They required a penalty shoot-out to do so, after the game finished 0-0 after extra-time. Over the 120 minutes, this was a game that Thistle dominated throughout, and really should have won in regulation time, before Kenny Arthur produced three outstanding penalty saves to send Thistle through.
Dick Campbell only made one change to the starting line-up following Saturdays goalless draw with Stirling Albion, with Jukka Santala coming in to replace the injured Jimmy Gibson. Thistle maintained their 4-4-2 shape, with Mark Smyth stepping up to centre midfield alongside Darren Brady. Santala slotted in beside Will Snowdon in the defence, and Steven McConalogue and Steven Nicholas continued up front in the absence of the much-needed new striker.
Thistle, in their black away strip, started the game extremely well and had several efforts on goal in the early exchanges. Nicholas was the first player to come close, shooting into the side netting before a powerful Scott McCulloch drive was tipped over by Craig Nelson in the Brechin goal. A good run from Mark Smyth then gave McConalogue a chance, but with Nelson badly out of position his shot was blocked. From the resulting corner, a McCulloch header was saved and Nicholas followed up but shot wide.
It was 15 minutes before Brechin's first attack, with a Charlie King shot from 10 yards blocked after Hampshire has beaten Grant Murray to a header at the back post. Thistle resumed control shortly after, and their best chance of the first half fell to Sean Kilgannon. Nicholas broke free of the Brechin defence, and although Nelson saved at his feet, the ball broke to Kilgannon, it fell nicely to his favoured left foot, but somehow David Craig was able to clear off the line. Thistle were dominating the game but the failure to score was causing some anxiety amongst the fans behind Kenny Arthur's goal.
Thistle had been playing some nice football in midfield, but in the last 15 minutes of the first half began to lose some of their momentum. Scott Walker looked dangerous at a couple of set pieces, but the defence held firm, with Santala in particular playing very well and commanding his own box. Brechin's Steven Ferguson would later regret the booking he picked up for fouling McCulloch, whose reaction also earned him a booking. Thistle's final attack before half-time saw Smyth release Kilgannon with an excellent pass, but his cross missed both McConalogue and Nicholas.
Half-time was spent contemplating a hot liquid that would require forensic analysis to determine whether it was supposed to be coffee or Bovril, and Brechin emerged for the second half having changed into an all-white strip, with their red home top having caused some confusion in the first half. Brechin began to push Thistle back, and for around the first 15 minutes Thistle were finding it hard to maintain possession. Brechin were not creating any real chances however, and Iain Campbell decided to change things by bringing on ex-Thistle striker Alex Burns. Andy Gibson arrived for McConalogue soon after, before Darren Brady, who had an impressive match and possibly his best game for Thistle, had a 25 yard shot tipped over.
Thistle soon resumed their dominance of the match, encouraged by the increasing support of the travelling fans, and had numerous efforts on Craig Nelson's goal. Darren Brady, Mark Smyth and then Brady again all came close, and a Scott McCulloch header from a corner was also saved. McCulloch had done superbly to win the corner, showing fantastic commitment to close down the right-back and charge down his clearance. Unfortunately, he was injured in the process and replaced by Derek Fleming.
As the match entered extra-time, Thistle were still controlling much of the play, and a great run from Andy Gibson from his own half led to his shot being blocked. Burns then missed Brechin's best chance of the match, heading over when unmarked 6 yards out, causing the Thistle fans behind the goal to remind him of his resemblance to a type of Japanese wrestler. Brechin's Steven Ferguson was then finally sent off for persistent fouling, as had seemed inevitable since the first half.
The teams turned around for the second 15 minutes, and David Craig then caused panic with a header that was cleared off the line with Arthur beaten. Ricky Gillies and Andy Gibson both came close, but by then it appeared that Thistle could play all night without scoring, as countless shots were blocked by diving defenders, and numerous corners failing to result in the ball breaking to a Thistle player.
And so it was onto penalties. Given Thistle's relatively poor record in penalties, this one was remarkably easy. At the Thistle end of the ground, Burns scored for Brechin with the first kick, before Kenny Arthur stepped in to save their following 3 efforts. Kilgannon, Gillies and Fleming all dispatched their penalties confidently, with Kenny's third save from Stuart Callaghan winning it for the Jags. The Thistle team, who had been standing with their arms linked on the half-way line, then raced towards the Thistle keeper and celebrated what was a deserved victory.
Thistle played extremely well; the defence looked much more solid with Santala winning the majority of balls in the air. It is a concern that the game wasn't won in normal time, but it was not through a lack of chances, or a lack of effort – Thistle's players across the pitch matched their higher league opponents in every challenge.
www.ptfc.net
Dick Campbell edged out Ian in the first meeting of the management twins as Partick Thistle defeated Brechin City 3-1 after a penalty shoot-out.
There was no love lost, with eight players booked and Brechin midfielder Brown Ferguson sent off in extra time.
Sean Kilgannon had an effort cleared off the City line and goalkeeper Craig Nelson's saves denied dominant Thistle.
But Thistle goalkeeper Kenny Arthur saved spot kicks from Scott Walker, Graham Gibson and Stuart Callaghan.
And it meant Thistle, relegated from Division One last season, progressed to the CIS Cup second round at the expense of Dick Campbell's former club and Second Division champions.
www.bbc.co.uk
Thistle made it through to the next round of the CIS Cup with a 3-1 penalty win over Brechin on Tuesday night but being honest it would have been a travesty had the Jags not won their way into the 2nd round draw on Thursday afternoon such was their dominance. In the opening 20 minutes we had three shots cleared off the line and came up against Craig Nelson in inspirational form saving superbly on several occasions. The game was slightly more even after that with Thistle having by far the better of possession and chances although there were a couple of anxious moments. Brechin were reduced to 10 men in extra time when Steven Ferguson was sent off for too many fouls, but there was no winner and it went to penalties. Alex Burns scored first with Sean Kilgannon levelling things. Enter Kenny Arthur who then saved three kicks on the trot, from Scott Walker, Graeme Gibson and Stuart Callaghan, while both Ricky Gillies and Derek Fleming scored theirs to send the small Thistle band of supporters home happy. Speaking after the game Dick Campbell was pleased but admitted that he still had one important task to perform:
"I was delighted with the way we played as we dominated the game almost from the first whistle to the last but what was obvious is our need for a striker and I will be continuing to look for the player who I think will turn our pressure into goals. We created so many good chances and for anyone watching I am sure that they would have been pleased with what they saw. They, and myself, would have been much happier though if we had turned some of that pressure into goals and that is why I will continue to look hard and press the Chairman to see if I can get the one player who I think will be vital to the squad.
It is possible that that was the type of game we would have lost last season. We battled hard, I thought we were stronger and fitter, and kept them down to just a couple of chances throughout the whole game. That is now three games in a rown in which we have not conceded a goal which has got to be pleasing."
www.ptfc.co.uk