Match ends, Partick Thistle 2, St. Johnstone 0.
Partick ThistlePartick Thistle2St JohnstoneSt Johnstone0
Partick Thistle's substitutes combined to deliver a precious win over St Johnstone that lifts them two places to eighth in the Premiership.
The game was evenly-matched until Kris Doolan came off the bench and scored with his first touch after St Johnstone's defenders switched off.
David Amoo added the second, racing upfield on a counterattack to shoot past Alan Mannus.
A bruised St Johnstone created only half-chances and were left forlorn.
The conditions had to be endured, with the pitch still heavy and covered in sand down the flanks, and the temperature perishingly cold.
The home players might have been motivated simply by the opportunity to play, though, with Partick not having played for two weekends due to the state of the Firhill playing surface.
St Johnstone were the more threatening side in the opening half, even though Partick enjoyed long periods of possession. Composure was tellingly absent, but the visitors were lively and sharp whenever Danny Swanson was on the ball.
It was his shot that Partick goalkeeper Tomas Cerny had to tip wide early on, and later in the opening half Liam Craig should have been more accurate with a header inside the penalty area, although he was clattered as he met the ball by his team-mate Tam Scobbie.
The latter had to leave the field for treatment, and returned with his head bandaged. That was a better fate than Murray Davidson, with the midfielder replaced by Craig early on after a clash of heads.
Thistle's approach was to build attacks around the strong, sturdy presence of Mathias Pogba up front. His stature allowed the smaller, nippier attackers Steven Lawless and Aidan Nesbitt room to operate.
Nesbitt was making his debut after signing on loan from Celtic, and he made clever darting runs, had quick, intricate footwork and was always willing and able to release team-mates with his passes. He was a bright spark in the opening half, but the team was more productive after the break.
Mannus somehow managed to keep a Frederic Frans header out, with the ball clipping his arm and then bouncing off the crossbar. The home side were buoyed, although it took the appearance of the substitutes, and some tiring St Johnstone defenders, for the game to open up.
Doolan made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch after gathering a ball over the top. His low, hard shot flew beneath the diving Mannus.
Amoo took longer to make his impact, and it came after a spell of pressure from St Johnstone. The visitors were caught on the break, with Amoo carrying the ball from the edge of one penalty area to another, before clipping his shot past Mannus.
Line-ups
Partick Thistle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Cerny
- 2Miller
- 13Frans
- 3Seaborne
- 5Booth
- 6Osman
- 8Bannigan
- 11LawlessSubstituted forEdwardsat 88'minutes
- 16NesbittSubstituted forAmooat 80'minutes
- 14Elliott
- 99PogbaSubstituted forDoolanat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Welsh
- 7Amoo
- 9Doolan
- 10German
- 12Scully
- 17Lindsay
- 19Edwards
St Johnstone
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mannus
- 22FisherSubstituted forSuttonat 79'minutes
- 14Shaughnessy
- 6AndersonBooked at 75mins
- 3Scobbie
- 7MillarSubstituted forKrachunovat 66'minutes
- 8DavidsonSubstituted forCraigat 15'minutes
- 4Lappin
- 10WotherspoonBooked at 90mins
- 16Swanson
- 18Cummins
Substitutes
- 5Doyle
- 11Sutton
- 12Clark
- 25Kane
- 26Craig
- 27Thomson
- 66Krachunov
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 2,320
Match Stats
Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamSt Johnstone
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home11
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 2, St. Johnstone 0.
Booking
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Attempt saved. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Ryan Edwards replaces Steven Lawless.
Goal!
Goal! Partick Thistle 2, St. Johnstone 0. David Amoo (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Steven Lawless.
Post update
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.
Post update
Foul by Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
Post update
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Post update
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. David Amoo replaces Aidan Nesbitt.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. John Sutton replaces Darnell Fisher.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.
Post update
Attempt saved. Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
