Jags make easy meat of Accies
Juan lovely strike despatched into the corner by the most feared hit man in Division 1 eased the jags to a deserved three points over former Bully Wee boss Alan Maitland’s Hamilton.
It was a goal made somewhere, a million miles from Maryhill as the Ivory Coast born Jean Yves Anis provided a cross, which Juan Roman Escalas gobbled up like a hot plate of Paella.
To be fair Saturday’s victory was food and drink for an improving jags side that showed only one change from last week’s triumph over Airdrie Andy Dowie replacing the suspended Andy Wilkinson.
For starters the hefty travelling support had to stomach two early chances for the home side Pat Keogh heading of target and the busy David Hamilton heading on a slalom run through the visiting defence before being stopped.
Things got a bit more palatable when Jamie Mitchell just failed to finish a tasty moved served up by Escalas and Stevie Fulton.
Next on the menu was an Escalas free kick, which was well blocked by former Livingston keeper David McEwan
After a half hour of waiting for the main course (normal procedure for a Spanish meal in Glasgow) the Jags struck. Hinds combined with Anis who crossed to Escalas and the Spaniard delivered with aplomb.
For desert Thistle fans had further chances with Escalas and Mitchell failing to increase the margin of victory due to poor finishing from the former and a Steven Thomson challenge by the latter.
At the other end Pat Keogh and Brian Carrigan, who were publicly criticised after the match by the disgruntled ex Bully Wee boss, passed up opportunities with a goal line clearance preventing the former Clyde and Raith Rovers schemer turning anyone of a red and yellow disposition green.
So bon appetit for another three points served up by head Chef Escalas. It’s believed many a jags fan toasted him with a glass of sangria or two (or more likely Lager, Vodka, Wine, Buckfast) long into a balmy late summer’s night.
Big Match Reaction
A Hamilton Accies fan was the key to the Jags victory on the artificial surface on Saturday.
Kenny Arthur, spotted by yours truly on a number of occasions at the New Douglas Park, took in Hamilton’s midweek clash against Ayr on Tuesday and by Saturday had turned double agent.
As a Jags keeper and Hamilton fan this may have caused some to worry about a conflict of interest in the run up to Saturday’s clash but on the plastic pitch the former Scotland squad keeper turned out to be Partick’s flexible friend.
The stopper said: “I was here to watch them play Ayr on Tuesday and they seemed to enjoy a lot of success through balls from wide areas. Up front they have big strong lads so it was important to come for the cross balls and we worked on that in training.
“But that's part and parcel of being a keeper - the most important thing was the result. A clean sheet is a keeper's dream but the boys at the back today did well to help me out.”
Afterwards Arthur praised Spanish sensation Juan Roman Escalas and revealed the greatest Spanish import into the Scottish game (okay so it’s only four games but his statistical average of 1.25 goals per game is worth a mention) is fitting nicely into the new cosmopolitan Firhill dressing room.
He said: “Juan has really set the heather on fire and his touch and ability are excellent. He does it all the time in training and he and Leigh Hinds are working well together and starting to form a really good partnership. Juan is doing his best to learn English and most of the foreign boys are fluent so the dressing room atmosphere is excellent.
'We are all good mates off the park and the management have worked hard to create a good team spirit that will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.”
Derek Whyte could hardly contain his delight afterwards and singled out the commanding Arthur saying: “There was not a fault in the side but I have to say that big Kenny was excellent in coming for cross balls.”
Alan Maitland admitted: “We were beaten by the better team and if you can't raise your game for Partick Thistle in this division you've got problems.”