Thistle boss Archibald praises goalkeeper despite costly blunder
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald praised "outstanding'' Tomas Cerny even though an error from the goalkeeper gifted Kilmarnock a point in the 1-1 Ladbrokes Premiership match at Rugby Park.
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald praised "outstanding'' Tomas Cerny even though an error from the goalkeeper gifted Kilmarnock a point in the 1-1 Ladbrokes Premiership match at Rugby Park.
Chris Erskine looked to have secured victory for the Jags when he struck after 73 minutes but the visitors were denied all three points when Cerny allowed Conor Sammon's late, tame effort to squirm out of his grasp.
Thistle had several opportunities to score before Erskine's opener with Steven Lawless and Adam Barton striking the woodwork either side of the break.
In spite of the result, Thistle strengthened their hold on sixth spot in the table.
Archibald said of Cerny: "That's an error that you can't legislate for.
"Tomas has been outstanding. He saved us probably double figures in points over the course of last season and this season.
"It's one error. Hopefully that's him done for the season. I don't think he had one last year.
"He was aware of one of their strikers maybe running in, I think that maybe took his eye off the game a little.
"We'll go again. He's saved us a number of times and we need him again for the run-in.''
Kilmarnock interim boss Lee McCulloch was impressed by his team's battling spirit as they fought back to score the late equaliser.
The home side had chances to net in the first half, but were largely under the cosh after the interval.
The draw ends a run of two consecutive defeats for the Ayrshire side at Rugby Park and leaves Kilmarnock in seventh place.
McCulloch said: "I thought the first 30-35 minutes of the game we were really, really good. We created chances, had them on the back foot. We were the better team.
"When they've hit the bar, we were on the back foot and they were the better team. In the second half to 75 minutes, Partick Thistle were brilliant.
"After that we've changed the formation to two up-front, with three strikers on the pitch. At that stage we put them on the back foot.
"I'm delighted with the character the dressing room showed for coming back and getting themselves into the game. Partick Thistle probably feel a bit hard done by.
"We were a bit lucky with the goal, the keeper's mistake. But I've said to the dressing room, with the amount of hard work that the staff and the players have put in, I believe in this game you create your own luck.''