The Thistle Archive

Billy McKay ended Inverness's barren run in front of goal, and put a stop to Partick Thistle's recent good form. In a nervous early performance from John Hughes' men, Partick dominated the first-half with Lyle Taylor denied numerous times by keeper Dean Brill. After the break it was a different home side, and Greg Tansey should have scored when he was through on goal. However, after 524 minutes without a goal for the Highlanders, McKay finally hit the net with a back-post header. win was vital for Inverness, with all the sides above them picking up three points this weekend, and their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League remain alive. For the visitors, a point would have gone a long way to helping secure their Scottish Premiership status, however they could not take advantage of their rivals slipping up. With the hosts still feeling the effects of a dispiriting week in which they had lost the Scottish League Cup final on penalties followed by defeat at Motherwell, it was Alan Archibald's men that started on the front foot. Taylor fired straight at the goalkeeper when he was played through, which would not be the last time he was denied by Brill over the 90 minutes. In the aftermath, Kallum Higginbotham was booked for diving after a challenge by Josh Meekings, despite picking up a bloody nose for his troubles. Taylor again tested Brill after playing a neat one-two with Chris Erskine, but once more he could not find a way past the Englishman. Billy McKay heads Inverness in front against Partick Thistle, ending a run of six games without a goal. Billy McKay heads Inverness in front against Partick Thistle, ending a run of six games without a goal. As the game wore on, Inverness began to come more into it. Tansey fired a long-range effort just wide of the post, then after the break the midfielder really should have broken the deadlock. McKay played him through, sending Tansey one-on-one with Paul Gallagher. With just the goalkeeper to beat he lobbed it over both Gallagher and the bar. McKay put another chance over the bar, before Taylor thought he had scored for Partick but it was flagged for offside. Finally, after a long wait, Inverness hit the back of the net for the first time since 22 February. Graeme Shinnie's free-kick was met by the head of Ross Draper who found McKay on the left hand side of the six-yard box, and he headed into the bottom right-hand corner. Tansey had two further efforts for the hosts - his first spinning wide and the second blocked - while Kris Doolan hit a late chance wide for the visitors, but Inverness hung on for all three points.

bbc.com

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