Partick Thistle 1 Raith Rovers 3

Last updated : 28 August 2005 By Footymad Previewer

Partick Thistle supporters were calling for their head of their manager as the players left Firhill after an extremely disappointing result.

Thistle were the stronger side in the opening minutes of the match, and in the second minute only poor finishing from Darren Brady denied them the opener. Then again in the sixth minute Raith's Laurie Ellis headed a Sean Kilgannon shot off the line to keep the scoreline blank.

Very much against the run of play, Raith grabbed the opener in the eighth minute when a poor defensive clearance fell at the feet of Scott Crabbe, whose pass to Paul McManus allowed him to drill the ball past the helpless Thistle keeper.

Thistle equalised in the 25th minute when Brady was on hand to head home a perfect Ricky Gillies cross from the left.

Both sides maintained their pressure and had chances to take the lead, but it was Raith who eventually broke through in the 75th minute when Chris McLeod rose unchallenged above a static Thistle defence to head home a McManus cross.

They extended their lead one minute later when substitute Brian Fairbairn blasted home a fierce 20-yard shot which gave the keeper no chance.

In the end Raith richly deserved this victory over a struggling Thistle side.