Saturday 1st March, 2014 at 2:44pm
The Jags made the long journey up to Dingwall looking to build on their great result against Aberdeen and hoping to pile on the misery to a Ross County side who had been soundly beaten by their Highland rivals Inverness CT midweek, however a satisfying point was all the Jags had to settle for.
Manager Alan Archibald made one change from the starting line up with Stephen O’Donnell replacing Jordan McMillan at right back. And the aforementioned O’Donnell was first to try his luck at goal from fully 30 yards whilst in space, but his effort was well wide of the target.
Kallum Higginbotham then saw his 30 yard free kick deflected of the visitors wall allowing Lyle Taylor a chance but he headed wide from 6 yards.
It was a bright opening from the Jags and things were to get even better in the 8th minute.
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair found Taylor who turned Boyd and drew the foul for which Boyd was booked. 25 yards out from the resultant free kick the wall jumped and Higginbotham drove the ball low and hard into the County net past a helpless Brown.
Just the start the Jags needed, and indeed things could have improved for the visitors as Taylor saw his header from an O’Donnell header flashed wide two minutes later. But County were also still well in the game and Boyd saw his half chance saved by Gallacher.
In the 13th minute County were level after a soft free kick was given by referee Craig Thomson and Brittain curled his effort past Paul Gallacher in the Jags goal to level the scores.
Thistle continued to try and play football and an Erskine cut back to Buaben should have seen the latter hit the target from 12 yards.
Thistle whilst trying to play the better football found themselves getting dragged into a battle in midfield as both sides found the final ball elusive and although Taylor went close for the Jags frustrations and a very fussy referee did not allow play to flow.
Slew had a half chance for County but Gallacher saved easily and Mair made a terrific challenge on Kiss after some good work from Arquin as the half time whistle blew.
Whilst Thistle had been on top in spells at the half time break their failure with the final ball combined with County’s doggedness kept the scores level.
County started the second half with De Leeuw replacing Slew but it was the Jags on the front foot with both Mair and Taylor having half chances early before Chris Erskine’s right footed curling effort was inches wide of a beaten Brown.
As Thistle pressed Higginbotham saw a shot blocked on the hour mark after a great play by Buaben. Boyd saw a shot blocked for the home side just after the hour mark and they came even closer when De Leeuw turned O’Donnell but his effort low and hard brought out a great save by Gallacher.
With play becoming scrappy in patches due to the nature and importance of the game it was understandable chances would be at a premium and Carey came close with a volley which took a deflection on its way towards goal.
Kiss also fired an effort with two minutes to go high over the bar, but in truth a draw was about right despite the Jags dominance in the early part of the second half.
