Partick Thistle wrapped up their first home win of the league campaign on Saturday by outscoring the Dons 3-1. The defeat for Aberdeen is a sore one to take as they could have pulled away from Motherwell but it is not a disaster, if anything it may give the club and fans a reality check after the highs of the last couple of weeks with wins in the semi finals and at Parkhead. Aberdeen still played well but could not cope with the attacking prowess of on loan striker Lyle Taylor. Where he neatly converted a couple of Partick's chances the Dons passed up good chances at key moments in the game.
Aberdeen were the better of the two sides in the first period and their positive attacking start to the match was rewarded when they were awarded a penalty when Rooney was upended by keeper Gallacher. Robson stepped up and his poor penalty which was to close to the goalkeeper was saved and then Rooney missed the rebound. A great chance to take the lead early on. Then the Dons should have been given another spot kick for Gallacher once again taking out Adam Rooney, however nothimg was given. McInnes was correct in saying that his side would have been awarded it if the first penalty had not already been given. A poor decision from the referee.
It was becoming a personal battle between the Dons centre forward and the Thistle keeper. Shaughnessy whipped in a brilliant ball which Rooney latched onto at the back post. He did everything right heading the ball back across the keeper but he could not generate the power to see his effort hit the net, and the keeper made the save. How Aberdeen were not in front by this stage god knows but they only had themselves to blame. Just before the break a neatly worked corner from Aberdeen ended upbwith a stramash inside the box and somehow the Partick defence eventually managed to clear, meaning the teams would go in at the break goalless.
Whatever Archibald said to his players at half time it seemed to work as Partick Thistle came firing out the traps in the second half. Following a poor free kick Higginbotham stung the palms of Langfield who made anbexcellent to keep the score level. Thistles opening goal was rather fortuitous as a half hit shot at the edge of the box found ot way straight to Balatoni who to be fair to the centre back swivelled and finished like a centre forward curling the ball past Langfield. The goal floodgates then opened and minutes later Partick made it two. The Dons defence failed to deal with a low cross wich found its way across goal to Higginbotham who helped it back into the box finding Taylor who emphatically despatched the cross doubling his sides lead.
The Aberdeen respinse was almost instantly as they won a freekick on the right hand side of the Partick box virtually from kick off. McGinn swung in an entising ball which Rooney rose to and nodded home getting Aberdeen back in the game. McInnes' hopes of taking anything from the game were soon diminished eight minutes later when a magnificent dink ball over the top of the Aberdeen defence found Taylor. Anderson looked to have the situation under control but the pace of the on loan striker allowed him to loose his marker with ease and from the tight angle slotted home superbly showing what a talent and signing he is for Thistle. All the goals were fired in, in a 14 minute period lighting the game up.
As Aberdeen pushed for more goals they became more and more open at the back which led to a great save from Langfield preventing the scoreline from getting embarrassing for the Dons. The penalty miss was a turning point in the match and if that had gone in well it may well have been different story.
FT: Partick Thistle 3-1 Aberdeen
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