ALAN ARCHIBALD was delighted his changes paid off for Partick Thistle on Saturday as the Jags moved another step closer to Premiership safety.

The Firhill boss shuffled his pack for the visit of St Johnstone and was rewarded with a fine 3-0 win as Thistle opened up a nine point advantage over eleventh-placed Motherwell.

Archibald made four changes from the line-up that lost to Ross County the previous weekend as Scott Fox returned in goals, Callum Booth replaced Dale Keenan in defence and Ryan Stevenson and Kris Doolan returned up top.

Doolan made the most of his chance to impress as he came in for Lyle Taylor and opened the scoring after just three minutes before goals from Conrad Balatoni and Stuart Bannigan clinched the points.

It was the striker's first goals since bagging four in the rout of Hamilton in January and Archibald is pleased to see his squad stepping up to the plate when needed.

He said: "A couple [of the changes] were enforced, we have got a couple of injuries and suspensions.

"We have had three or four changes nearly every week for the last few weeks, it has been frustrating.

"On Saturday, it worked and the lads from the top of the pitch to the back of the pitch worked ever so hard and that is why we got the rewards.

"It has been harsh on Dools. He scored four in the one game and then in the game after that he never scored.

"We brought Lyle in and he gave us something different and Dools has had to bide his time.

"It is good to have good strikers. That is what will keep you in the league.

"Normally your strikers keep you in the league and we have got a few options there.

"The three that played on Saturday - Stevenson, [Steven] Lawless and Doolan - worked really well together."