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Former Celt denies Willie McStay a winning start

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Willie McStay Celtic news

Willie McStay

Former Celt Scott Fox put up the shutters to deny Willie McStay victory in his first match in charge of Ross County.

The keeper was part of McStay’s 2006 double winning side that included Darren O’Dea, Simon Ferry and Paul Caddis and was voted man-of-the-match in yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Firhill.

Fox’s career has been left in limbo after turning down a new deal to stay with Celtic last season and has played for Queen of the South, Dundee and Thistle in an eventful year.

The keeper played as an amateur for Queens before moving toDundee with the new management team of Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds but was made redundant when the club went into administration in October.

His non-contract deal with Thistle was designed to put him in the shop window ahead of January with yesterday’s display doing him no harm.

Sadly for Thistle, with virtually no counter attractions, there was only 1,507 inside Firhill with any watching scouts likely to have been impressed by Fox.

The keeper had no chance of stopping a Richie Brittain penalty in the 19th minute which also saw Thistle defender Alan Archibald red carded.

After a three week wait before taking charge of his side McStay was satisfied to take a point from Firhill.

He said: “I’m not that disappointed with the result. We lost a little bit of our discipline after half an hour and we should have shown a little more professionalism but all credit to Thistle for battling away with 10 men.

“I actually think I can take a lot of positives from what I saw out there in my first match as manager.”

Thistle responded to Brittain’s penalty four minutes from the break when Eddie Erskine levelled with Ian McColl feeling that his side were denied a second half penalty.

The Thistle boss said: “All the players and the substitutes who were behind the goal at the time are convinced that it was a penalty when Chris Erskine was grappled to the ground.

“Referee Steve Conroy has admitted that he thought about giving the penalty but decided against it. I disagree with that decision but accept that it was decision given honestly.”

Elsewhere in the First Division loan Celt Dominic Cervi had to settle for a place on the bench as Dundee won 1-0 at Morton.

Rab Douglas kept a clean sheet for the Dark Blues with Sean Fitzharris appearing as a second half substitute in the final match of his Morton loan deal. At East End Park Ryan Conroy was on the losing side as Queen of the South went down 1-0 to league leaders Dunfermline.

In England Darren O’Dea was on the bench as Ipswich slipped to their fifth successive league defeat away to Preston.

Graham Carey was substituted early in the second half of Huddersfield’s 2-1 win at home to league leaders Brighton who are now just four points ahead of the Yorkshire club.

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0 comments

  • Mike Bhoyle says:

    I hope Willie has a great career in management…
    Top bloke….good at his job….
    Still think Celtic treated him shabbily….
    All the best Willie…..

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