Last-Gasp Alex Samuel Header Denies Morton, Extends Partick’s Unbeaten Run in Dramatic Draw at Cappielow
By the time Cappielow Park’s clock tipped into stoppage time, Morton looked set to claim a statement victory over high-flying Partick Thistle, with Tobi Adeloye’s first-half finish standing firm against growing pressure. But football’s script had a late twist. Alex Samuel’s glancing header at the death silenced the home crowd and salvaged a 1-1 draw, preserving Partick’s place near the top of the Championship and leaving Morton with a familiar tinge of frustration.
Early Intensity, End-to-End Urgency
From the opening whistle, Morton approached the contest with the hunger of a team eager to redefine its season. Partick, entering as favorites and sitting second in the table, were met with early resistance—Morton crowding the midfield and pressing with conviction. The home side’s strategy was clear: compress the spaces, use Adeloye’s physicality, and disrupt Partick’s passing rhythms.
That energy paid off in the 23rd minute. A well-worked move down the right flank saw Cameron Blues—Morton’s creative fulcrum—slide an incisive pass into the area. Tobi Adeloye, quick to react, muscled through his marker and steered a crisp finish beyond the outstretched Thistle keeper. The goal was only Adeloye’s fifth of the campaign, but its timing and quality injected a new current of belief into a home crowd that had seen too many stalemates this season.
Morton's Defense Under Siege
With the lead secured, Imrie’s men retreated, defending the edge of their area as Partick gradually asserted dominance in possession. Thistle’s Tony Watt and Logan Chalmers—recent matchwinners—probed for gaps, but Morton’s back line, marshaled by captain Grant Gillespie, stood firm for most of the afternoon.
Partick’s approach became increasingly direct as the minutes ticked down. Long balls rained toward Samuel and Watt, but only half chances materialized, as Morton’s defense cleared and blocked with determination. For a side whose last four matches had ended in draws or narrow margins, every minute felt like a test of nerve.
The Sting in the Tail
Having weathered waves of pressure and seen their own attacking threat diminish, Morton seemed poised to post just their second league win of the campaign. Then, as stoppage time began, a soft free kick from the left was floated into the crowded box. Alex Samuel, left untracked, rose above the melee and nodded the ball in at the far post—an excruciating conclusion for the home side, a rescue act for the visitors.
The goal marked the second 1-1 draw between these clubs this season, and for Morton, it was a haunting echo of August’s late concession in Glasgow.
Context: Patterns Hard to Shake
For Dougie Imrie’s Morton, today’s result encapsulated an autumn defined by resilience and regret. The club’s record—now seven draws from nine league fixtures—reflects a squad that is organized and rarely outplayed, but not yet ruthless enough to turn narrow leads into victories.
Tuesday’s win at Airdrie United had hinted at a corner turned. Adeloye again found the net, and Jonathan Longridge’s late strike finally sealed three precious points. That momentum, however, faltered just steps from the finish line today, leaving Morton sixth in the table—ten points from nine matches, just one defeat, but stagnating in the congested mid-table.
For Kris Doolan’s Partick, the draw tastes more like relief than setback. Unbeaten in their last four league outings, Thistle remain second, now on 17 points from eight games. Their attacking depth—Watt, Chalmers, Samuel—means they always pose a threat late on, but defensive lapses have begun to creep into their play, as reflected by four goals conceded in their last three matches after shipping none in back-to-back wins on the road.
Head-to-Head Stalemate
A sense of déjà vu lingers over this fixture. The sides played out another 1-1 draw at Firhill in August, and both matches have followed a kindred pattern: Morton snatching a lead, Partick clawing back late. Competitive parity and defensive discipline have defined their recent duels, but neither has found a way to claim three points.
What Lies Ahead
For Morton, the challenge now is psychological as much as tactical. Imrie must harness the positives—his side’s grit, the form of Adeloye and Blues—and channel them into a more ruthless edge. Next week’s trip to Ayr United looms large: another opportunity, another test of resolve.
For Partick, today’s escape preserves their pursuit of Raith Rovers at the summit. With their attacking options firing and squad depth apparent, the Jags will know they remain in control of their own destiny. But if promotion ambitions are to be realized, the defense must rediscover its earlier solidity.
By the final whistle, the October sun was already dipping behind the stands, but the Championship arc remains illuminated by drama. For Morton, the wait for a signature win continues. For Partick, it is the point that keeps hope—and nerves—alive as the campaign gathers pace.