Kris Doolan nets only goal to earn Partick Thistle win
Kris Doolan scored the only goal at a sodden Excelsior Stadium as Partick Thistle got their Betfred Cup campaign off to a winning start against Airdrie.
Doolan hit his 90th goal for Thistle 10 minutes into the second half as the Ladbrokes Premiership side punished their League One opponents for some slack play.
Airdrie made a game of it but could not carve out a clear chance despite some late pressing.
Thistle handed a debut to David Crawford, the 31-year-old goalkeeper who signed hours before kick-off after Tomas Cerny and Ryan Scully were both ruled out through injury.
And the former Stirling and Montrose player made an excellent stop midway through the first half when he got down to prevent Andy Ryan's powerful strike after Iain Russell's header had sent the former Hamilton striker clear.
Thistle had been edging possession though and they began to create more chances. Doolan was flagged offside as he converted Chris Erskine's through ball and Rohan Ferguson made decent saves from Erskine's diving header and a Steven Lawless strike.
Ferguson made a better stop after Doolan set up Declan McDaid and Lawless hit the rebound inches wide.
The visitors took the lead after Airdrie had lost possession deep inside their own half. McDaid fed Doolan, who drilled the ball just inside the post from 18 yards.
Visiting substitute Ade Azeez created some problems with his power but Airdrie came back into it and Danny Devine needed to put in a desperate challenge to stop Ryan netting during a goalmouth scramble.
Azeez was denied by Ferguson when clean through but Crawford saved from Kevin Schmidt's 25-yard strike during an end-to-end finale to ensure the three points went back to Maryhill.
Source: PA
