Ross County 0-3 Partick Thistle: Championship side spring Scottish Cup shock
- Published
Scott Robinson fires home Thistle's second
Championship Partick Thistle booked their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a commanding 3-0 win to stun top flight Ross County in Dingwall.
Goals from Brian Graham, Scott Robinson and Stuart Bannigan saw Thistle rampage through, and went a little way to avenging their heartbreaking Premiership play-off defeat by County at the same venue last summer.
Both teams had chances in what was a really lively first half, but it was Thistle who broke the deadlock on 36 minutes.
Aidan Fitzpatrick played the ball in from the left and Brian Graham was on hand to prod it in at the back post.
They almost scored again moments later. Graham saw his shot saved by George Wickens, and Harry Milne's header from the resulting rebound shaved the cross bar.
However on the stroke of half-time Thistle doubled their lead, with a Kerr McInroy shot parried away by Wickens into the path of Scott Robinson, who fired it home from close range.
After having probably received a rocket from manager Derek Adams during the break, County started the second half well, with Thistle keeper Jamie Sneddon making good saves to deny both Yan Dhanda and Jay Henderson.
But it was game over on 53 minutes as the ball fell from a cleared corner into the path of Bannigan, who let loose a stunning volleyed it into the net - a strike that was from the top drawer and fit to win any game.
Substitute Jordan White had a glancing header saved by Sneddon as County tried to find some sort of route back into the game, but Thistle almost made it four when Ricco Diack fizzed a powerful low shot just wide.
It was a fine afternoon's work for the men from Maryhill who deservedly eased through, leaving Adams with plenty to ponder as he looks to try and turnaround what is turning into a really disappointing season for County.
What they said
County job 'bigger than I thought' - Adams
Ross County manager Derek Adams: "Over the afternoon we didn't do well enough. They started quicker than us and they were able to get ahead in the game.
"The endeavour was there today but defensively we had to do better and cleaner when we were in with chances as well."
Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "I told the boys before the game we've got so many threats from so many areas, it's difficult for the opposition to stop all of them. I felt as if tonight we really showed that.
"As a team we defended well, we got close, we were tenacious, we had bodies round the ball and going forward we'll always be a threat."