2020–21 Partick Thistle F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was Partick Thistle's first season in the third tier of Scottish football in Scottish League One, having been relegated from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2019–20 season. On 15 April 2020, 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 also competed in the League Cup, and the Scottish Cup.

Partick Thistle

2020–21 season
Chairman	Jacqui Low
Manager	Ian McCall
Stadium	Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
Scottish League One	1st (promoted)
Scottish Cup	Third round
League Cup	Group stage
Top goalscorer	League: Brian Graham (12) All: Brian Graham (12)
Home colours Away colours
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

Summary

On 2 October 2020, the SPFL confirmed that the Scottish Challenge Cup had been cancelled for the upcoming season.^[2] Partick Thistle began their season on 7 October in the League Cup group stage with the League One season beginning on 17 October.

On 11 January 2021, all football below the Scottish Championship was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3]

On 29 January 2021, the suspension was extended until at least 14 February.^[4] In March 2021, the Scottish Government gave permission for the league to resume.

On 16 March, clubs from League 1 and 2 voted to implement for a reduced 22-game season with a league split after 18 games.^[5]

On 29 April, Thistle were declared champions of League One and secured promotion to the Scottish Championship following their 5-0 victory over promotion rivals Falkirk.^[6]

Competitions

Scottish League One

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League One

Clyde v Partick Thistle

17 October 2020 1	Clyde	1 – 0	Partick Thistle	Broadwood Stadium
15:00	Love 70'	Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson

Partick Thistle v Airdrieonians

24 October 2020 2	Partick Thistle	2 – 1	Airdrieonians	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Graham 40' Spittal 60'	Report	Carrick 36'	Referee: Graham Beaton

Cove Rangers v Partick Thistle

31 October 2020 3	Cove Rangers	1 – 0	Partick Thistle	Balmoral Stadium
15:00	McAllister 90+4'	Report

Partick Thistle v Falkirk

7 November 2020 4	Partick Thistle	2 – 2	Falkirk	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Cardle 66' Graham 68'	Report	Morrison 13' Telfer 88'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Grant Irvine

Partick Thistle v East Fife

21 November 2020 5	Partick Thistle	2 – 0	East Fife	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Graham 17 pen.', 78'	Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: Duncan Williams

Montrose v Partick Thistle

28 November 2020 6	Montrose	0 – 1	Partick Thistle	Links Park
15:00		Report	Murray 6'	Referee: Kevin Graham

Partick Thistle v Dumbarton

5 December 2020 7	Partick Thistle	0 – 0	Dumbarton	Firhill Stadium
15:00		Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: David Lowe

Forfar Athletic v Partick Thistle

12 December 2020 8	Forfar Athletic	0 – 2	Partick Thistle	Station Park
15:00		Report	Gordon 52' Docherty 78'	Referee: Gavin Ross

Partick Thistle v Peterhead

19 December 2020 9	Partick Thistle	0 – 1	Peterhead	Firhill Stadium
15:00		Report	Brown 30'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Graham

Falkirk v Partick Thistle

26 December 2020 10	Falkirk	0 – 0	Partick Thistle	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Rudden  64'	Referee: Duncan Williams

Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers

20 March 2021 11	Partick Thistle	1 – 1	Cove Rangers	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Cardle 70'	Report	Megginson 82'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Reid

Airdrieonians v Partick Thistle

27 March 2021 12	Airdrieonians	2 – 4	Partick Thistle	Excelsior Stadium
15:00	McKay 2' Roy 72' Crighton  78'	Report	Tiffoney 35', 62' Graham 47' Murray 49'	Referee: Craig Napier

Partick Thistle v Forfar Athletic

30 March 2021 13	Partick Thistle	2 – 2	Forfar Athletic	Firhill Stadium
19:45	Murray 16' Graham 66'	Report	Fenwick 2', 44'	Attendance: 0 Referee: David Lowe

East Fife v Partick Thistle

6 April 2021 14	East Fife	2 – 2	Partick Thistle	Bayview Stadium
19:00	Wallace 14 pen.' Smith 17'	Report	Graham 72' Tiffoney 90+4'	Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson

Peterhead v Partick Thistle

10 April 2021 15	Peterhead	0 – 3	Partick Thistle	Balmoor Stadium
15:00		Report	Cardle 39' Tiffoney 52' Graham 60'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Graham

Partick Thistle v Clyde

13 April 2021 16	Partick Thistle	2 – 0	Clyde	Firhill Stadium
19:00	Rudden 65', 90'	Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Partick Thistle v Montrose

15 April 2021 17	Partick Thistle	5 – 0	Montrose	Firhill Stadium
19:00	Rudden 20', 38' Bannigan 52' Tiffoney 55' Gordon 77'	Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: Alan Muir

Dumbarton v Partick Thistle

20 April 2021 18	Dumbarton	0 – 2	Partick Thistle	Dumbarton Football Stadium
19:45		Report	Rudden 80' MacIver 89'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Barry Cook

Partick Thistle v Airdrieonians

24 April 2021 19	Partick Thistle	1 – 0	Airdrieonians	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Graham 31'	Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: Grant Irvine

Cove Rangers v Partick Thistle

27 April 2021 20	Cove Rangers	2 – 2	Partick Thistle	Balmoral Stadium
19:00	McAllister 21 pen.' Strachan 75'	Report	Rudden 7' Tiffoney 77'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier

Partick Thistle v Falkirk

29 April 2021 21	Partick Thistle	5 – 0	Falkirk	Glasgow
19:00	Rudden 29' Tiffoney 31' Graham 41', 59' Cardle 72'	Report		Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson

Montrose v Partick Thistle

4 May 2021 22	Montrose	3 – 2	Partick Thistle	Links Park
19:00	Rennie 19' McLean 36' Ballantyne 87'	Report	MacIver 25' Cardle 62'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Peter Stuart

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup group stage

Group stage

St Mirren v Partick Thistle

7 October 2020 Group	St Mirren	4–1	Partick Thistle	St Mirren Park
19:45	Tait 45+1' Obika 74' Breen 81 o.g.' Connolly 82'	[7]		Attendance: 0 Referee: Colin Steven

Partick Thistle v Queen's Park

10 October 2020 Group	Partick Thistle	2–0	Queen's Park	Firhill Stadium
19:45	Cardle 66', 81'	[8]		Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Graham

Queen of the South v Partick Thistle

13 October 2020 Group	Queen of the South	0–0 (2–3 p)	Partick Thistle	Dumfries
19:45		[9][10]		Stadium: Palmerston Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Peter Stuart
	Penalties
	Obileye McCabe Buchanan Gibson Nortey		Rudden Docherty Spittal Kouider-Aïssa McKenna

Partick Thistle v Greenock Morton

14 November 2020 Group	Partick Thistle	0–0 (4–2 p)	Greenock Morton	Glasgow
15:00		[11]		Stadium: Firhill Stadium Referee: Steven Kirkland
	Penalties
	Bannigan Foster Cardle Penrice		Jacobs Wallace McGinty Omar

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Cup

Partick Thistle v Cowdenbeath

23 March 2021 Second round	Partick Thistle	3–0	Cowdenbeath	Firhill Stadium
19:45	Gordon 7' Rudden 52' Murray 66'	Report		Attendance: 0 Referee: Graham Grainger

Dundee United v Partick Thistle

3 April 2021 Third round	Dundee United	2–1	Partick Thistle	Tannadice Park
15:00	Shankland 78' Clark 90+!'	Report	Tiffoney 25'	Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven McLean

Squad statistics

Player statistics

As of 4 May 2021 (UTC)^[12]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League One		League Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	SCO	Jamie Sneddon	13	0	10+0	0	3+0	0	0+0	0
2	DF	SCO	Ryan Williamson	18	0	12+2	0	2+1	0	1+0	0
3	DF	SCO	James Penrice	24	0	14+4	0	4+0	0	1+1	0
4	MF	SCO	Thomas O'Ware	16	1	12+0	1	4+0	0	0+0	0
5	DF	SCO	Darren Brownlie	27	0	20+1	0	4+0	0	2+0	0
6	MF	SCO	Steven Bell	10	0	8+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
7	MF	ENG	Joe Cardle	26	7	14+6	5	3+1	2	2+0	0
8	MF	SCO	Stuart Bannigan	24	1	19+0	1	4+0	0	1+0	0
9	FW	SCO	Brian Graham	24	12	18+1	12	3+0	0	1+1	0
10	FW	SCO	Zak Rudden	17	8	7+6	7	1+1	0	1+1	1
11	FW	SCO	Blair Lyons	12	0	1+9	0	0+2	0	0+0	0
12	GK	SCO	Kieran Wright	15	0	12+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0
14	MF	NIR	Shea Gordon	27	3	11+10	2	4+0	0	2+0	1
15	MF	SCO	Chris Erskine	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
16	DF	SCO	Ciaran McKenna	16	0	9+2	0	2+1	0	1+1	0
17	MF	SCO	Connor Murray	26	4	16+4	3	3+1	0	0+2	1
18	MF	SCO	Charlie Reilly	3	0	1+1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
19	MF	SCO	Scott Tiffoney	13	7	9+2	6	0+0	0	2+0	1
20	FW	SCO	Gospel Ocholi	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
21	MF	SEN	Mouhamed Niang	21	0	12+5	0	0+3	0	1+0	0
22	DF	SCO	Richard Foster	24	0	20+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
23	MF	SCO	Ross Docherty	23	1	19+0	1	3+0	0	1+0	0
24	MF	SCO	Billy Owens	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
25	GK	USA	Mason McCready	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
26	MF	SCO	James Lyon	3	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
27	GK	SCO	Luke Scullion	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
28	DF	SCO	Andy Rodden	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
30	DF	SCO	Bradley Renfrew	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
31	FW	SCO	Ross MacIver	8	2	3+4	2	0+0	0	1+0	0
88	MF	SCO	Andy Geggan	5	0	0+5	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Players who left the club during the 2020–21 season
6	MF	SCO	Blair Spittal	7	1	3+1	1	2+1	0	0+0	0
15	DF	SCO	Rhys Breen	6	0	3+1	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
19	FW	SCO	Salim Kouider-Aissa	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
19	DF	SCO	Adam Devine	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
29	MF	SCO	Dean Watson	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

Club statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Partick Thistle (C, P)	22	11	7	4	40	18	+22	40	Promotion to the Championship
2	Airdrieonians	22	12	2	8	35	24	+11	38	Qualification for the Championship play-offs
3	Cove Rangers	22	10	6	6	28	18	+10	36
4	Montrose	22	9	6	7	33	33	0	33
5	Falkirk	22	9	5	8	29	26	+3	32

Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).^[13]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Division summary

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Ground	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A
Result	L	W	L	D	W	W	D	W	L	D	D	W	D	D	W	W	W	W	W	D	W	L
Position	7	5	6	6	4	4	3	2	3	5	5	3	4	5	3	3	2	1	1	1	1	1

Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2021. Source: ^[14]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League Cup table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		STM	QOS	PAR	GMO	QPK
1	St Mirren	4	2	2	0	0	8	4	+4	10	Qualification for the Second round		—	—	4–1	p1–1	—
2	Queen of the South	4	1	1	2	0	7	5	+2	7			2–2p	—	0–0p	—	—
3	Partick Thistle	4	1	2	0	1	3	4	−1	7			—	—	—	p0–0	2–0
4	Greenock Morton	4	1	0	3	0	4	3	+1	6			—	2–2p	—	—	1–0
5	Queen's Park	4	0	0	0	4	1	7	−6	0			0–1	1–3	—	—	—

Source: ^[15]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.^[16]

Transfers

Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2020 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2020-21

In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee 1 June 2020 MF Ross Docherty Ayr United Free[17] 20 July 2020 DF Richard Foster Ross County Free[18] 25 July 2020 MF Connor Murray Queen of the South Free[19] 21 August 2020 DF Ciaran McKenna Hamilton Academical Free[19] 2 October 2020 MF Charlie Reilly Hamilton Academical Free[19]

Out Date Position Nationality Name From Fee 22 June 2020 MF Scott Fox Motherwell Free[20] 4 July 2020 FW Alex Jones Northampton Town Free[21][22] 5 July 2020 MF Darian MacKinnon Drumchapel United Free[23] 21 July 2020 MF Dario Zanatta Ayr United Free[19] 16 August 2020 DF Steven Saunders Gartcairn Free[24] 27 August 2020 DF Thomas Robson Queen's Park Free[25] 22 September 2020 FW Lewis Mansell Accrington Stanley Free[26][27]

Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From Fee 27 August 2020 DF Rhys Breen Rangers Loan[28] 27 August 2020 GK Kieran Wright Rangers Loan[28] 16 September 2020 FW Salim Kouider-Aissa Livingston Loan[29] 24 September 2020 MF Declan Glass Dundee United Loan[30] 7 October 2020 MF Blair Spittal Ross County Loan[31] 8 March 2021 MF Andy Geggan BSC Glasgow Loan[32] 12 March 2021 DF Steven Bell East Kilbride Loan[33] 12 March 2021 DF Chris Erskine East Kilbride Loan[33] 15 March 2021 FW Ross MacIver Motherwell Loan[34] 23 March 2021 MF Scott Tiffoney Livingston Loan[35]

Loans out Date Position Nationality Name From Fee 8 January 2021 MF Dean Watson Annan Athletic Loan[36]

See also

• List of Partick Thistle F.C. seasons

References

1. "Partick Thistle decide not to take legal action after SPFL plan relegates them". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
2. "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
3. "Scottish lower leagues & Scottish Cup suspended for three weeks". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
4. "Scottish Cup, lower leagues and women's football remain suspended". BBC Sport. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
5. "Scottish League 1 & 2 clubs vote for 22-game season with split after 18 matches". BBC Sport. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
6. "The moments that mattered!". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
7. "St Mirren v Partick Thistle". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
8. "Partick Thistle v Queen's Park". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
9. "Queen of the South v Partick Thistle". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
10. "Betfred Cup Results". www.spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
11. "Partick Thistle v Greenock Morton". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
12. "Partick Thistle 2020/2021 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
13. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
14. "Scottish League One 2020/21". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
15. "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
16. "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
17. "Partick Thistle: Ross Docherty signs from Ayr as six players agree extensions". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
18. "Foster Signs one year deal at Firhill". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
19. "Summer Signings". SPFL. spfl.co.uk. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
20. "Motherwell sign experienced goalkeeper Scott Fox". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
21. "Player Update – 4th July 2020". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
22. "STRIKER ALEX JONES JOINS NORTHAMPTON TOWN". ntfc.co.uk. Northampton Town FC. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
23. "Hamilton Accies hero Darian MacKinnon makes shock switch to seventh tier Drumchapel". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
24. "Steven Saunders calls time on career aged 29 as former Scotland cap gets ready for white-collar life". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
25. "New Signing – Tommy Robson". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queens Park FC. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
26. "Lewis Mansell leaves the club". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
27. "Mansell joins the reds". accringtonstanley.co.uk. Accrington Stanley FC. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
28. "Rhys Breen & Kieran Wright join Partick Thistle on loan". rangers.co.uk. Rangers FC. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
29. "Livingston striker Salim Kouider-Aissa signs one-year loan deal with Partick Thistle". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Glasgow Times. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
30. "Declan Glass joins on season-long loan". ptfc.co.uk/. Partick Thistle FC. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
31. "Ross County midfielder Blair Spittal goes on loan to Partick Thistle". ross-shirejournal.co.uk. Ross-shire Journal. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
32. "Andy Geggan joins on loan". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
33. "Steven Bell and Chris Erksine join on loan". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
34. "Yusuf Hussain and Ross MacIver depart Motherwell until the summer". motherwelltimes.co.uk. Motherwell Times. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
35. "Scott Tiffoney joins on loan for the rest of the season". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
36. "Loan Signing: Dean Watson". annanathleticfc.com. Annan Athletic FC. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.