Partick vs Cowdenbeath preview - Same again for Thistle

Posted Saturday, March 19, 2011 by PA

Partick manager Ian McCall selects the same squad that defeated league leaders Raith Rovers last Saturday when Cowdenbeath come calling at Firhill.

Defenders Willie Kinniburgh and Ross McGeough, along with the midfield trio of Bryan Hodge, Paul Cairney, and Simon Donnelly, all remain sidelined through injury.

Despite the midweek postponement of their game at Falkirk, the Jags are in high spirits after defeating the league leaders at Kirkcaldy last Saturday.

Assistant manager Ian Maxwell said: "We set a really high standard against Raith last week and we need to keep that going.

"Our games with Cowdenbeath have all been tight so far this season and we will need to play well to take all three points."

Cowdenbeath are without an entire defence as Joe Mbu, John Armstrong, Scott Linton and Bob Malcolm have all been ruled out with injuries.

They have joined the long-term injured pair of Dene Droudge and Danny Mackay on the sidelines.

Blue Brazil boss Jimmy Nicholl will give late fitness tests to veteran campaigners Lee Makel and Colin Cameron as he looks for his men to build on a solid second-half display against Raith Rovers in midweek.

Nicholl said: "We did lose at Kirkcaldy but we played well in the second half and that gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the season.

"I watched Thistle last weekend at Raith and they played really well but we have caused them problems already this season and hopefully we will cause them problems again."