Scottish Championship

There was no shortage of thrills at Firhill as Partick Thistle began their home league campaign against rivals Greenock Morton. Thistle fans were looking for a response following a disastrous opening-day defeat to relegated St Johnstone. The Jags had taken an early lead in Perth but collapsed, conceding five without reply. Morton’s start to the season was more complicated. Manager Dougie Imrie, linked with the Firhill job in the summer before Thistle appointed Mark Wilson, missed the opening league fixture for personal reasons. Technical head coach Billy Davies stepped in, guiding the side to a 0–0 draw with Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline. Team News Imrie returned to the dugout in Maryhill, making three changes: Eammon Brophy was handed his full debut, with Cammy Blues and Ali Crawford also starting. Owen Moffat, Kerr Robertson, and Michael O’Halloran dropped out. Thistle made two changes of their own, with debutant goalkeeper Josh Clarke and home-grown midfielder Ben Stanway replacing Lewis Budinauckas and Ts’oanelo Lets’osa. Before kick-off, a minute’s applause for lifelong Thistle supporter Robert Reid was warmly observed by both sets of fans, while Morton’s travelling support unveiled a banner for their manager’s young daughter reading: Keep fighting, Remi. First Half The opening stages saw few chances, the blustery conditions leading to scrappy play. Thistle’s Logan Chalmers went closest in the first half hour, his wind-assisted free-kick from wide drifting just past James Storer’s post. Morton finally made the breakthrough in the 35th minute. A Cammy Ballantyne cross was held up by Brophy at the near post before being laid off for the onrushing Crawford to fire home, sparking bedlam among the away fans. The visitors then struck the bar twice in quick succession through captain Jackson Longridge and Tomi Adeloye. Thistle responded immediately, Chalmers’ strike crashing off the inside of the post and straight into Storer’s arms. Second Half The game burst into life after the break. Thistle introduced Lets’osa for Luke McBeth, and the Lesotho-born midfielder quickly won his side a penalty after a clattering challenge from Longridge. Chalmers stepped up, sending Storer the wrong way to level the match. Imrie, Davies and Longridge were all visibly unhappy with the referees award of the spot kick against their side. Minutes later, Chalmers broke down the left and squared for Aidan Fitzpatrick, who raced through the middle. With only the advancing Storer to beat, the former Norwich winger somehow dragged his effort wide. Both sides would threaten in the dying stages, with both putting set pieces into dangerous area but neither keeper was forced into any late action as the match ended square. What’s next? Thistle at least have a point on the board, and Morton pick up a valuable away draw but both sides remain in search of a first league win of the season. Both sides now turn their attention to Premier Sports Cup action, with a home tie with Scott Brown’s Ayr United next week for the Maryhill men whilst Imrie, Davies and co host Scottish Cup winners Aberdeen at Cappielow in their own second round tie. Partick Thistle: Clarke; Logan (McPherson 69′), Reading, Ashcroft, O’Reilly; Stanway (MacKenzie 84′) , McBeth (Lets’osa 46′), Crawford; Fitzpatrick, Chalmers, Watt Subs not used: Budinauckas; Lawless, Horn, Falconer. Scorer: Chalmers (50′) Greenock Morton: Storer; Ballantyne, Moore, Longridge, Deleney; Wilson, Blues (Moffat 67′), Crawford (Garrity 84′), Taylor (Robertson 67′); Brophy (McKay 78′), Adeloye (O’Halloran 67′) Subs not used: Murdoch; Corr, Hart. Scorer: Crawford (32′) Att: 3,926