Thistle worth their points

JIM REYNOLDS
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18 Sep 1995

Partick Thistle 2, Hearts 0

PROVING a point to win three was what it was all about for Partick Thistle at the weekend. Their courage has never been in doubt, nor their willingness to shed every drop of sweat necessary.

We were made aware of those qualities in their magnificent fight to retain premier division status last season -- but the Firhill men want to be recognised as footballers who can also play a bit.

On Saturday, they never looked in any danger against Hearts, scoring a goal in each half to maintain their unbeaten record for the season, and at times, when they weren't thumping the ball as far away from keeper Nicky Walker as possible, they did turn on a bit of style.

Afterwards, manager Murdo MacLeod said: ''Their attitude was superb. Their pride was hurt after last week when they took a lot of stick after the 1-1 draw at Motherwell, and today they felt they had to prove a point. I've got to give credit to every one of them.''

Two players, however, were a bit more deserving than the others -- left back Steve Pittman and striker Wayne Foster. Both should have been sitting in the stand nursing injuries, but told the manager they were willing to give it a go.

Foster, in fact, had to take pain killers for a back injury and eventually, when the effects were wearing off, he had to be substituted. But while on the field, he did a superb job, as did Pittman throughout the 90 minutes.

Said Foster: ''I shouldn't really have played, but when Rod McDonald called off late with flu, I told the boss I was willing to give it a try. Like the rest of the lads, I was a bit annoyed at the stick we had taken after the Motherwell match. I thought we deserved better.''

Foster was also annoyed at being booked during the second half when he felt Thistle should have had a penalty. That came when Hearts keeper Henry Smith lost the ball to his former team mate, then appeared to foul Foster as the striker was about to score.

I would agree with the player, but at the end of the day Thistle didn't need a penalty. They scored a marvellous goal after just 11 minutes when Kevin McKee turned the Hearts defence with a cut back, and Derek McWilliams beat Smith with a drive from 15 yards.

Then, with just a minute left, youngster Stephen Docherty, who had come on for Foster, clinched the victory with a beautiful header following some great work down the right by Ian Cameron.

Hearts just did not compete at the same level and afterwards manager Jim Jefferies, suffering his first defeat in charge at Tynecastle, said: ''I told the players that, whether they like it or not, that first and foremost in this division you have to work really hard.

''Just look at last season. Dundee United, with all their good players, were relegated, and Aberdeen just got their act together in time.''

Taken from the Herald