Scottish Premiership
Partick ThistlePartick Thistle1Ross CountyRoss County0

Partick Thistle 1-0 Ross County

By Kenny CrawfordBBC Sport Scotland at Firhill
Ross County defender Andrew Davies
Andrew Davies unwittingly gave Thistle victory

Partick Thistle benefited from Ross County's misfortune to win their fourth straight top-flight match for the first time in nearly 40 years.

County defender Andrew Davies diverted Stuart Bannigan's cross into his own net after a dreadful first half.

Kris Doolan almost doubled Thistle's lead when he hit the crossbar twice in close succession.

But one goal proved enough to take the Jags to within a point of fifth-place County.

Alan Archibald's men are seventh - level on points with Dundee - and record their best winning sequence in Scotland's highest division since 1977.

It was a shame it had to come via Davies' mistake as the former Middlesbrough man has been a steady influence at the heart of the County backline over recent months.

Partick Thistle and Ross County players
A tight game in Glasgow was settled by just the one goal

But that moment did do its bit in sprucing up a poor game.

It took until the 14th minute before there was a serious piece of goal-mouth action and it was a nice confidence booster for Tomas Cerny, recently back from an ankle injury.

At a windy Firhill, Partick Thistle's Czech goalkeeper reacted well to repel Davies' poked effort from six yards after the Englishman had met Martin Woods' free-kick.

The visitors maintained that pressure and a few minutes later Jonathan Franks pounced on a loose piece of Jags play, but the square ball the winger rolled across the box was not met by anyone in navy blue.

Michael Gardyne, starting for the Dingwall men in place of the injured Raffaele De Vita, watched a couple of efforts nearly trouble Cerny, which was more than the hosts managed to create in a first half short of inspiration.

Davies' Christmas gift came when he stuck out a leg to clear Bannigan's delivery but put it past Fox by mistake.

Doolan, so often Thistle's saviour this season, headed off the bar twice in the space of a few seconds after David Amoo's cross from the left.

Ross County appealed for a penalty when Jackson Irvine appeared to be tugged back in the box by Thistle captain Abdul Osman but referee Andrew Dallas did not agree.

The hosts defended stoutly as County pressured near the end and credit must also be given to Sean Welsh. The Jags man, who has been blighted by injury over recent seasons, put in a heroic and tireless performance in midfield.

Line-ups

Partick Thistle

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Cerny
  • 15DumbuyaBooked at 59mins
  • 17Lindsay
  • 3Seaborne
  • 5BoothBooked at 82mins
  • 6OsmanBooked at 87mins
  • 4Welsh
  • 11LawlessBooked at 37mins
  • 23MuirheadSubstituted forAmooat 59'minutes
  • 8Bannigan
  • 9DoolanSubstituted forPogbaat 84'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Miller
  • 7Amoo
  • 12Scully
  • 13Frans
  • 18Wilson
  • 19Edwards
  • 99Pogba

Ross County

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Fox
  • 12FosterBooked at 75mins
  • 6Robertson
  • 15Davies
  • 3Reckord
  • 7GardyneSubstituted forSchalkat 76'minutes
  • 36IrvineBooked at 90mins
  • 26WoodsBooked at 50mins
  • 17FranksSubstituted forMurdochat 69'minutes
  • 11CurranSubstituted forDingwallat 87'minutes
  • 10Boyce

Substitutes

  • 2Fraser
  • 5Boyd
  • 8McShane
  • 18Murdoch
  • 19Dingwall
  • 21Woods
  • 23Schalk
Referee:
Andrew Dallas
Attendance:
2,762

Match Stats

Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamRoss County
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home7
Away5
Shots on Target
Home1
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away7
Fouls
Home10
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 0.

  3. Post update

    Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Jackson Irvine (Ross County).

  5. Booking

    Jackson Irvine (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  6. Post update

    Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Jackson Irvine (Ross County).

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle) header from very close range is too high.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Andrew Davies.

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. David Amoo (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Ross County. Tony Dingwall replaces Craig Curran.

  12. Booking

    Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle).

  14. Post update

    Stewart Murdoch (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Partick Thistle. Mathias Pogba replaces Kris Doolan.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. David Amoo (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.

  17. Booking

    Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Callum Booth (Partick Thistle).

  19. Post update

    Alex Schalk (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.