Tony Watt Header Earns Narrow Partick Thistle Victory
Queens Park 0-1 Partick Thistle Watt (7′) A first-half Tony Watt goal moved Mark Wilson’s Partick Thistle into 2nd place in the Scottish Championship. The former Celtic striker headed home a deep Logan Chalmers cross to secure all three points and their fifth straight league victory. This summer, Wilson took over permanently at Firhill, and his side has impressed in the league following a 5-1 opening day defeat to St Johnstone in Perth. Defeat for Queens Park leaves them 8th in the table, with one victory in the opening eight league matches. They travel to KDM Group East End Park to face Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline on Saturday, while The Jags host Arbroath. Teams Queens Park: Ferrie, Pignatiello, Fox, Shiels, Fieldson, Longridge, Connolly, MacGregor, McDonnell, Scott, Fowler Partick Thistle: Clarke, McPherson, Ashcroft, O’Reilly, Logan, Stanway, Crawford, Chalmers, Letsosa, Fitzpatrick, Watt
Former Rangers star believes it must be ‘horrible’ what Russell Martin is going through
Russell Martin was beyond relived his side got their first league victory of the season as they defeated Livingston 2-1 thanks to a Max Aarons winner in stoppage time. The Rangers faithful were still calling for Martin to be sacked even during the celebrations after the last minute winner. It’s been well documented that the 39-year-old was never the popular choice and the win against David Martindale’s men appears to have not changed the opinions of the supporters regarding the Englishman. Martin was asked after the game if Aarons’ goal kept him in a job and he said: “I can’t answer that question because it’s not relevant. He scored and I’m in a job.” It’s been a dismal start for Martin in Glasgow only managing to rack up five wins in 15 games and the unrest amongst the fans continues to get worse. Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson sympathises with the Ibrox boss but doesn’t believe the result against Livi will change anything. He said to BBC Scotland: “I’ll be honest. I’ve not spoken to any Rangers fan that is in favour of Russell Martin. “It’s not nice. It must be horrible for Russell Martin and his family, anyone connected to him. It’s not nice to see anybody go through that. “But the feelings of the Rangers fans towards the manager, I don’t think a victory against Livingston is going to change anything.”
‘You can’t beat it!’ – Ally McCoist ecstatic after Rangers’ last minute winner
Rangers got their first league victory of the season thanks to Max Aarons’ last gap goal in stoppage time against Livingston. It was an all important and well needed win for Russell Martin but seconds after the right-back bailed the under-fire Ibrox boss out the Rangers faithful were still chanting for his dismissal. However, footballing icon Ally McCoist watched the game from a pub in London and was over the moon at full-time as the Light Blues picked up the three points. McCoist revealed that the venue was showing the Newcastle vs Arsenal game where Mikel Arteta’s side also bagged a last minute winner and the celebrations were electric: “I sampled it myself at the weekend. “Obviously I went to watch the football, had Viv [wife] down, did the family things on Sunday and went to the pub and watched the football. “I’m sitting there, it was brilliant. “There must’ve been about eight TVs, seven of them showing Newcastle vs Arsenal, and one had Livingston vs Rangers. “And we got a 94th minute winner! “Everybody – and I mean everybody – in the pub was watching Newcastle vs Arsenal and don’t get me wrong I had one eye on it. “Next minute, the guy next to me, I’ve jumped up and screamed at the top of my voice and the guy next to me just about jumped out of his skin because he was watching the Arsenal game. “But that’s what a last minute winner does to me and does to every football fan, you can’t beat it.” Next up for Russell Martin’s men is SK Strum Graz in the Europa League then back to Scottish Premiership action against Falkirk.
Steve Clarke Announces Scotland Squad for Crucial October Double Header
Scotland welcome Greece and Belarus to Hampden Park next month as their World Cup quest continues. Craig Gordon returns to the 25-man squad, as Steve Clarke looks to build on an unbeaten start to Group C. Greece visit Hampden on October 12th and sit 3rd in the group. Clarke’s side were well beaten against the Greeks in March, a 3-0 defeat by Ivan Jovanovic’s side relegated Scotland in the Nations League. Belarus are next on October 15th, a Che Adams strike and an own goal secured a 2-0 away victory for the Scots over Belarus earlier in the group. Scotland Squad Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly Defenders: Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Scott McKenna, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney Midfielders: Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay, Lennon Miller Forwards: Che Adams, Kieron Bowie, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst
Scottish Cup First Round Roundup: Cup Magic Returns
After Auchinleck Talbot secured the Ayrshire bragging rights with their 2-1 victory over Cumnock in the first match of the Scottish Cup’s first round weekend live on television Friday night, the rest of the inaugural round proper kicked off yesterday. The whole of tier five joined the competition, adding to the 38 junior sides who successfully advanced from the preliminary rounds at the end of August, with some shocks across the country, setting up the chance for some big ties against SPFL League 2 opposition in the second round later this month. Cumbernauld Colts also secured their place in round two on Friday, defeating Glasgow University 4-0. Here is a full rundown of Saturday’s results: Bo’ness United 0-3 Banks O’ Dee The Aberdeenshire side showed no signs of travel fatigue as they returned North from Falkirk with a thumping victory over their East of Scotland Premier Division opponents who had lost their goalkeeper to a red card late in the first half. Berwick Rangers 0-2 Nairn County The longest away day of the round did not phase the Highland League outfit one bit as they travelled across the border to the only English side in the competition and returned with a 2-0 victory, becoming the first ever Highland League side to defeat The Wee Gers in the competition. Brora Rangers 0-1 Fraserburgh The Broch emerged victorious from this all-Highland League encounter. Having already defeated Brora 3-0 in the league fixture in early August at home, they secured the double over their opponents thanks to a Logan Watt goal inside the opening five minutes. Carluke Rovers 0-4 Gretna 2008 2008, the phoenix club of 2006 Scottish Cup finalists Gretna edged one step closer to another cup final with a thumping victory at the John Cumming Stadium. The Lowland League’s bottom side getting a much needed victory with a quartet of second half goals. Clachnacuddin 2-1 Kilwinning Rangers Another Highland League victory seen Inverness’s oldest club emerge victorious over the Buffs at Grant Street Park, coming from behind with two second half goals to send the visitors back to Ayrshire dejected and eliminated. Cowdenbeath 1-2 Benburb The shock of the round as West of Scotland First Division (tier 7) side Benburb defeated one-time quarter finalists and Lowland League side Cowdenbeath at Central Park. A goal behind at half time the visitors scored twice in five minutes to turn the match around and secure their place in the hat for tomorrow’s draw. Forres Mechanics 0-2 Caledonian Braves Lowland League outfit Caley Braves defeated their Highland counterparts away from home to make it through. The 2025 Fenix Trophy winners kept their Scottish Cup dreams alive thanks to a duo of late goals from Ross McNeil and Cammy Breadner. Huntly 1-3 Buckie Thistle Buckie emerged victorious from this Highland League tie, three second half goals turned the tide as Thistle make it through. They memorably faced Celtic in 2023/24 and are one step closer to a cash-generating tie with this victory. Jeanfield Swifts 0-4 Clydebank Clydebank are unbeaten in the Lowland League and their mentality and confidence was on full show with a thumping victory over Jeanfield away from home. Clydebank memorably drew Premiership side Hibernian last season and will be dreaming of another big tie after today’s win. The 1990 semi finalists victory was secured via goals from Neil McLaughlin, former Aberdeen midfielder Nicky Low and a Kier Samson double. Lochee United 1-3 Brechin City Now a Highland League side, Brechin were playing Championship football as recently as 2018 but have dropped out of the football league since. They did, however, show signs of a more promising future with a 3-1 win at Thomson Park to earn their place in this evening’s draw, where they could once again face SPFL opponents. Musselburgh Athletic 2-0 Bonnyton Thistle East of Scotland Premier Division champions Musselburgh secured their place in the next round of the cup with two second half goals against eighth tier Bonnyton. The hosts lost out on a place in the Lowland League at the end of last season, losing to West champions Clydebank but could earn a rematch against the Bankies in the next round. Strathspey Thistle 1-2 Dundee North End Highland outfit Strathspey took the lead over their opponents, the Midland League champions, but a late equaliser and extra-time winner would see the Dundee based side emerge victorious, leaving the hosts to concentrate league football up North. Turrif United 2-1 Hill of Beath Hawthorn Turiff took the game to their opponents from the off, racing into a two goal lead at the interval, with both goals coming within the first quarter of the half. Hill of Beath would respond with a goal ten minutes from the end and would push hard for extra-time but had left themselves too much to do and would drop out of the competition. Bo’ness Athletic 2-1 Keith Bo’ness have had a dramatic rise in recent years, winning three consecutive promotions from tier 9 to tier 6, scoring a record breaking amount of goals. They continued their journey by progressing to the second round for the second consecutive year by defeating Keith 2-1. The visitors famously faced Rangers in this competition in the mid-90’s but there will be no repeat this season as they exit at round one. Johnstone Burgh 4-0 Threave Rovers Last season’s Junior Cup winners advanced in the Scottish Cup proper with a comfortable victory over their Second Division opponents at Keanie Park. Four different goal scorers for the Burgh, with a goal of the competition contender from captain Del Esplin, who spoke with SNN in pre-season about lifting the Junior Cup for his side. Bonnyrigg Rose 2-1 Broxburn Athletic Two East coast rivals met in this crunch cup tie, Bonnyrigg recently relegated from League 2 emerged victorious despite conceding a goal late on, and will be relishing the chance to face opponents who contributed to their relegation once again to prove they can compete at their level again in the near future. Camelon
