AT half-time on Saturday, a draw would have been viewed as a good point gained for Partick Thistle.

Come the final blow of the whistle, however, it was a case of two dropped as gaffer Alan Archibald and his players suffered another body-blow this season.

After shipping two goals in a matter of seconds midway through the first period against Hamilton at New Douglas Park, the writing looked to be on the wall for the Jags before a stunning fightback showed their true grit.

Just days after crashing to a 6-0 defeat to Celtic, Thistle picked themselves up and got to within touching distance of a crucial win as Jordan McMillan, James Craigen and Christie Elliott netted.

But it was to be Hamilton who would have the final say as Tony Andreu struck with the final kick of the ball to earn Alex Neil's side a point from a memorable Premiership battle.

"The boys in there are heartbroken," Firhill midfielder Stuart Bannigan said. "We were two down to a good Hamilton side, but the boys fought right to the end, and then it was a great finish from Andreu, but I think we could have been a bit tighter.

"It sums up our season - last-minute goals. That's twice against Hamilton this season and against St Mirren as well. So we're disappointed, but it was good that we didn't roll over at 2-0. It's not as if we try to give away last-minute goals, but it seems to happen to us more often than other teams. You just hope it evens itself out.

"We showed a good bit of character. When you lose two goals so quickly, you need to stop the storm and prevent a third goal.

"Getting the goal before half-time shook them a bit and put them on the back foot. In the second half we didn't want to press too early so they could suck us in and hit us on the counter-attack."

The point added to the Premiership standings for their efforts in Lanarkshire was welcome for Thistle, but it is wins Archibald's side need if they are to climb the table.

Having set their sights on a place in the top six this term, the Jags are now seven points adrift of that target after Dundee's win at Kilmarnock.

The same margin is their cushion over bottom-of-the-pile Ross County ahead of their clash with Aberdeen tonight, but Bannigan reckons every little helps just now.

He said: "You are always disappointed for a couple of days, but we need to see the big picture and, after being two down and come back against a team that's been top of the league, it's not all bad. It could be a good point in the end.

"We are taking it game by game. There are a few gaps opening up so we need to try to close them."

Thistle may have left New Douglas Park dejected as they let victory slip through their grasp once again, but there were positives to take for boss Archibald.

Kallum Higginbotham was bright and threatening as he played his second match since going under the knife to cure a knee problem, while skipper Sean Welsh came off the bench to make his long-awaited return to action.

With fellow-midfielder Gary Fraser also available for selection once again, Archibald has a welcome puzzle to solve in the middle of the park.

Bannigan said: "We have missed Welshy. I'm buzzing for him getting some game time after being out for a year-and-a-half, or however long it is.

"It was great to see Gary Fraser back as he was brilliant at the start of the season. So we just need to bed them in and I'm sure we'll see them all back in the team in the next couple of weeks."