Dunfermline Athletic 0 Partick Thistle 4

These are bewildering times at East End Park. A Pars side bereft of confidence and mentally drained by recent shenanigans trooped off to a standing ovation at half-time, despite having shed four goals. A slightly better performance saw the damaged limited to those four (of which Steven Craig collected three). Off the field, discontent is growing, with a handful of banners being visible and an impromptu demonstration taking place outside the main stand after the final whistle.

Jim Jefferies kept faith with the eleven who started against Morton last week, or at least he tried to. Having named his eleven, Andrew Barrowman looked like he’d redone his hamstring in the warm up, necessitating a quick promotion to the starting eleven for Andy Kirk, who may not have been 100% fit. That meant starts for Gallacher in goals, Geggan at right back, captain McMillan at left back, the usual centre back pairing of Dowie and Morris, a midfield four of Kane and Thomson in the middle, Cardle on the left and Wallace on the right. Dargo, and now Kirk, were in attack. El Bakhtoui was dropped to allow Kirk his place on the bench; following Barrowman’s injury, permission was granted to promote Allan Smith from the stand – he sat alongside fellow subs Husband, Millen, Potter and Hrivnak.

Alan Archibald had to wait a while as Thistle interim manager before getting a game, with a couple of postponements thwarting his plans, but he seemed to have hit the ground running as he looks to make Jackie McNamara’s job his own. Partick made one change, bringing in Ross Forbes, who had helped destroy the Pars at Firhill earlier in the season, in place of Hugh Murray. It looked like a 4-4-1-1 to begin with, Steven Craig playing just ahead of Forbes. Chris Erskine coming in off the left would be a danger man, as would Bannigan pulling the strings, and Lawless on the right.

Partick brought a good support with them, about 800, which partially compensated for a clear reduction in the numbers of the home support. As planned, there were a few banners of protest on display – a couple in the North West, about 6 in the top corner of the Norrie McCathie, and possibly another couple by the tunnel.

The game got underway with the Pars attacking the Cowdenbeath end. An early off-side saw Thistle take possession and the ball soon found its way to Erskine on the left. He bemused Geggan with a couple of stepovers before hitting the line, gaining the first corner of the game. A deep cross saw the ball find its way to Lawlees at the corner of the box and Gallacher couldn’t hold his shot, turning the ball behind for a corner at the other side. This came into the near post where it was completely missed, the ball being allowed to hit the ground before Craig was first to react by poking the ball home. 1-0 Thistle, and a catastrophic start for the Pars.

Dunfermline tried to hit back – in seven minutes Wallace took a quick free-kick, but although the ball was aimed for Dargo, it was Kirk who was flagged offside as he looked for the lay-off. Then Gallacher had his hands stung by an O’Donnell’s cross but was quick to send Wallace away with a throw, Ryan sweeping the ball cross-field to Cardle, but with Joe going outside the full back for a change Balatoni was there to cover.

However, another lapse in concentration soon proved costly. Forbes got the ball 30 yards from goal, but despite the obvious danger posed, the Pars were slow to close him down and he stepped forward and lashed a low shot into the bottom right hand corner. Gallacher again beaten from distance and now 2-0 to the Jags.

It was very nearly worse as Craig got away from Dowie, but he’d played the ball with his hand to do so, and was booked. Wallace soon joined him in Bobby Madden’s book as he vented his frustration on Sinclair after a decent passing move broke down, when Kirk didn’t have enough pace to latch on to Dargo’s pass, Muirhead knocking the ball clear.

We were now midway through the half, and Thistle scored again, although this was a better goal – a well timed run from Craig was matched by a decent pass from Bannigan and the striker tucked away well, giving Gallacher no chance. 3-0

Even one goal back would have been something. The Pars tried – Wallace went past Sinclair, but Kirk took a touch to control allowing Muirhead to block. Soon, Kirk had a similar chance, taking this one on the volley and was a bit unlucky for this one to be blocked as well, but a corner was gained. Wallace picked out Thomson but he headed straight at Fox who blocked and the loose ball was hacked behind.

Then wouldn’t you know it, the roof fell in again as the Jags scored a farcical fourth. Kane’s pass to Thomson was easily read and away came Partick in the shape of Erskine down the left, he whipped in a cross which seemed to bounce off Morris; Gallacher did well to save but the ball rolled along the line to Craig who will never have an easier chance to score a hat-trick.

By now the Pars looked vulnerable every time Thistle got the ball – Morris failed to deal with a ball over the top, but Cardle tracked back and tackled, then Craig looked to be away again, but this time Morris had played him off-side.

Fortunately, four seemed to satisfy Thistle, and they played keep-ball for the rest of the half, with the Pars chasing shadows, but astonishingly, considering the score-line, the Pars players were treated to a standing ovation at the break.

Half time: Pars 0 Jags 4

Partick were out early for the second half, whereas the Pars were late, prompting slight concerns that they weren’t going to bother. However, they eventually reappeared, with the exception of Kirk, who had been replaced by Husband. Whether this was due to a recurrence of Kirk’s injury, or a desire to stiffen the midfield where the Pars had been over-run a little wasn’t clear. Probably a bit of both, and we were underway.

There was a slightly surreal yet subdued atmosphere – both teams were in slightly uncharted territory, and there were fears that the Pars could get an absolute hounding. However, as often happens, the team with the advantage eased up a little – Bannigan picked up an early knock and was quickly replaced – no sense risking him when the Jags will have bigger games.