Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Morton 0.
Partick Thistle score ghost goal against Morton in Championship
- From the section Scottish Championship
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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Morton 0.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Jim McAlister.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Max Melbourne replaces Chris Erskine.
Foul by Blair Spittal (Partick Thistle).
Jim McAlister (Morton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Morton. Conceded by James Penrice.
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
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.
Foul by Miles Storey (Partick Thistle).
Reghan Tumilty (Morton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
(Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Gregor Buchanan (Morton).
Scott Tiffoney (Morton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Craig Slater (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Millar (Morton).
Corner, Morton. Conceded by Stuart Bannigan.
Attempt saved. James Penrice (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Stuart Bannigan replaces Brice Ntambwe.
Attempt saved. Gregor Buchanan (Morton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Corner, Morton. Conceded by Sean McGinty.
Attempt missed. Sean McGinty (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
Attempt saved. Miles Storey (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
Attempt saved. Ben Armour (Morton) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Morton. Ben Armour replaces Denny Johnstone.
Substitution
Substitution, Morton. Scott Tiffoney replaces Michael Tidser.
Attempt missed. Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Chris Millar.
Foul by Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle).
Rory McKeown (Morton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Morton. Kerr Waddell replaces Lee Kilday because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Blair Spittal (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Blair Spittal (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Michael Tidser (Morton).
Attempt saved. Michael Tidser (Morton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
