Match ends, Partick Thistle 0, Falkirk 1.
Partick Thistle 0-1 Falkirk
- From the section Football
Falkirk knocked Premiership side Partick Thistle out of the Scottish League Cup with a second-round win at Firhill.
The Championship side took the lead in the first half through Peter Grant's powerful effort.
Mathias Pogba's aerial presence caused Falkirk problems but the Bairns managed to maintain their clean sheet.
And David Smith could have doubled the visitors' lead with a shot that was saved by Tomas Cerny.
Peter Houston's side go into Thursday's draw for the next round.
Throughout a first half short on goalscoring opportunities it was the Bairns who impressed the most thanks to a solid disciplined display.
Grant deservedly fired them ahead when he lashed past the helpless Cerny.
Thistle manager Alan Archibald introduced Pogba, older brother of Juventus and France star Paul, for David Amoo at the interval.
And the substitute immediately made his presence felt, causing new problems for the Falkirk backline.
It was from one of Pogba's flicks that Steven Lawless had an opportunity, only for the diminutive Thistle midfielder to fire over.
Pogba should have levelled when he found himself free inside the Falkirk penalty area only to be thwarted after a jinking run by the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Danny Rogers.
Though Thistle dominated possession, they lacked penetration and the Bairns sought to extend their advantage.
Smith skilfully got himself into a shooting position but could not beat Cerny.
But one goal proved to be enough for last season's Scottish Cup finalists.
Line-ups
Partick Thistle
- 1Cerny
- 2Miller
- 19Hendry
- 3Seaborne
- 5Booth
- 6Osman
- 22FraserSubstituted forMcDaidat 83'minutes
- 11Lawless
- 10StevensonSubstituted forWilsonat 75'minutes
- 7AmooSubstituted forPogbaat 45'minutes
- 9Doolan
Substitutes
- 12Scully
- 13Frans
- 17Lindsay
- 18Wilson
- 20McDaid
- 21Leyden
- 99Pogba
Falkirk
- 1Rogers
- 7Taiwo
- 44Watson
- 14GrantBooked at 80mins
- 3Leahy
- 8Alston
- 6VaulksBooked at 79mins
- 11Kerr
- 10Sibbald
- 9Baird
- 17SmithSubstituted forMuirheadat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Muirhead
- 5McCracken
- 12Bowman
- 18Miller
- 20Cooper
- 22Blair
- 23Shepherd
- Referee:
- Craig Thomson
- Attendance:
- 2,221
Match Stats
Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamFalkirk
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 0, Falkirk 1.
Foul by Peter Grant (Falkirk).
Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle).
Will Vaulks (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle).
John Baird (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Tom Taiwo (Falkirk) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Falkirk. Aaron Muirhead replaces David Smith.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Declan McDaid replaces Gary Fraser.
Booking
Peter Grant (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle).
Peter Grant (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Will Vaulks (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card.
Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Watson (Falkirk).
David Wilson (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by John Baird (Falkirk).
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. David Wilson replaces Ryan Stevenson.
Jack Hendry (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Paul Watson (Falkirk).
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Gary Fraser.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Mark Kerr.
Attempt saved. David Smith (Falkirk) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Jack Hendry (Partick Thistle).
John Baird (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jack Hendry (Partick Thistle).
John Baird (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Callum Booth.
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Gary Miller.
Attempt saved. Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Blair Alston.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Will Vaulks.
Foul by Danny Seaborne (Partick Thistle).
John Baird (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tom Taiwo (Falkirk).