Firhill

By Graham Barnstaple
December 27 2011

Partick won 1-0 on Boxing Day, in a game spoiled by the wind, on a full day of fixtures which saw Ross County maintain their lead at the top.

Thistle and Queen of the South struggled to put on any kind of show for the 2000 or so fans who turned up at Firhill. This was not down to any lack of desire to play football but down to the squally wind blowing across the ground.

The first half was probably as close to one of the worst 45 minutes of football I have ever seen with players constantly mis-hitting passes as the wind took control of the ball.

There was at least some relief at the start of the second half when the home side took the lead. Lee Robinson could only parry Sinclair's powerful free-kick and Paul Cairney chipped in for Doolan to dive at the back post to head home.

This was enough to seal the three points to leave the Glasgow side on the verges of the promotion race.

The game may also have proved once again that playing in Gale force winds is not the way forward, as it definitely disrupts the game more than any other type of weather condition.

This was obviously the case at Arbroath where the game was abandoned in the first half down to high winds. Maybe referees should be considering this before games get underway.

It took an injury time equaliser to secure Ross County a point at Falkirk, Colin McMenamin scoring from close range. It looked as though a 25 yard strike from Kieran Duffie would allow the Bairns to close the gap on the League Leaders.

This leaves Ross County six points ahead at the top with a game in hand on the Bairns.