Division One: Dunfermline 3 Partick Thistle 1

Nov 16 2009

IAN McCALL was left to rue the crazy errors which caused Partick Thistle to lose ground on first division Queen of the South and Dundee.

The Jags boss claimed he was pleased with his players' overall display but couldn't disguise his frustration at the mistakes which left his side with a mountain to climb.

He said: "We made crazy errors but when we got to 2-1 we really pressed and pressed. We had opportunities but just could not get that second goal.

"I was pleased how hard they worked and there was not a lot wrong with how we played, we just had too many errors from boys who have not done that this season."

Thistle went into the game hoping to make up ground on the leaders who were busy playing out a top-of-the-table clash in Dundee.

But they got off to the worst possible start when Steven McDougall celebrated his first goal in a Dunfermline jersey after just four minutes.

And McDougall's goal was one Thistle's central defender John Robertson will want to forget.

His wayward passback gifted a corner for Willie Gibson and from a Steven Bell knock-on McDougall was never going to miss against Craig Hinchcliffe who got his chance as Jags No.1 Jonny Tuffey was also away with Northern Ireland.

Another error from the normally reliable Jags reargurd let Gibson, who has been superb for the Fifers this season, double their advantage five minutes before the break with a beautifully-executed lob from 20 yards.

Thistle pulled one back through a tremendous Paul Cairney strike shortly after the break and Thistle pushed hard for a leveller.

However, after a fine David Graham effort was disallowed for offside in the 70th minute, Gibson's raking injury-time drive wrapped up the points.

The result sees Thistle drop to fifth in the table - five points off joint leaders Queens and Dundee who drew 0-0 at Dens Park.

Only six points separate top from seventh place and McCall said: "When you look at Morton beating Raith 5-0 this league is nuts and any team from the first seven can win it.

"It's a hard one to take having put so much into the game and 3-1 was unfair."

Dunfermline manager McIntyre said: "I'm delighted over the piece. Results breed confidence - you need that wee bit of luck at times as well.

"We've been playing some good stuff and having played well in spells we ground out a result against a tough and well-organised Thistle."