Match Report
Ian McCall's first team selection of 2010 showed two changes from the side that drew with Queen of the South on Boxing Day. The luckless Stephen McKeown missed out due to a hamstring injury while Mark Corcoran dropped to the bench. There were starts for Liam Buchanan and Ian Maxwell as Thistle aimed to record their third win of the season against Morton.
Thistle had made a bright start to this game but it was Morton that were close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute. The ball dropped nicely into the path of Peter Weatherston some 12 yards from goal and he was only denied a goal by a full length save from Jonny Tuffey. The danger wasn't over though with Morton winning three corners in quick succession and had the Thistle goal under some pressure.
Morton were even closer to an opening goal in the 19th minute. A near post corner from the Morton right was met by the head of Erik Paartalu and his header struck the inside of the post before being scrambled clear by a Thistle defence under increasing pressure.
Thistle's first clear glimpse of goal arrived in the 24th minute and nearly produced a Thistle goal. A great Simon Donnelly cross from the right hand side was met by the head of Liam Buchanan but when his header had gone either side of Stewart it would have produced a Thistle goal it flew straight at the Morton keeper.
Even though Thistle were struggling to create much in front of goal they were close to an opening goal in the 37th minute. Liam Buchanan was able to pick out Jamie Adams with a cross to the back post but Adams' effort was too high.
Thistle made a change at the interval introducing Mark Corcoran for Jamie Adams and Corcoran's first involvement in the game was to have Thistle fans on their feet with a surging run that took him into the Morton box where there was an almighty scramble before the ball was finally cleared.
With the cold really biting there was little to keep people warm in the opening exchanges of the second half but Thistle were close to a goal in the 57th minute. Liam Buchanan stooped low to get his head to a Donnelly corner but the ball bounced wide.
In the 63rd minute Thistle were nearly caught on the counter attack with Jonny Tuffey having to save bravely at the feet of Brian Wake before Jim McAlister knocked a shot wide of target.
In the 66th minute Thistle sent on Chris Erskine for Liam Buchanan and within just a couple of minutes he very nearly opened up the Morton defence but his cut back that was destined for Simon Donnelly was cleared.
Just when it was beginning to look as if ever side were going to score Thistle took a 74th minute lead. Paul Cairney was able to gather the ball inside the Morton box before drilling a low shot into the corner of the net.
Morton's physical presence had been a threat throughout the game and they were able to put Thistke under some late pressure. Jim McAlister though rather snatched at a half chance with 5 minutes remaining while Thistle were fortunate that an Ian Maxwell error wasn't punished.
At the other end a fantastic blocking challenge denied Steve Lovell a chance and Thistle some breathing space that they could well have done with but Thistle held on for a vital three points.
