Dunfermline boss angry as under-Par side go down at Firhill

ATHLETIC boss James McPake admitted they weren’t “near the levels” expected as his under Par team slumped to defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle.

With his side struggling to gain any momentum in the match, he described the match as "disappointing to say the least" and had no complaints about the result.

“Partick were by far the better team on the day, all over the pitch,” he said. “You sometimes get away with one or two having off-days, but unfortunately for us today, we were just nowhere near the levels that we accept.

"I don't want to make excuses, I just don't think we defended well enough as a team. We've been excellent at it, but today it was a game of basketball at times. They had 23 shots, we had 19.

"That's very unlike us. It's just a disappointing afternoon."

The Athletic manager said the Firhill performance “surprised” him given recent good form and refused to blame the current injury list.

"They're off the back of a fantastic performance, so they were buoyant, they were lively in training,” he added.

“It took us by surprise because we've not seen that in any of the games. It wasn't through lack of trying, the effort was there.

"We're limited at the moment and that's by no means an excuse. The same team, minus Ben Summers, was excellent for the last two games.”

The first half saw the home side enjoy most of the possession and majority of chances although it wasn’t one-way traffic with Dunfermline still producing several efforts on goal.

Thistle, who came out of the traps the quickest, caused issues for the Pars defence from the off.

Ex-Eastender Steven Lawless came close before Brian Graham also blasted a shot which took a deflection and went out for a corner in the opening minutes.

Pars had their first real chance just before the 20 minute mark when Josh Edwards whipped in a cross which found the head of Lewis McCann who nodded just wide.

However, Partick Thistle were ahead minutes later however when Scott Robinson did well to control the ball in the box.

He turned and slotted the ball past Harrison Sharp.

Pars had two calls for a penalty soon after each other. The first came after good work between McCann and Jakubiak in the box while the second, minutes later, followed an interchange with Otoo and Edwards.

Otoo crossed in and the ball was blasted into a Thistle player by Aaron Comrie and went out for a corner despite calls that a hand had got in the way.

On 37 minutes, Jakubiak delivered a lovely long range shot which Thistle keeper Jamie Sneddon had to tip over the bar. After a bit of a scramble in the box, the resulting corner was cleared.

The Jags looked like they would double their lead on 41 minutes when Lawless found himself through with just Sharp to beat but he put his shot straight at the keeper.

Hopes of a second half comeback were dealt a blow early in the second half when Thistle stung the away side with a second goal.

Aidan Fitzpatrick put in a cross which looked like it was going straight into the arms of Sharp, however the ball trickled past him and Graham was on hand at the far post to tap it in from close range.

It was three for the home side on 59 minutes when Lawless' cross found another former Par, Kerr McInroy, who was unchallenged as he headed it into the net.

Pars kept playing till the end and Partick keeper Sneddon had to be alert to tip the ball round the post after McCann had put in a good shot.

Partick Thistle

Sneddon, Milne, Muirhead, Neilson, McInroy, Bannigan (Alston 78), Graham (Adeloye 66), Lawless, Ngwenya, Robinson (Williamson 78), Fitzpatrick (McDonald 71).

Subs not used: Mitchell, McGinley, Stanway, Mackenzie, Diack.

Goal: Robinson (21), Graham (49), McInroy (59).

Booked: Milne, Graham, McInroy

Dunfermline Athletic

Sharp, Comrie, Edwards, Hamilton, Otoo, Chalmers, Wighton, McCann, Jakubiak (Moffat), Fisher, O’Halloran.

Subs: Mehmet, Little, Fenton, Hoggan, McLeod, Sutherland.

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 3,703