Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Morton 0.
Partick ThistlePartick Thistle1MortonGreenock Morton0
Twenty-five years ago, referee Les Mottram failed to spot an obvious goal against Partick Thistle at Firhill. But on Saturday, in the same goalmouth, Thistle were the victims of a similarly strange decision.
Kris Doolan's shot from the edge of the Morton box glanced off the underside of the crossbar and rippled the net, before falling across the goalline.
As the home players celebrated, referee Barry Cook consulted with his assistant and opted to award a throw-in instead.
Thistle manager Alan Archibald described it as "bizarre" and "unbelievable" but, fortunately for Thistle, Chris Erskine's goal was enough to earn them victory regardless.
"I'm just glad it didn't have an effect on the outcome," said Archibald.
"The referee could have overruled [the assistant], and the other assistant can see it and just say, 'the linesman has had a bit of a bad day there, can we help him out?'
"I'm only calm because we've won the game, but it beggars belief."
It was reminiscent of the incident at Firhill in January 1993 when a shot by Dundee United's Paddy Connolly hit the stanchion of the same goal, bounced out, and was caught by Thistle defender Martin Clark and thrown back to goalkeeper Andy Murdoch, only for Mottram to wave play on.
So what happened?
Line-ups
Partick Thistle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bell
- 2Elliott
- 5Keown
- 6McGinty
- 3Penrice
- 17Slater
- 39NtambweSubstituted forBanniganat 76'minutes
- 7SpittalBooked at 57mins
- 10ErskineBooked at 57minsSubstituted forMelbourneat 90'minutes
- 19StoreyBooked at 85mins
- 9Doolan
Substitutes
- 8Bannigan
- 11Storer
- 15Melbourne
- 20Wilson
- 21Fitzpatrick
- 23Sneddon
- 30Jefferies
Morton
Formation 4-4-2
- 23Scully
- 14Tumilty
- 2KildaySubstituted forWaddellat 63'minutes
- 4Buchanan
- 25McKeown
- 19MacLeanBooked at 39mins
- 7Millar
- 8McAlisterBooked at 47mins
- 12TidserSubstituted forTiffoneyat 70'minutes
- 9JohnstoneSubstituted forArmourat 70'minutes
- 11McHugh
Substitutes
- 1Gaston
- 3Iredale
- 5Waddell
- 6Telfer
- 17Tiffoney
- 21Langan
- 22Armour
- Referee:
- Barry Cook
- Attendance:
- 3,431
Match Stats
Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamMorton
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home10
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Morton 0.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Jim McAlister.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Max Melbourne replaces Chris Erskine.
Post update
Foul by Blair Spittal (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Jim McAlister (Morton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Morton. Conceded by James Penrice.
Post update
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Scott Tiffoney (Morton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Miles Storey (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Miles Storey (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Reghan Tumilty (Morton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
(Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Gregor Buchanan (Morton).
Post update
Scott Tiffoney (Morton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Craig Slater (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Millar (Morton).
Post update
Corner, Morton. Conceded by Stuart Bannigan.
Post update
Attempt saved. James Penrice (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
