PARTICK THISTLE defender Ziggy Gordon accused the Queen of the South players of disrespect after they were guilty of some gamesmanship at the end of their Betfred Cup match.

However, for all that their behaviour wasn't great, it was an example why these matches are far better than the normal pre-season friendly matches.

This was a genuinely competitive and enjoyable game, fiercely contested right up until injury time when a Thistle player was down in his own box with an injury, he took a blow to his head, the ball was kicked out and the men from Dumfries then did not throw it back to their opposition as is the norm.

Instead they put it into the Thistle area, so desperate were they for an equaliser, only for it to be cleared seconds before the final whistle.

Gordon and his team-mates were less than impressed with such antics and it was a bit naughty.

Tempers were raised at the end of this 2-1 win for the Jags who played some really good football at times.

Gordon said: “I thought they were disrespectful at the end when they didn’t give us the ball back. A few words were exchanged on the park all above board of course, and I don’t think they will do it again. Let's put it that way.

“We made sure they knew what we thought about it all at the time. It wasn’t good to see. So I'm glad we won."

But that was the only black mark on a good day for Gordon’s new team. Thistle look good for topping the group and more than a decent team at such an early stage of the season.

Queen of the South may have taken the lead a minute into second-half and Thistle’s two goals, from Chris Erskine and Steve Lawless came in the 83rd and 90th minute, but it was the home men who were by far the better team.

In saying that, the Championship side hit the woodwork three times and missed a couple of good chances themselves. It was, as they say, typical cup tie, close to 2500 were there and it sure beat the usual drab training exercise against some lower league English team.

Thistle played entertaining football towards the end of last season and on the evidence of Saturday’s display, Alan Archibald has a strong squad, full of players who can play good football and there are goals in the team.

The Partick manager said after the match that there hadn’t been enough of a tally in the goals for column in recent years. That could be about the change.

“I didn’t want to come to a team that was going to struggle and that’s why I came here,” said Gordon who moved from Hamilton in the summer. “I have never been part of a better squad and I have high hopes for this season.

“I am confident because I know how good we are. We are strong from one to 25. Anyone from the squad could come into the team and I know they would be good enough for us to win games.

“I wouldn’t want to put a place on where we will finish, but we are going to have a good season. I have been really impressed with the quality we have here. There are good players in every position.”

Gordon had a hand in the winner and enjoyed a fine game at right-back. He is a solid player who likes to get forward and is no mean tackler. Just what Thistle wanted and he is enjoying himself.

He said: “Because I was at Hamilton for so long I thought it might be difficult to walk into a new dressing room but it’s been easy. Everyone had been brilliant and made me feel at home.

“It’s been a good start to the season so far. Playing well as a team has helped me fit in.

"I've really enjoyed myself so far and I can't wait for the league season to begin."

Archibald is not a man to get carried away; however, you can tell he has a quiet confidence about how things are going to go.

Dowie is a good defender, Erskine is a real talent when he is in the mood, Ade Azeez has something about hin and while you never quite know what you are going to get with big Mathias Pogba, he was terrific when he got on in the second-half and had a big say in both goals.

Before a ball is kicked, you would say that Thistle are stronger than certainly Hamilton and Kilmarnock, and probably one or two others.

Gordon may well be right in his claim Thistle won't struggle.