Hibernian 1 Partick Thistle 1

Thursday 26th December 2002
Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 10,317.

Scorers:
Hibernian: O'Neil.
Partick Thistle: .

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Friday 27th December 2002

O'Neil saves his keepers' blushes

HIBS have made a habit of losing games this season because of late lapses in concentration so there was a measure of satisfaction to be derived at Easter Road yesterday from the manner Bobby Williamson’s shorthanded side rescued a point thanks to John O’Neil’s 88th minute goal from a penalty.

Reduced to ten men after goalkeeper Nick Colgan was sent off for bringing down Alex Burns, Hibs were staring another defeat in the face after the Thistle striker took advantage of Tony Caig’s lack of first-team football and fired the visitors in front.

"Nick had a rush of blood to the head and made a bad mistake from his point of view. He took the wrong decision at the wrong time and that cost us," Williamson said afterwards.

"Tony came on cold, we lost a goal and were down to ten men. So I can’t speak highly enough of the players for plugging away and pushing forward.

"They got something out of the game and I’m delighted for them because they deserved it."

Thistle didn’t quite see things the same way and felt aggrieved about dropping a couple of points from a contest they were well placed to win. Gerry Collins, their assistant manager, was full of praise for Partick’s organisation and endeavour but agreed poor decision making continues to cost the Premierleague newcomers points.

It would be tricky to think of a more inappropriate football anthem as the rain poured and the haar rolled in off the Forth than Sunshine on Leith. If the sound of The Proclaimers was at odds with the gloomy surroundings, at least in a footballing sense there was some light generated on such a bleak mid-winter’s day by the high octane finish to the match.

If the closing 15 minutes were compelling, much of what went before was low key by comparison. Hibs made nearly all of the running during a first-half where O’Neil’s craft in midfield, Mixu Paatelainen’s ability to hold the ball up in attack and Craig James’ dash down the left flank provided a whisker of difference between the teams. However, space was at a premium and clear-cut chances hard to come by.

Easily the best moment before the interval came after Alen Orman’s meandering cross-field dribble which produced a throw-in, which led to O’Neil breaking inside and striking a 25-yard shot which Kenny Arthur did well to claw out of the air. Yannick Zambernardi also went close with a driven left-foot shot which was deflected wide.

Otherwise, James, the left wing-back on loan from Sunderland, contributed more inviting crosses than all of his colleagues put together. Indeed, Paatelainen might have made more of James’ delivery on at least a couple of occasions.

Hibs signalled their intent to raise the tempo when Ian Murray set off on a galloping run. After a quiet first-half, Murray also came close to putting Paco Luna clear of the cover with a right-foot pass. Along with Zambernardi’s long-range shot, Hibs confirmed they were only too well aware it was up to them to make things happen. Which explained the introduction of Derek Townsley for Orman, a midfield player for a defender.

Partick, on the other hand, were happy enough with the pattern of play: they succeeded in keeping men behind the ball and Hibs at arm’s length. A change was forced on Thistle when Kenny Milne suffered a knee injury and Danny Lennon came off the bench. But the visitors remained compact and should have gone in front when the best chance of the match fell their way in the 75th minute.

Scott McLean created the opening with a through ball which found Martin Hardie unmarked. There was no offside flag as the striker squared to Burns, whose shot was well saved by Colgan. But the Hibs’ goalkeeper made a costly error three minutes later.

The goalkeeper appeared to give Gary Smith an instruction to leave a through ball to him. Colgan, though, misjudged the situation, took a touch on his chest and found Burns on top of him. When the striker looked set for an attempt at goal, the goalkeeper hauled him down. It was a clear red-card offence and referee Craig Thomson dismissed the player, who will now miss Sunday’s match against Aberdeen.

There was enough time for substitute goalkeeper Caig to come on as a replacement for Luna before Thistle worked a neat free-kick from outside the box finished off by a smooth shot from Burns into the corner. Caig was a touch slow in getting down and his first task was to pick the ball out of the net.

To their credit, Hibs didn’t let their heads drop and when Daniel Chiarini strongarmed Tom McManus off the ball in the box, Thomson awarded a penalty kick. O’Neil played the captain’s part and stroked a left-foot shot past Arthur. By this stage, it was safe to say no one was gladder to hear the final whistle than weary defender Paul Fenwick,who had spent 26 hours at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary on Christmas eve and Christmas day as his wife gave birth to twins.

Hibs: Colgan; Fenwick, Smith, Zambernardi; Orman (Townsley 64), O’Neil, Wiss (McManus 81), Murray, James; Paatelainen, Luna (Caig 77). Subs not used: Brebner, Jack.

Partick Thistle: Arthur; Craigan, Chiarini, Archibald; Lilley, Mitchell, Paterson, Hardie, Milne (Lennon 65), Burns, Britton (McLean 45). Subs not used: Budinauckas, Waddell, Gibson.

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