PARTICK THISTLE-MORTON 1-0 (League One)

PARTICK THSITLE 1 - Doohlan 48
MORTON 0

Note: Firhill Stadium, Glasgow, 3.348 spettatori.

Partick took the points and whatever few plaudits could be derived from what was a dire spectacle at Firhill.

It was a result that propelled the Jags into second place; one that left Morton inhabiting the relegation zone.

The Greenock men had hoped that this would be a day when they could climb the ladder. Instead they slid back down a snake.

They can have few complaints. Yes, skipper Stewart Greacen hit a post with a good header, but the hosts had more of the ball and enjoyed what sparse moments there were of cohesive football.

Morton’s sole tactic seemed to be based on long punts upfield. Partick at least attempted to play passes and, in Greenockian Gary Harkins, had the one man on the field best able to control the ball and bring others into play.

This league is incredibly competitive and, at times, exciting. But it can also be very short on quality.

League leaders St Johnstone are not one of the great First Division sides, but they always try to play positively and they have shown an admirable resilience, not least in coming back from a two-goal deficit at Palmerston on Saturday. They are on top on merit and should now go on to grasp the prize.

That Partick are second going into the final third says it all. They are a decent enough team but no more than that, and that is said with no disrespect. They deserve to be where they are.

As for Morton, the talk at Cappielow has been about looking upward, but their priority now must be what it was at the same stage last season — avoiding the drop.

Partick were the better of two poor teams in the first half, McKeown’s drive from Shimmin’s defensive header being saved by Cuthbert, then Buchanan’s angled effort also being thwarted by the Morton goalkeeper.

The Thistle striker was again prominent in a goalmouth scramble, the ball finally ricocheting off him for a goal kick.

Morton’s first threat came from a set piece in 32 minutes, Masterton’s free kick from the right swirling over a crowded box to Stewart Greacen who powered a low header across the goalmouth, no one getting a final touch as the ball sped wide of the far post and out of play.

Harkins had a close range effort from a difficult angle at the other end before Morton came closer still with five minutes to go to the interval. Again it came from a set piece. Masterton struck a free kick from deep in midfield which bent over the assembled masses in the penalty area. Stewart Greacen arrived at the back post and bent low to power a header across the goalkeeper only to see the ball hit the right post and rebound to safety.

A Harkins header from Paton’s corner was saved low by Cuthbert and the teams went in at the break on lever terms.

The decisive moment in the game came three minutes into the second half. Chris Smith made a saving tackle on McKeown in the box, the ball fell loose to Kris Doolan and he smacked it home from near the penalty spot.

That provoked Morton’s best spell of the game. Finlayson drove a couple of feet wide from long range then, in 62 minutes, James Grady came on for Chris Smith in an attempt to force the pace.

Two minutes later Morton had the ball in the net. Jim McAlister crossed from the left, Grady diverted it on and Finlayson, running in from the right, directed the ball into the net only to be ruled offside. It looked a close call.

There was a spate of substitutions, Ton chasing the game with Russell, Weatherson and Grady up front, but their biggest threat came from the long throw-ins of another replacement, Erik Paartalu.

As they pushed forward, however, there was always the likliehood that Partick might snatch another goal on the counter attack.

In the dying minutes it was the hosts who, in fact, finished the stronger, though in the final minute of regulation play there were vain appeals for a penalty when James Grady went down too easily in the box under a challenge from Robertson.

And so it is on to Cappielow next week and a visit from Dunfermline who will be desperate to get back on track after a disappointing home defeat to Ross County on Saturday.

For Morton, the task is once more to attempt to pull themselves clear of the danger zone. All the signs suggest it isn’t going to be easy.

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, Storey, Robertson, Archibald, Twaddle, McKeown (Chaplain 75), Rowson, Harkins, Buchanan (McKinlay 66), Doohlan (Donnelly 85). CT: Ian McCall.
Unused: Hinchcliffe, Kinniburgh.

Morton: Cuthbert, Walker, Smith (Grady 61), Shimmin, Greacen, Finlayson, Masterton, McGuffie (Paartalu 68), McAlister, Weatherson, Wake (Russell 76). CT: Davie Irons.
Unused: Cannon, McManus.

Arbitro: C. Charleston