Scottish Championship Odds: Mark Wilson's Impressive Start at Partick
Kai Watson 
There were some doubts amongst Partick Thistle fans when Mark Wilson was the man selected to take charge after Kris Doolan’s departure. The usual experienced names were tossed around but Thistle decided to offer the rule firstly to Brian Graham, who was leading the men's and women's team whilst Wilson was his assistant for the men’s side.
Graham turned down the offer of the player/head coach role, opting to continue his playing career and move to last season’s Championship winners Falkirk. Thistle could then have decided to go for a more experienced name but they went for a man that was already in the building and had experience with the squad.
Despite it being his first job in management, he started off incredibly well. They went to Edinburgh City for the first game of the League Cup Group Stage and came away with a 4-1 victory. They played at home for the next two matches and won both 2-0 against Stranraer and Queen of the South respectively, scoring eight and only conceding one in the first three, despite being lower league opposition, is still impressive for a new manager.
The last fixture was the most difficult one on paper against big-spending Ross County, who were favourites for the Championship title at the beginning of the season. However, they went to Dingwall and easily dealt with Don Cowie’s side and were 3-0 up until Jordan White scored a last minute consolation goal.
Thistle topped their group winning all four games whilst scoring eleven goals and only conceding two to sail through to the next round. They were rewarded with a home draw to Ayr in the last sixteen which they won 2-0 but unfortunately drew Celtic in the next round and lost 4-0 at Firhill.
The League campaign did not start as well as the League Cup did though and on the opening day of the season, the Jags were hammered 5-1 by St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and drew their next game 1-1 at home to Morton.
Their first league win of the season came against Ross County as they matched the exact result from the League Cup Group Stage campaign. What followed that result was four straight wins against Raith, Airdrie, Dunfermline and Queen’s Park. Thistle actually didn’t lose again until the 25th October when they unexpectedly lost 2-0 to Raith at Starks Park.
They followed up their first defeat since the opening day of the season with a 5-0 hammering of Queen’s Park then drew 1-1 with Airdrie before the international break. The next game was the big one though, versus league leaders St. Johnstone, the only team, apart from Celtic, to make Partick look average this season. If St. Johnstone won the game they would’ve gone nine points clear although Thistle would have a game in hand.
That wasn’t to be the case though as Wilson’s side were relentless and incredibly impressive, particularly in the first half and they went into the half-time break 2-0 up. A Josh McPake goal with twenty minutes left was the last goal of the game though and this massive result reduced the gap at the top to three points with St. Johnstone having played a game more.
That game in hand is this Tuesday and it’s a home fixture against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline, a tough match up on paper. A win here takes Partick joint top of the table and no one could argue that position would be deserved.
Do you think Partick can keep this form up over a full season? Will they win on Tuesday to go joint top?
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