Hearts v Partick Thistle
Saturday 22nd August – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Football – Scotland – Scottish Premiership
Hearts have not had their troubles to seek in recent seasons having been relegated to the Championship following a points deduction due to going into administration. Huge credit must go to the capital club, however, as they have bounced straight back up and look much more secure off the park. Robbie Neilson was tasked with the job of returning Hearts to the Scottish Premiership and achieved that in some style, winning the division by 21 points. In any ‘normal’ season, that is quite a significant achievement, but when you factor in that their arch rivals Hibernian, and Rangers were also in the league, it would have made it even more special. It has been an excellent start to the new season in the top-flight, too, with Hearts winning all four of their games, sitting top of the table by two points.
It has been a steady enough start to the new season for Partick Thistle with three draws from their first four games. Their other match ended in defeat at home to Celtic, when they were well beaten. Manager, Alan Archibald will obviously be hoping to get that first win of the campaign as soon as possible but he will take positives of looking like being hard to beat. His two frustrations will be that Thistle were unable to hold on to the lead at home to Kilmarnock last week, and the fact that the two goals they managed against the Ayrshire club were their first of the season. He will be hoping that his players will now kick on from that match and begin finding the net on a more regular basis, now they have ended a run of four straight games without scoring.
It is often said that clubs who have been promoted often come into the new season with a lot of confidence, as you would expect on the back of winning so many games. Hearts certainly seem to be benefiting from that in the early part of this season. Wins at home to St Johnstone and Motherwell at home, and away to Dundee and Ross County, might not be the most surprising as three of those four opponents finished in the bottom six last season. Partick Thistle are another team who fall into that category so Neilson and his players will be confident of continuing their excellent start to the season.
Although Thistle have brought in several new additions to bolster their striking options this season, it was the reliable Kris Doolan who provided the goals last weekend. The forward is now in his sixth season at Firhill and has been a consistent threat to opposition defences throughout that time. Last season’s return of nine league goals was his lowest tally yet, but having notched a brace against Kilmarnock, he’s given himself a good chance of bettering that this time around. What his manager will be hoping for is that one of the new arrivals can chip in with some goals of their own to compliment Doolan’s efforts.
Hearts v Partick Thistle Betting Tips
Things could not have went any better for Hearts on their return to the Scottish Premiership, and although we have only played four games, it looks like even at this early stage that they will have more than enough to stay in the division. Not only that, but they look well capable of competing in the top six. Partick Thistle still look a work in progress but there’s no doubt that their defence has been a real positive in the opening few games. The four goals that they have conceded have all come at home, having kept clean sheets away to Hamilton and Inverness. A visit to Tynecastle will be another test, however, against a team who have managed 10 goals in their first four games, six of which have come at home.
I was surprised to see such attractive odds on the home win in this match-up, considering the respective starts of both clubs. I do not think it will be a case of just turning up for the early league-leaders but the threat they pose in Osman Sow, and particularly Juanma – who has scored three in four – will be the difference on Saturday and inflict a second defeat of the season on Thistle.
Hearts 9/10 @ Stan James
