STUART BANNIGAN was delighted Partick Thistle's team effort paid off as they earned an eye-catching 3-0 win over St Johnstone on Saturday.

Alan Archibald's side moved another step closer to securing their Premiership place for next term with one of their finest performances in recent weeks.

Bannigan was at the centre of a superb showing as he bossed the game in the middle of the park and clinched the points with a fine strike after Kris Doolan and Conrad Balatoni had netted in the first half.

Thistle now head into the clash with Inverness Caley Thistle this weekend in high spirits and Bannigan reckons there are reasons to be cheerful right across the park.

"We are delighted after that result," he told ptfc.co.uk

"I thought we played really well, especially in the first half and created a number of chances so we glad to have taken them and got the three points.

"I think first half was when we won the game but we had to make sure we saw the game out which is something we have had a problem with sometimes.

"Everyone was on the same page and the whole team worked their socks off and really worked for each other and fought for the three points.

"Going forward we were good but I thought we had to be solid all over the park and make sure we kept things tight at the back too.

"We had to make sure we didn't let St Johnstone back into the game. It was a real team effort.

"We played a bit of a different shape so it was a challenge for us to adapt to that but I thought everyone done that well.

"We had a few more numbers in midfield and it helped us retain the ball and with the two bodies further forward it gave us a few more options."