Partick Thistle 2-0 Airdrie United: Thistle rise to the top ahead of key clash

Published on Saturday 3 October 2009 19:49

Partick Thistle 2 Hodge 52, Donnelly 67 Airdrie United 0 Scorers

IN-FORM Partick Thistle made it three straights win and five league games undefeated as they consigned bottom-dogs Airdrie to another miserable defeat. More importantly for Partick is that it's a win which moves them to the top of the First Division pile ahead of their showdown with Dundee next weekend.

The first half was a decidedly dreary affair until it burst into life inside the closing five minutes when Liam Buchanan forced the game's first real save from visiting keeper Stephen Robertson with a well-struck drive.

The big talking point came seconds later when Diamonds' midfielder Scott McLaughlin was harshly dismissed by referee Alan Muir following a collision with Thistle right back Paul Paton.

This decision was always going to be telling as Airdrie instantly went from being very much in the game to defending in numbers in a bid to leave with a point. Thistle, in comparison, must have received a massive fillip and were ahead seven minutes after the restart courtesy of a fine finish from former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Bryan Hodge, who calmly picked his spot at the end of a flowing passing move.

Simon Donnelly killed the game with a well-taken second, the former Celtic man showing touch and technique to double the lead, and deepen the woes of Kenny Black's strugglers. It could have been more had Thistle been more clinical as chance after chance came and went without being converted.