KELTY HEARTS boss John Potter said he had “no complaints” after his side were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Partick Thistle.
The Championship Jags proved too strong their League One opponents, as goals from Brian Graham, Anton Dowds and Tony Weston winning them a tie that saw both sides finish with 10 men.
Graham’s flick from close range gave Thistle a seventh minute lead, before Joe Cardle, and the hosts’ Ross Docherty, were both shown red for violent conduct following an incident towards the end of the first half.
Dowds scored Partick’s second just before the hour, with Weston finishing things off with 11 minutes left, and Potter told Kelty Hearts TV post-match: “Obviously losing a goal early again, it’s really disappointing from a set piece. I don’t know if we were a bit unlucky or not, I’d need to look at it back, but Thistle were the better team first half.
“I think the longer it went, we got a bit more into it first half. Obviously, both players getting sent off as well, I thought it probably suited us for a little bit. I thought we controlled the game for periods then.
“Second half we go out, we’re trying to push forward, and they bring good subs on – I suppose you’ve got to call it that – and take their chances when they come.
“No complaints on the result. Performance? OK in stages, but we need to be a lot better than that.”
Potter, who said he would need to see the incident involving the sending off of Cardle again, was, however, boosted by the return of Nicky Low, who struck the underside of the bar with a superb free-kick, and captain, Michael Tidser, to his starting line-up, and striker, Nathan Austin, to the bench following injuries.
“We need them fit. I’ve said that before, if we’ve got a fully fit squad, it gives us good options,” he added.
“Hopefully, leading into Christmas, we’ve got that, and hopefully the boys will stay fit.”
