IAN McCALL was disappointed with the officiating in Partick Thistle’s 2-2 draw at home to Cove Rangers as the Jags boss rued two dropped points on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Stevie Lawless and Stuart Bannigan had Thistle 2-0 up and cruising before Mark Reynolds scored two goals from set-pieces in quick succession in the final 10 minutes to snatch a point for the visitors.
The result lifted the Mayhill outfit into first place in the Championship – Thistle are ahead of Ayr United on goal difference – but McCall couldn’t help feeling his side should have seen out the win.
“I’m frustrated with the performance of the referee,” McCall said. “He has given a corner with four minutes to go that was a by-kick, it’s pretty clear – I don’t know why he did it. Right in the same area in the first half where he apologised to me when their boy twisted himself and gave a foul to them.
“The first goal is a deflection and the second one has hit off someone and fallen to Reynolds. We should have been four or five up at that point. Even after that we had a good chance to win 3-2.
“I thought some of our football was sparkling, particularly in the first half. Some good stuff in the second half as well. We are top of the league but it is two points dropped.”
It was not the first time this season where some lax defending at set-pieces has harmed Thistle but McCall is not concerned about the perceived vulnerability.
“They are the first goals we have lost in two games and 80 minutes,” McCall pointe out. “So not really. We didn’t have much of a chance at the goal, there’s not much you can do when a deflection just drops for somebody and then a deflection that goes in the net.
“It was going into [David] Mitch’s arms and it hit off [Kevin] Holty. It’s wrong to separate defence, midfield and attack – we are all one team. You tend to find when it’s 2-0 for so long and it has been such a doing that the other team doesn’t lose hope. If you go to 3-0 or 4-0 then the game is over.
“I didn’t notice that [the fans got nervous after the first goal]. I was engrossed in the game. Ultimately I’m very proud of how we are trying to play and how we are playing. Some of the football – it must be great to watch for punters. We’re just gutted we dropped two points.”
