First Division: Thistle keep up perfect home record to stay at the summit

FORTRESS Firhill is proving the bedrock of Partick Thistle’s title pursuit after Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Livingston saw them make it a perfect seven home wins out of seven in the league to remain top on goal difference from Dunfermline.

Livingston had the better chances in the first half, with Liam Fox, Stefan Scougall and Anthony Andreu having decent efforts on goal, while Chris Erskine and Stuart Bannigan went close for Thistle.

The Jags took the lead on 54 minutes when Aaron Sinclair headed home Ross Forbes’ free kick from six yards out. Stuart Bannigan curled home the second two minutes later.

Delighted Thistle manager Jackie McNamara said: “We have been scoring a lot of goals at Firhill and the good thing is that we are not conceding too many either.”

His Livingston counterpart Gareth Evans said: “Thistle are not top of the league without a reason but we did have the better chances in the opening half.”

Dunfermline gave newly installed Dumbarton manager Ian Murray plenty to think about as they won 4-0 at East End Park to remain on the same points as Partick but with a worse goal difference.

Josh Falkingham nipped in behind the visiting defence to nod home on 31 minutes and, six minutes later, it was 2-0 when Sons keeper Stephen Grindlay pushed a cross against team-mate Andy Graham and the ball bounced back over the line.

Grindlay felled Pars winger Joe Cardle in the box midway through the second half and, after he was given his marching orders, Ryan Wallace converted the spot-kick. Cardle completed the scoring with a powerful strike in the last minute.

Morton stayed on the coat-tails of the leading duo with a 1-0 home win over Cowdenbeath but they left it late before substitute Lewis Hawke swooped to earn the three points. Hawke, son of Cappielow favourite Warren, converted a David Graham cross two minutes from time, with his first touch of the game to win the points for Allan Moore’s side.

Falkirk came from behind to defeat Hamilton 2-1 and pick up only their second win in ten games. Jonathan Page struck just before the hour mark for Accies when he headed home an Ali Crawford free-kick but Connor McGrandles levelled seven minutes from time and fellow teenager Lewis Small won the game for the Bairns in injury time when he netted after Darren Dods had been denied.

Airdrie and Raith Rovers played out a goalless draw in Lanarkshire, with the Diamonds the happier side as they faced most of the second half with only ten men after striker Jack Boyle’s two yellow cards.