2019–20 Partick Thistle F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was Partick Thistle's second consecutive season in the Scottish Championship, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership at the end of the 2017–18 season. Partick Thistle also competed in the League Cup, the Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup. On 15 April, the SPFL voted to end the lower leagues in Scottish football due to the coronavirus pandemic and as a result Partick were relegated to League One after two years in the Championship, which the club decided not to take legal action against.[1]

Partick Thistle
2019–20 season
ChairmanJacqui Low
ManagerGary Caldwell
(until 18 September)
Ian McCall
(from 23 September)
StadiumFirhill Stadium
Scottish Championship10th (relegated)
Scottish CupFourth round
League CupQuarter-finals
Scottish Challenge CupSemi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Kenny Miller (5)
All: Kenny Miller (9)
Highest home attendance9,542 vs Celtic
Lowest home attendance1,380 vs Connah's Quay Nomads
Average home league attendance3,078

Season summary

Following a difficult start to the season, Gary Caldwell was sacked as manager on 18 September after eleven months in charge. At the time of Caldwell's departure, the club had recorded two draws and three losses in the first five games of the league campaign and sat ninth of the ten teams in the Scottish Championship.[2] On 23 September, Ayr United manager Ian McCall was announced as Caldwell's successor for a second spell at Partick Thistle, having previously managed the club between 2007 and 2011.[3] Alan Archibald, who had been dismissed as manager in October 2018 after five years in charge,[4] also returned to the club as assistant manager, with former Ayr United midfielder Neil Scally also joining the coaching staff.[3]

McCall's first game in charge was Partick Thistle's quarter-final match against Celtic in the Scottish League Cup on 25 September, which Celtic won 5–0.[5] Three days later the club achieved its first league win of the season with a 3–1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, lifting them from the bottom of the Championship to ninth above Alloa Athletic.[6] It was not until November that the team's first home win of the season was secured after a 2–1 victory over Greenock Morton, by which time the club had fallen back into last place.[7]

In November EuroMillions lottery winner Colin Weir assumed overall control of the club after purchasing a majority of club's shares. Weir, who had won a £161 million jackpot in 2011 and had previously contributed £2 million to Partick Thistle, stated his intentions were to donate the majority stake to a fan group by the end of March 2020 to allow fan ownership of the club.[8] Weir died after a short illness on 27 December,[9] and was replaced by former chairman Jacqui Low in February 2020.[10]

On 13 March 2020 all football in Scotland, including the Scottish Championship, was suspended until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.[11] At the time of suspension Partick Thistle was in last place in the Scottish Championship, two points behind ninth-placed Queen of the South with one game fewer played.[1] A proposal by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) to end the season for all leagues prematurely in mid-April 2020, despite an objection from Dundee F.C., led Partick Thistle to announce a legal effort to overturn the decision.[12] Following Dundee F.C.'s withdrawal of their objection and subsequent support for the SPFL's proposal, the club announced it would not pursue legal action due to the financial cost.[1] With prize money and promotions and relegations decided on positions achieved at the time of suspension in March,[12] Partick Thistle were therefore relegated from the Scottish Championship to League One, the first time the club had fallen to the third tier of Scottish football since 2006.[13]

Competitions

Scottish Championship
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Championship

August
3 August 2019 1 Alloa Athletic 1 – 1 Partick Thistle Recreation Park
15:00 Hetherington 34' Report Cardle 60' Attendance: 1,672
Referee: Nick Walsh
9 August 2019 2 Partick Thistle 1 – 2 Dundee United Firhill Stadium
19:05 Saunders 23' Report Shankland 55'
Pawlett 73'		 Attendance: 3,218
Referee: William Collum
Note: Game televised on BBC Scotland
23 August 2019 3 Greenock Morton 3 – 2 Partick Thistle Cappielow
19:05 Cadden 72'
Sutton 77'
McLean 80'		 Report Miller 25'
De Vita 28'		 Attendance: 2,197
Referee: Bobby Madden
Note: Game televised on BBC Scotland
31 August 2019 4 Partick Thistle 2 – 3 Ayr United Firhill Stadium
15:00 Bannigan 14' (pen.)  65'
Gordon 43'  44'		 Report McCowan 24'
Doolan 72'
Kelly 78'		 Attendance: 3,060
Referee: Andrew Dallas

September
13 September 2019 5 Arbroath 1 – 1 Partick Thistle Gayfield Park
19:05 Thomson 14' Report Miller 65' Attendance: 1,214
Referee: David Munro
Note: Game televised on BBC Scotland
21 September 2019 6 Partick Thistle 0 – 3 Dunfermline Athletic Firhill Stadium
15:00 Report Attendance: 2,820
Referee: Euan Anderson
28 September 2019 7 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 – 3 Partick Thistle Caledonian Stadium
15:00 White 21' Report Zanatta 10'
Miller 46'
Palmer 82'		 Attendance: 2,469
Referee: Don Robertson

October
5 October 2019 8 Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Queen of the South Firhill Stadium
15:00 Report Brownlie 60' Attendance: 2,910
Referee: Andrew Dallas
19 October 2019 9 Dundee 1 – 3 Partick Thistle Dens Park
15:00 McGowan 25' Report Miller 85'
Gordon 88'
Mansell 91'		 Attendance: 5,010
Referee: David Munro
26 October 2019 10 Partick Thistle 1 – 3 Arbroath Firhill Stadium
15:00 Bannigan 59' Report Donnelly 37'
McKenna 74'
Hamilton 77'		 Attendance: 2,793
Referee: Gavin Ross
29 October 2019 11 Dundee United 1 – 0 Partick Thistle Tannadice Park
19:45 Shankland 62' Report Attendance: 6,929
Referee: Greg Aitken

November
2 November 2019 12 Ayr United 4 – 1 Partick Thistle Somerset Park
15:00 Moore 11', 48'
Moffat 18'
Forrest 52'		 Report Cardle 79' Attendance: 2,558
Referee: Willie Collum
9 November 2019 13 Partick Thistle 2 – 1 Greenock Morton Firhill Stadium
15:00 Gordon 59', 66' Report Baird 61' Attendance: 2,751
Referee: Bobby Madden
26 November 2019 14 Partick Thistle 1 – 1 Alloa Athletic Firhill Stadium
19:45 Zanatta 38' Trouten 15' Attendance: 1,714
Referee: David Munro
30 November 2019 15 Dunfermline Athletic 5 – 1 Partick Thistle East End Park
15:00 Nesibit 38', 22', 31', 49'
Martin 10'		 Cole 74' Attendance: 3, 948
Referee: Mike Roncone

December
7 December 2019 16 Queen of the South 1 – 2 Partick Thistle Palmerston Park
15:00 Murray 20' Cardle 70'
Cole 85'		 Attendance: 1, 314
Referee: Steven McLean
14 December 2019 17 Partick Thistle 3 – 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Firhill Stadium
15:00 Jones 48'
Saunders 64'
Zanatta 93'		 Keatings 57' Attendance: 2,144
Referee: Steven McLean
21 December 2019 18 Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Dundee Firhill Stadium
15:00 McGowan 31' Attendance: 2,957
Referee: Bobby Madden
28 December 2019 19 Greenock Morton 1 – 2 Partick Thistle Cappielow Park
15:00 Jacobs 30' Jones 5'
O'Ware 61'		 Attendance: 2,742
Referee: Craig Napier

January
4 January 2020 20 Alloa Athletic 1 – 1 Partick Thistle Recreation Park
15:00 Brown 62' Bannigan 74' Attendance: 1, 827
Referee: David Munro
11 January 2020 21 Partick Thistle 1 – 4 Dundee United Firhill Stadium
15:00 Miller 87' Shankland 38', 60', 65'
Sporle 45'		 Attendance: 4, 101
Referee: Willie Collum
25 January 2020 22 Arbroath 2 – 1 Partick Thistle Arbroath
15:00 McKenna 6'
Wighton 34'
Virtanen  90+4'		 Report Graham 90+5' Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,418
Referee: David Lowe
31 January 2020 23 Partick Thistle 1 – 1 Ayr United Glasgow
19:05 Graham 33'  38'
O'Connor  52'
Cardle  61'		 Report Harvie  25'
Forrest 52' (pen.)
Muirhead  60'
Docherty  84'		 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
Attendance: 2,416
Referee: Euan Anderson

February
8 February 2020 24 Dundee 2 – 0 Partick Thistle Dundee
15:00 Byrne  33'
Hemmings 23' 34'
McGowan  42'
Nelson  89'		 Report Graham  26'
Cole  90+7'		 Stadium: Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park
Attendance: 4,816
Referee: Collin Steven

March
3 March 2020 25 Partick Thistle 0 – 0 Queen of the South Glasgow
19:45 Bannigan  90+3'
Cole  90+3'		 Report Pybus  88' Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
Attendance: 2,122
Referee: David Lowe
7 March 2020 26 Dundee United 1 – 1 Partick Thistle Dundee
15:00 Powers 19'
Watson  52'
Reynolds  76'		 Report Bannigan 52' (pen.)
Mayo  72'
Graham  82'		 Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 7,603
Referee: Mike Roncone
10 March 2020 27 Partick Thistle 1 – 1 Dunfermline Athletic Glasgow
19:45 Graham 90+4' Report Beadling  61'
Devine  69'
Murray 72'		 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
Attendance: 2,078
Referee: Steven Kirkland
14 March 2020 28 Partick Thistle P – P Alloa Athletic Glasgow
15:00 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
17 March 2020 29 Inverness Caledonian Thistle P – P Partick Thistle Inverness
19:45 Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
20 March 2020 30 Ayr United P – P Partick Thistle Ayr
19:05 Stadium: Somerset Park
28 March 2020 31 Partick Thistle P – P Greenock Morton Glasgow
15:00 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium

April
4 April 2020 32 Partick Thistle P – P Arbroath Glasgow
15:00 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
11 April 2020 33 Queen of the South P – P Partick Thistle Dumfries
15:00 Stadium: Palmerston Park
18 April 2020 34 Partick Thistle P – P Inverness Caledonian Thistle Glasgow
15:00 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
25 April 2020 35 Dunfermline Athletic P – P Partick Thistle Dunfermline
15:00 Stadium: East End Park
2 May 2020 36 Partick Thistle P – P Dundee Glasgow
15:00 Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup
13 July 2019 Group Partick Thistle 1 – 0 Airdrieonians Firhill Stadium
15:00 Crighton 66' (o.g.) Report Attendance: 2,241
Referee: Grant Irvine
16 July 2019 Group Queen's Park 1 – 2 Partick Thistle Penny Cars Stadium
19:45 Kouider-Aïssa 56' Report
Attendance: 944
Referee: David Dickinson
20 July 2019 Group Hamilton Academical 2 – 2
(6–5 p)		 Partick Thistle Fountain of Youth Stadium
15:00 Cunningham 17', 54' Report
Attendance: 1,693
Referee: John Beaton
Penalties
24 July 2019 Group Partick Thistle 3 – 2 Clyde Firhill Stadium
19:45
Report
Attendance: 2,403
Referee: Kevin Graham
17 August 2019 Second round Partick Thistle 3 – 2 (a.e.t.) Ross County Firhill Stadium
15:00
Report
Attendance: 2,053
Referee: Steven McLean
25 September 2019 Quarter-finals Celtic 5 – 0 Partick Thistle Celtic Park
19:45 Bayo 15'
Rogic 46'
Ntcham 56', 63'
Sinclair 76'		 Report Attendance: 25,008
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish Challenge Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup
7 September 2019 Third round Montrose 0 – 2 Partick Thistle Montrose, Scotland
15:00 Report Cardle 2'
Miller 53'		 Stadium: Links Park
Attendance: 861
Referee: Craig Nappier
12 October 2019 Fourth round Partick Thistle 2 – 0 Connah's Quay Nomads Glasgow, Scotland
17:15 De Vita 34'
Penrice 77'		 Report Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,380
Note: Game televised on S4C
16 November 2019 Quarter-Finals Stenhousemuir 1 – 4 Partick Thistle Stenhousemuir, Scotland
15:00 Hopkirk 68' Cole 34'
Harkins 70'
Slater 79'
Miller 86'		 Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 1,244
14 February 2020 Semi-Finals Partick Thistle 1 – 2 Raith Rovers Glasgow, Scotland
19:45 Mansell 83' Report Benedictus 31'
Hendry 74'		 Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,196
Referee: Alan Newlands
Note: Game televised on BBC Alba

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Cup
23 November 2019 Third round Partick Thistle 1 – 0 Penicuik Athletic Firhill Stadium
15:00 Cole 1' Report Attendance: 3,165
Referee: Mike Roncone
18 January 2020 Fourth round Partick Thistle 1 – 2 Celtic Firhill Stadium
17:30 Bannigan 90+3' Report Griffiths 12'
McGregor 78'		 Attendance: 9,542
Referee: Alan Muir

Squad statistics

Appearances
No. Pos Nat Player TotalChampionshipScottish CupLeague CupChallenge Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK  SCO Jamie Sneddon 8060002000
2 DF  SCO Ryan Williamson 251150106130
3 DF  SCO James Penrice 362250205141
4 DF  SCO Tam O'Ware 301191205040
5 DF  SCO Darren Brownlie[lower-roman 1] 4040000000
6 DF  IRL Sean McGinty[lower-roman 2] 280190106020
6 DF  SCO Lewis Mayo[lower-roman 1] 2020000000
7 MF  ENG Joe Cardle 324223006041
8 MF  SCO Stuart Bannigan 335244116020
9 FW  SCO Kenny Miller[lower-roman 2] 329215206331
9 FW  SCO Brian Graham[lower-roman 1] 6252000010
10 FW  ENG Alex Jones 172122004010
11 MF  SCO Gary Harkins[lower-roman 2] 12190200011
12 MF  ENG Reece Cole 244182211031
14 MF  NIR Shea Gordon 227154006310
15 DF  ENG Tommy Robson 271150206140
16 MF  SCO Darian MacKinnon[lower-roman 1] 3020100000
18 FW  ENG Lewis Mansell 212121006031
19 FW  CAN Dario Zanatta 284223203011
20 MF  SCO Jamie Barjonas[lower-roman 1] 5050000000
21 DF  IRL Lee O'Connor[lower-roman 1] 5040000010
22 GK  SCO Scott Fox 300200204040
23 MF  ITA Raffaele De Vita[lower-roman 2] 16291004031
23 FW  SCO Zak Rudden[lower-roman 1] 4030100000
24 MF  SLE Osman Kakay[lower-roman 2] 130110100010
33 GK  SCO Luke Scullion 0000000000
35 MF  SCO Dean Watson 0000000000
43 DF  SCO Steven Saunders 243162204120
77 FW  AUS Mitch Austin 2010000010

Club statistics

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Promotion, qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
6 Dunfermline Athletic 28 10 7 11 41 36 +5 37 1.32
7 Greenock Morton 28 10 6 12 45 52 −7 36 1.29
8 Alloa Athletic 28 7 10 11 33 43 −10 31 1.11
9 Queen of the South 28 7 7 14 28 40 −12 28 1.00
10 Partick Thistle (R) 27 6 8 13 32 47 −15 26 0.96 Relegation to League One
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[15]

League Cup table
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup § Group F
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PAR HAM AIR QPA CLY
1 Partick Thistle 4 3 0 1 0 8 5 +3 10 Qualification for the Second Round — — 1–0 — 3–2
2 Hamilton Academical 4 2 1 1 0 8 5 +3 9 p2–2 — — 0–0p —
3 Airdrieonians 4 1 1 0 2 7 8 −1 5 — 2–3 — p2–2 —
4 Queen's Park 4 0 2 1 1 4 5 −1 5 1–2 — — — p1–1
5 Clyde 4 0 0 1 3 6 10 −4 1 — 1–3 2–3 — —
Source: [16]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[17]

See also

Notes
    1. Player joined the club during the January transfer window.[14]
    2. Player left the club during the January transfer window.[14]

    References
    1. "Partick Thistle decide not to take legal action after SPFL plan relegates them". BBC Sport. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
    2. "Gary Caldwell sacked as Partick Thistle boss". BBC Sport. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
    3. "Ian McCall appointed manager after Ayr United exit". BBC Sport. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
    4. Law, Danny (6 October 2018). "Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald sacked following Ross County defeat". The Press and Journal. ISSN 2051-1051. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
    5. McGarry, Graeme (25 September 2019). "Ian McCall won't be judging Partick Thistle player on Celtic thumping". Glasgow Evening Times. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
    6. "Inverness CT 1-3 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
    7. Crawford, Kenny (9 November 2019). "Partick Thistle 2-1 Greenock Morton: Hosts record first home win of season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
    8. "Partick Thistle: EuroMillions winner Colin Weir to gift control to fans". BBC Sport. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
    9. "Partick Thistle aim to 'build on Colin Weir legacy' after EuroMillions winner's death". BBC Sport. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
    10. "Partick Thistle: Jacqui Low returns as chairman". BBC Sport. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
    11. Coyle, Andy (13 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Scottish football suspended indefinitely". STV News. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
    12. Murray, Ewan (14 April 2020). "Partick Thistle issue legal challenge to SPFL over plan to end Scottish season". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
    13. Mendola, Nicholas (16 April 2020). "Partick Thistle accepts cruel relegation despite match-in-hand". NBC Sports. NBC Universal. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
    14. "Scottish Championship ins and outs - January 2020". BBC Sport. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
    15. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
    16. "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
    17. "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
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