Match Report
Although Club Captain Alan Archibald was fit for this fixture manager Ian McCall resisted the temptation to include him in his starting eleven for this match against Ross County who have in the past enjoyed an excellent record at Firhill. Archibald having to occupy a position on the bench for only the 11th time in his Thistle career. There was, however, a first ever Thistle start for Chris Erskine and a place for Stephen McKeown who had missed Tuesday's game with Liverpool through injury.
Thistle made a bright opening to this game and in the early exchanges Paul Paton twice saw dangerous crosses headed clear, the second of which for a corner kick.
In the 9th minute Thistle had the game's first shot at goal. Ian Maxwell who had gone forward for a Paul Paton free kick touched the ball to Simon Donnelly but Donnelly wasn't able to direct his shot on target and the ball wide past McGovern's left hand post.
While neither side were creating an abundance of chances Thistle were the better side but in the 21st minute it took some excellent covering play from Paul Paton to snuff out the danger after Paul Di Giacomo had gathered a free kick from deep inside the County half.
The next minute Paton was involved at the other end of the park when a nice Thistle passing move ended with Paton tackled inside the County box and a Thistle corner kick.
Thistle were close to an opening goal in the 33rd minute. A well worked free kick gave Ian Maxwell a shooting opportunity but his shot took a deflection and cleared the bar by just a matter of inches.
In the 34th minute Ross County were reduced to ten men. Gary Miller's late lunge on David Rowson may have been worth a red card on his own but his raised arm when he got up made a dismissal inevitable.
Thistle made a change at the interval with Jim Hamilton coming on to replace Paul Cairney.
Thistle enjoyed plenty of the ball at the start of the ball at the start of the second half but it took until the 52nd minute for the first chance of the half. Chris Erskine swung over a cross that took a desperate headed clearance with Jim Hamilton lurking.
In the 55th minute the numbers were evened up when Thistle's Stephen McKeown was sent off following a tangle of arms with Kettlewell. The County player escaping punishment.
Three minutes later Thistle introduced their second substitute when Bryan Hodge came on in place of Simon Donnelly.
With 19 minutes remaining of what was becoming an ill tempered affair Kris Doolan came on for Mark Corcoran.
With cards flying at regular intervals during the second half there were few chances but with 15 minutes remaining Jim Hamilton was able to get a glimpse on goal. After collecting a clearance from Tuffey he forced McGovern into a save but it did look as if Hamilton had been tugged back the just booked Steven Watt.
A goal was looking less and less likely but good play from Kris Doolan earned Thistle a corner in the 82nd minute. After County cleared that corner Paul Paton was able to win the ball back but he couldn't keep his shot down as the goalless draw began to look almost inevitable which it duly was.
