Largs Thistle 1 Pollok 4

Thistle suffered another heavy defeat as they continue to struggle to get to grips with life in the Premier League.

The scoreline was perhaps a bit harsh on Largs who competed well in this encounter for most of the game, but ultimately, it was the same shortcomings which cost the Barrfields side.

New Largs signing Iain Fisher returned to the side as a Scottish Cup champion, and his long throws were used as a weapon to try and create chances, but Largs were unable to capitalise, and it is a real worry that they have scored no goals from open play in the past four games.

But of immediate concern is the fact that Largs are shipping in goals at the other end, nine in two games, and perhaps this weekend's break from action will give Largs a chance to recharge and refresh.

There was little to choose between the sides in the opening 45 minutes.

Indeed, in the opening 30 seconds, Fisher nearly made an immediate impact as he burst through on the right, but his angled effort was well blocked by a defender as he attempted to pull the trigger. It was a similar kind of vigour and forward focus which Bryan Slavin brought to the team when playing. Much more of this is necessary.

Fisher next required treatment from physio Andy Scott after a challenge, as things quickly got feisty, with yellow cards being handed out like confetti to both sides.

There were calls for handball after Glenn Thomson's free kick into the box was headed on by James Marks, as a Pollok defender cleared the danger. Thomson was on the end of a decent opening but slammed the ball well over the bar. Robert Love also volleyed over on 43 minutes.

Stuart Davidson's men had been relatively comfortable in the first half but it was indicative of Largs season so far that a bad mistake in the game was immediately seized upon by the opposition.

Laurie McMaster failed to control a through ball from Pollok which was ultimately Thistle's undoing. Gary McCann sped on to deliver a crisp shot past the exposed Ross Lundy on the stroke of half-time.

Largs cancelled out the disappointment within four minutes of the re-start after winning a penalty kick, which Thomson despatched home.

Lundy made an excellent stop to deny Winters, but another quick Pollok break down the right hand side on 57 minutes allowed the same striker to lash home from McAleenan's pinpoint cross.

Thistle kept pushing for an equaliser, with a series of Fisher throw-ins causing difficulty for Pollok.

One such opportunity ended up like a pinball machine in the Pollok area, with Marks eventually heading wide of the left post, and Love also blazed an effort over, but Lundy denied McKenzie with an alert stop on 80 minutes.

Sub Alec McWatters, on loan from Morton, showed some spark going forward, and was linking up well with James Marks, as he cleverly turned a defender and slotted wide.

Thistle fell 3-1 behind from a corner kick as sub Del Hepburn powered home a header at the near post on 87 minutes, before Michael Daly rounded it off in the 90th when he beat Lundy at his right post.

The deficit was tough to take given how much Largs had put into this match, but despite the blood, sweat and tears, there was still a groundhog day feel to the peep of the full-time whistle. Thistle are well and truly stuck in a rut, and need something special to get back into gear.

Largs: Lundy, Fisher, McMaster, Friel, Jamieson, Little, Thomson, McDonald, Marks, Love, Fleming. Subs: McWaters, Bennett, McMahon, Loftus, Graham (GK)

Pollok: Longmuir, Hanlon, Sideserf, Gallagher, McCabe, Rowan, McCann, Williamson, Winters, McKenzie, McAleenan. Subs: Walker, Hepburn, Daly, Evans, Lawton.

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