DALE KEENAN reckons Partick Thistle's hard work should have been rewarded in Dingwall on Saturday.

And he knows the Jags must make sure their quality shines through if they are to avoid another nervy end to the campaign at the foot of the table.

Alan Archibald's side suffered their second defeat in three weeks against Ross County as Craig Curran netted the only goal of the game in the Highlands.

While victory would surely have all but secured their place in the top flight next term, the costly defeat leaves Thistle perilously close to the battle to beat the drop.

The Jags are now just four points ahead of Jim McIntyre's side and six clear of Motherwell after they added to their tally with a draw at home to Kilmarnock.

After seemingly getting their campaign back on track with an impressive 2-0 win over Dundee United last time out, a result that came just seven days after an abject Firhill showing against the Staggies, it was another disappointing day at the office for Archibald and his players, who were reduced in number with half an hour remaining after Kallum Higginbotham saw red.

It took Thistle until the penultimate 90 minutes of action to safeguard their Premiership place last season and defender Keenan knows they should have taken another step in the right direction at the weekend.

He said: "It was really disappointing not to take something from the game. We had them hemmed in and battered them for most of the second half.

"We were pushing to win the game but just couldn't get that goal when we needed it.

"The conditions weren't great out there today and especially when we went down to 10 men we were fighting an uphill battle.

"Credit to all the boys though, we worked our socks off and I thought we deserved to get back into it and take something from it.

"We've got more than enough in the squad to get ourselves out of the position we're in at the moment.

"You saw against Dundee United exactly what we can do when everything clicks but it is just the consistency element that we're missing at the moment.

"We know that there is every chance of us getting dragged right into the battle but all we can do is concentrate on our own game and make sure we do enough to see us comfortably safe at the end of the season."

Keenan made his first appearance since the 2-0 defeat to St Johnstone in January at the Global Energy Stadium as he replaced Callum Booth at left-back.

It was to prove a frustrating return to the side for the Firhill kid but he is eager to play his part in retaining the Jags' top flight status this term.

"The target for me this year has always been to play as many first team games as I can," Keenan told ptfc.co.uk

"I was delighted to get in today and I'm just disappointed we couldn't get a result to make the journey back down the road a happier one.

"For me it's all about getting game time now and, as I say, I'm really happy to be back in the side.

"Now I just need to do everything I can to stay in and hopefully I can make an impact to help steer us clear of danger between now and the end of the season."