got his chance again, he took it well.”
The 35-year-old Manager said: “It took James six months to get into the team but what a difference he made with his terrific energy levels. There was no doubting his ability but I was worried about his lack of experience and whether he could play three or four games in a row to the standard needed. He gave me an outstanding answer back.”
After the success over their second placed rivals, Thistle headed for Airdrie and enjoyed a ‘crazy minute’ with Archibald saying: “We had to rest Chris Erskine as he had a problem with his back and he was also feeling the effects of all the games. In fact, all the boys were tired as they had not had a day off for weeks.
“We went with two strikers up front after seeing Airdrie lose to Morton and Hamilton and thought we could beat them that way. However, they sucker punched us and held on to their lead until the final minute when Conrad and Christie both scored. It was a crazy but fantastic minute.”
Thistle responded to the tired legs in their squad by increasing their numbers as Jordan McMillan and Andy Dowie were recruited after being made redundant at Dunfermline and Archibald said: “It was massive bringing these guys in before the transfer deadline of 31st March. We needed cover as I really did not want to play by this time. Whilst I had been offered loan players, they did not have the experience I needed – Jordan and Andy fitted the bill.”
It was a race against the clock that Thistle won as Archibald said: “We spoke to PFA Scotland as we were not sure that it would all work out in time but it did. It was disappointing what happened to them at their last club but we had to get the players on board.”
After the dust had settled following the dramatic victory over Airdrie, there was a realisation that success was in touching distance as Archibald said: “We had Raith at home with the chance to win the title and we had a nervous opening 10 minutes. It was the worst we had played, especially at home, all season. We had been brilliant at Firhill all season but we should have been two goals down early on in that game.
“In that opening period, Scott Fox made a great save and Brian Graham missed an opportunity one on one. After that, we went at them but could not get a goal and it was just not going to be our night.”
Thistle then moved onto The Falkirk Stadium and their Manager said: “That result set us up for Falkirk and we were actually more relaxed then than I thought we would be. The pressure was off a bit as our goal difference was good but we wanted the win to ensure that we had a trophy presentation at Firhill against Dunfermline last Saturday.
“We took the lead through a goal from Andy and what an incredible story that is. He came in for the Morton game to play in a back four that he did not know and he helped us that night. He had been here earlier in his career but it was a disappointing spell so there had been a bit of pressure on him to perform.”
Erskine scored a second to seal the win and the First Division Championship Trophy was presented last Saturday after a 3-3 draw with Dunfermline.
Archibald was asked what the success meant and he said: “It means everything to me. I spoke to other Managers throughout my time and they all said that I was getting a tough gig. If Thistle did not win promotion then it would be my fault, well at the very least it would be portrayed as my fault.
“There was a lot of pressure and that is why winning means everything for me. It means a lot to the club as well as being in the SPL means a lot to them. When you are a captain, you want to win trophies and I remember Danny Lennon doing it here when he was captain and I was a player and feeling that I wanted to be the one to do that. This makes up for that.
“As things unfolded over the season, you start dreaming that it could happen and it has.”
Thistle have been in Archibald’s blood for nearly half his life and he is delighted to bring them success as he said: “I think I have spent 15 or 16 years here so I know the club inside out. I have seen a lot of highs and lows and as it has been nine years since we have been in the top division, this is a high.
“Thistle were almost in the Third Division at one time and then got promoted out of the Second Division under Dick Campbell when I was at Dundee United before Dick brought me back. The fans have known a few bad times as well so it is great to have given them some success as well. There are lots of people around the club that this means a lot to such as our legendary Kit Men Ricky and Chico. This club is their life and they do what they do for the love of Thistle.”
There will be no long holiday in Archibald’s first summer as a Manager as he explained: “I have started planning for next season and I will get a short holiday but Ian Maxwell, our General Manager, has already told me that we will be speaking every day. Things change quite quickly in football and as a player, I could switch off but Managers can’t. I have found that out already.
“Scott Paterson and I have a lot of young and talented boys signed up. They are not tested at SPL level but I am sure that they will make the step up.
“We will look to add a couple to that as well.”
Finally, Archibald wanted to praise the role that his Assistant Manager, Scott Paterson, has played in his side’s success saying: “Scott dropped everything he was doing at short notice to come in and help when I called him after Jackie and Simon had left. The Board were happy to help me to do that although they wanted to make sure he was not just a club legend but also a good Assistant Manager.
“He has proved that and has now been promoted out of the Third Division, Second Division and the First Division so he can enjoy being in the SPL. It ended badly for him at Livingston but he has been a massive help for me. He is well liked by the boys and by everyone else at the club.
“We are all looking to being in the SPL.”
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