The Thistle Archive

Niall Keown scored the only goal as Partick Thistle beat Hamilton to move off the foot of the table. In a first half the hosts dominated, Keown coolly slotted home at the back post after Georgios Sarris's fall made life easier for the big defender. Chris Erskine and Blair Spittal passed up great chances as the Jags pressed for a second before the break. Erskine hit the bar after half time before Accies' David Templeton did the same with a 30-yard shot.

The Jags' fourth home win in five moves them to within three points of Accies and a point above Ross County, who are the next visitors to Firhill in a match that could decide who goes into the winter break bottom of the table. In the end, Keown was the key protagonist. Not only did he score the only goal of the game, but he made a vital intervention at the other end only a couple of minutes beforehand. When Accies keeper Tomas Cerny failed to adequately deal with a Dougie Imrie header, Greg Docherty pounced but was denied a goal by Keown's last-gasp block. And no sooner had Thistle survived that scare than they were ahead. Spittal sent a corner from the right towards the back post and when Sarris slipped, Keown was able to side-foot past Gary Woods from close range.

The home side were the better team for the first hour or so, but as has often been the case, they were unable to put the game to bed with a second goal despite creating chances to do so. And after Chris Erskine had skimmed the bar with what might have been intended as a cross, Accies began to sense there might be something in the match for them. Templeton twice went close to drawing Accies level, firstly with a shot that was well pushed away by Cerny and then, excruciatingly, hitting the bar with a swerving effort from 25 yards that had the keeper well beaten. Rakish Bingham also had a goal-bound shot blocked as Accies claimed for a handball, but their late push for an equaliser proved fruitless. Thistle, who as well as having the worst defensive record have scored the fewest goals in the top flight, do not make it easy on themselves but nonetheless claimed an important win.

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald:

Delighted to get the three points after a disappointing outing at Dundee last weekend. We got a reaction from the lads today and got the result I thought we deserved. We still looked very fragile, we got a wee bit deep. That happens when you've not won a lot of games but delighted to get the clean sheet and see it out. It's not a massive thing (not to be bottom) it just lets the players enjoy their Christmas. Not that we're out of the woods but it just gives everybody a better feeling.

Hamilton Academical boss Martin Canning:

I don't think it would've been nicking a point if we'd got it. First half I didn't think we did well enough. Too many, maybe three or four, not as at-it as we need to be to win games away from home. Second half was different. I thought we controlled it, we were the better team. We had three or four blocked on the line, forced a good save, hit the bar - everything but score. I felt if we'd got one we could've gone on to win the game. But you can't not have your full team turning up in the first half in a big game.

bbc.com

advertisement

RECORDS EXTENDED

.