ALAN ARCHIBALD lamented a disappointing night for his Partick Thistle side as they lost their first game since before Christmas to St Johnstone and also saw Christie Elliott sent off for a late red card. Steven MacLean’s first-half goal, after an error from Thistle’s Callum Booth, was enough to clinch all three points for the Perth side and deny the Jags an immediate return to the top half of the table, much to Archibald’s frustration.

He said: “It was really disappointing. We created quite a few chances in the first half, decent chances, but we didn't take them when we were on top. Then we lost a terrible goal. It was the only chance they had. It was a free kick on the halfway line and Callum has made a horrible error. It knocked the wind out of and we only created one chance in the second half. We could not break them down and we played into St Johnstone's hands. They are very good defensively but we should have had enough belief to get into the game. We created decent chances and we need to take it.”

Elliott was sent off for lashing out at St Johnstone’s Graham Cummins in the final minute and Archibald vowed to review the footage. He added: "I've not seen it back but I think he has kicked out. It was just frustration. I don’t know if he kicked the ball and him but I will have a look."

Thistle had set out hoping to record a fifth consecutive clean sheet and were almost halfway towards doing so when a mental aberration in defence led to them conceding their first goal since before Christmas. St Johnstone had barely offered anything as an attacking force until the 40th minute but were clinical when opportunity belatedly arose. It would prove the game’s defining moment.

Booth’s intentions were good as he tried to cushion a header back to his goalkeeper but there was nowhere near enough purchase on it and MacLean did not hesitate, nipping in before executing an acrobatic volley beyond Tomas Cerny for his tenth goal of the season.

The goal evidently deflated Thistle, especially given it was they who had created – but spurned – the majority of the first-half chances. Ryan Edwards, their ever-eager if often errant Australian, was at the heart of their early opportunities, lashing one shot well over and then sending a diving header into the side netting after Steven Lawless’ shot had been well saved by Zander Clark.

Clark, in fact, would produce an even better save minutes later when Niall Keown, making his home debut with dad Martin sat in the Firhill stand, must have thought he had put his team in front with a fairly ferocious blast from close range. The St Johnstone goalkeeper, however, thrust up a palm and somehow repelled it.

St Johnstone seemed largely content to soak up Thistle pressure and hit occasionally on the counter attack although they were frustrated not to win a penalty when Danny Swanson tumbled to the ground with several defenders in close proximity. Swanson, instead, looked up to see referee Crawford Allan thrusting a yellow card in his faced for simulation.

An increasingly disgruntled home support howled in derision every time the winger touched the ball thereafter, and even called for a second booking for Swanson given the eternity it took him to make his way across the field when he was substituted 20 minutes from time. Instead it was Thistle who would end the game with 10 men, Elliott sent off late in the game.