Hearts vs Partick Thistle Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Jon Tait Feb 09, 2016 @ 08:08 pm

Third-placed Hearts will look to stretch their unbeaten run when they host a Jags side that were knocked out of the Scottish FA Cup at Dundee United last weekend.

With five draws in their last seven outings, the Tynecastle side really need to get three points on the board if they are to keep pace with the top two.

Robbie Neilson’s capital outfit have a tricky-looking trip to Ross County in mid-week to contend with and they also have a replay against derby rivals Hibs coming up after being pegged back by a late Paul Hanlon leveller in a 2-2 draw on their own turf on Saturday.

This apparent inability to kill off teams has seen Hearts share the spoils in six of their last ten games and they now trail Celtic and Aberdeen by 14 points, all but writing off any title hopes that Neilson may have harboured. However, it has been a terrific first season back in the top flight after re-grouping in the Championship for Hearts and they will strongly fancy their chances against a mis-firing Thistle outfit that have netted just three times in their last six games after a superb run of six games unbeaten prior to that.

Alan Archibald’s team aren’t clear of the threat of relegation yet as they are just four points ahead of Kilmarnock in the drop zone play-off place. They also suffered late heartache in the Cup with United’s Scott Fraser banging in the only goal five minutes from time to send them crashing out. The exit, at least, means that Archibald can focus all his energies on the Firhill side’s League performances.

He’ll be looking to them to provide more of a goal threat in the game and with Kris Doolan’s seven goal total making him their top scorer, it’s obvious that they just don’t score enough. With just 22 netted in the League so far this term, they are the SPL’s lowest scorers. But with only 28 leaked at the other end, they don’t concede too many either, so don’t expect a goal fest in this one.

The Hearts’ front line has been much more potent but with leading scorer Osman Sow off to sign for a side in the Chinese Super League, the onus for finding the back of the net will fall on the shoulders of Delgado Lloria. They brought in John Souttar from Dundee United on transfer deadline day and he could be ready to make a start.

The Jags signed two strikers in the transfer window with Celtic youngster Aiden Nesbitt joining on-loan and Antonio German coming in until the end of the season. There is a huge chance for either player to make a name for themselves by shooting the Jags to safety as they have been creating chances but have lacked that cutting edge in their finishing.

You’d have to fancy Hearts as favourites in this one, but don’t discount the chances of a draw going by the current form book.

Hearts Recent Form DWDWDD

Partick Thistle Recent Form DLLDWL

Head-to-Head record:

31/10/2015 Partick Thistle 0 Hearts 4

22/08/2015 Hearts 3 Partick Thistle 0

07/05/2014 Hearts 2 Partick Thistle 4

05/04/2014 Partick Thistle 2 Hearts 4

05/01/2014 Hearts 0 Partick Thistle 2

Possible Line-ups

Hearts (4-4-2) – Alexander, Paterson, Augustyn, Rossi Branco, Oshinwa, Abankwah, Gonzalez, Nicholson, Lloria, Dauda.

Partick Thistle (4-4-2) Cerny, Dumbuya, Lindsay, Seaborne, Booth, Osman, Edwards, Lawless, Amoo, Bannigan, Doolan.

Injuries/ Suspension

Hearts: none.

Partick Thistle: none.

League Positions