Partick Thistle vs Dunfermilne
10 July 1500hrs
Football – Scotland – League Cup
Pick Partick Thistle
Bookmaker Paddy Power
Odds: 6/5 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 8 July
Partick Thistle and Dunfermilne will clash at least another four times in the Championship this season but it’s all about League Cup points on Saturday when they meet at Firhill.
Table of Contents
Partick Thistle Preview – Will Thistle continue where they left off and make it five straight home wins?
It was mission accomplished for Ian McCall last season as Thistle secured an immediate return to the Championship by virtue of winning League One. An eight match unbeaten run towards the end of the campaign proved to be the difference for a club who felt wronged for being relegated in the first place the season previous. They will now return to the second tier of Scottish football and McCall will have his sights on reaching the promotion playoffs.
Partick have had three friendly games prior to the League Cup kicking off this weekend. Wins against Kelty Hearts and East Kilbride was followed by a narrow 1-0 loss against Rangers in midweek. Those games should have them well set for the visit of Dunfermilne.
Thistle’s record in this competition has been mixed. They’ve managed to get out the group stages in four of the five years since the format changed but never beyond the first knockout match. Last year was the only time they failed to get out their section – managing just third behind St Mirren and Queen of the South.
There’s a real mix of youth and experience in the Thistle squad with McCall hoping to add some more quality before the start of their league season. Striker Zak Rudden will be hoping to continue where he left off last season scoring six in his last seven games.
Dunfermilne Preview – Can Peter Grant get off to a winning start as Pars’ manager?
Dunfermilne are under new management for this season as Peter Grant takes over from the departing Stevie Crawford. Crawford left the club after failing to get the Pars promoted to the Premiership despite reaching last season’s playoffs. Grant remains at this level having been in charge of Alloa who were relegated last season. That’s not altogether surprising considering they had the lowest budget and are a part-time club.
Grant will hope that a switch to a club with greater resources will see him fare better at this level and guide Dunfermilne back to the Premiership for the first time since 2007.
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The Pars reached the quarter-finals of this competition last season and lost narrowly to eventual winners St Johnstone. They lost 4-3 on penalties and that will have given the club the appetite to get as far as that once again if not doing even better. St Mirren, Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir make up the rest of their section so they will have to be at their best to finish top.
Dunfermilne have a striker of their own who is looking to deliver once again. Craig Wighton was on loan for Hearts in the second half of the season and has joined on a permanent deal after scoring six goals.
Partick Thistle vs Dunfermilne Betting Advice
These two will be familiar with each other come the end of the campaign being league rivals. Both will feel like they want to get one up on their opponents. And McCall and Grant will see this as a genuine opportunity to steal a march on the other in their attempts to qualify for the knockout phase.
Key Facts – Partick Thistle vs Dunfermilne Betting Tip
- Partick will be hoping to pick up where they left off after winning League One and promotion last season
- Peter Grant is the new manager at Dunfermilne who were eliminated by eventual winners St Johnstone last season
- These teams will face each other at least another four times this season now they’re in the same league again
Thistle appear to be the more settled side at the minute. With home advantage they can get their campaign off to a winning start.
Best Betting Odds for Partick Thistle vs Dunfermilne
