Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 0.
Partick Thistle 1-0 Ross County
By Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Firhill
- From the section Football
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.
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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Ross County 0.
Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jackson Irvine (Ross County).
Booking
Jackson Irvine (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jackson Irvine (Ross County).
Attempt missed. Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle) header from very close range is too high.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Andrew Davies.
Attempt blocked. David Amoo (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Tony Dingwall replaces Craig Curran.
Booking
Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle).
Stewart Murdoch (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Mathias Pogba replaces Kris Doolan.
Attempt missed. David Amoo (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
Booking
Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Callum Booth (Partick Thistle).
Alex Schalk (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Craig Curran (Ross County).
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Andrew Davies.
Attempt saved. Stewart Murdoch (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Alex Schalk replaces Michael Gardyne.
Booking
Richard Foster (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Richard Foster (Ross County).
Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Liam Boyce (Ross County).
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Stewart Murdoch replaces Jonathan Franks.
Attempt missed. Liam Lindsay (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Jamie Reckord.
Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle) hits the bar with a header from very close range.
Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box.
Foul by Liam Boyce (Ross County).
Danny Seaborne (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Jamie Reckord.
Andrew Davies (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle).
Booking
Mustapha Dumbuya (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.