PARTICK THISTLE defender Andy Dowie admits he needed all of his experience to be able to thrive on the big stage on Wednesday night.

The stopper turned in a solid performance on his first game since returning to the Jags as the Firhill side beat Irn-Bru First Division promotion rivals Morton to take a huge step towards the title.

Victory for Alan Archibald's side took them five points clear of the Ton in the championship race and to the brink of a long-awaited return to the SPL.

Dowie stepped in to partner Conrad Balatoni as James Craigen's strike clinched a deserved Jags win, and the defender was delighted to play his part in the Firhill thriller.

He said: "It was a massive, massive game. I have a lot of experience behind me and I needed every bit of that to get me through Wednesday night because it was a tough, tough match.

"It was my first game and I didn't want to let the manager or any of the boys down. I was delighted to get the win. If I get a winner's medal it will be a bit strange.

"I am just here to hopefully play another few games and help the boys. I will see where that takes me.

"We have got a tough game coming up and we need to take the three points away to Airdrie. We then have the midweek game against Raith Rovers so those two are going to be massive."

Dowie has been given a second chance this term after he was snapped up following his exit from crisis club Dunfermline.

He said: "What went on at Dunfermline in the last few months was horrendous, but I have come to a club that is flying. I feel for the boys that are still there.

"I have come out of this not too badly. I just need to kick on with Partick now and do as well as I can.

"In the days leading up to the announcement, we kind of knew we were going to be made redundant. We were always told that after this March 31 deadline we wouldn't be able to sign for another team unless the league gave us permission."

Meanwhile, Jags defender Aaron Muirhead has been given a further two-game ban for his headbutt on Queen of the South's Chris Higgins.

He appeared in front of the SFA yesterday following his Ramsdens Cup flashpoint on Sunday.