One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle kicked off the new season in a fast and frantic match at Forthbank in which neither side really settled, and although the Jags just about edged it in terms of possession and chances, they had to settle for a point after Simon Donnelly’s 60th minute header was cancelled out by David McKenna’s goal 16 minutes from time.

With Gibson suspended Ian McCall pushed Harkins forward into midfield alongside Rowson, Robertson took his place in the centre of defence while Australian trialist Storey and Marc Twaddle filled the full-back roles. New signing Stephen Connor got a place on the bench at the expense of Adam Strachan.

A decent crowd packed into Forthbank with the Thistle support spilling onto the terracing, but there was little entertainment for the expectant fans in the opening exchanges – the referee’s whistle pierced the air four times inside the first minute and this set the tone for a game that never really flowed.

Thistle were the first to threaten after 11 minutes when Donnelly cushioned Murray’s deep cross into the path of Buchanan in the danger area but he was quickly closed down and his effort was blocked before it could trouble the keeper.

Stirling had briefly threatened when Tomana and Bell combined on the right only for Twaddle to clear the danger, but they had better luck on the other wing where Taggart easily beat the trialist right back to reach the by-line and Robertson had to be alert to knock the ball behind for a corner.

Thistle slowly began to take charge and with half an hour gone started to create a few chances. Buchanan was first to threaten when he collected Rowson’s ball inside the box, but he seemed to be caught in two minds whether to cross or shoot, and in the end his effort was neither and it went harmlessly wide.

A few minutes later Harkins picked up possession and with nothing else on decided to step forward and go for goal from 20-yards, he got some power into his low drive and keeper Myles Hogarth did really well not only to save it but to hold it too.

Hogarth was called into action again in the 40th minute when Donnelly’s ball over the top was matched by Roberts’ intelligent run, but last season’s top scorer couldn’t come up with the finish and shot straight at the keeper. The same two players combined again seconds later and this time Roberts chipped in an inviting cross to the back post, but there were no takers for Thistle.

With a few minutes of the half left Tuffey was called into action for the first time when Bell set up Gribben, but his shot on the turn was weak and easily gathered by the Jags keeper. Right on half time the same player posed a bit more of a problem for Tuffey with a speculative lob, but it landed just on top of the net.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with the referee stopping play almost as soon as it started. This time it was for a Thistle free-kick in a dangerous area and after numerous high balls into the box from corners and free-kicks had come to nothing in the first half, they tried something different, Murray taking it short and then receiving it again from Donnelly and his cross was collected by Twaddle, but with his back to goal he could only hook it over the bar.

The previously untroubled Thistle defence then switched off when Robertson allowed Gribben to run into space behind him, and he was thankful to see the striker blast an effort high over the bar. Seconds later another lapse resulted in Tuffey hitting a clearance straight at Gribben, but fortunately it came straight back to him and he made a better job of it second time round.

Lilley had a half chance that was blocked but it was Thistle who came closest when Storey’s run down the right wing ended with a driven cross that flashed past Hogarth and only missed the far post by inches.

With an hour gone Thistle finally made the breakthrough when Twaddle crossed for Simon Donnelly, and although his near post header crashed back down off the bar, it came down behind the keeper and the linesman signalled that it had crossed line.

The Jags went on to look fairly comfortable after the goal, but disaster struck in the 74th minute when the home side equalised out of nothing. The defence simply fell asleep at a throw-in deep inside the Thistle half, allowing Nugent time to pick out substitute McKenna with a cross and his downward header went past the despairing dive of Tuffey.

We’d like to say Thistle stormed back in search of a winner but despite McCall throwing winger Stephen Connor on to try and force an opening, he had one great run and delivered a great low cross that was knocked clear by a defender with Chaplain lurking, and then rarely saw the ball again.

Murray almost had a late chance to create something when he ran into space on the left to try and collect a pass, but the ball never reached him as Stirling’s Nugent jumped to block it with both hands and was promptly booked – one of the few decisions the ref got correct all day.

In truth, the game went a bit flat in the closing stages with Thistle seeming to run out of ideas, simply launching too many hopeful balls forward to nobody in particular. Stirling will definitely be happier with the point, but a draw away from home on the opening day is a decent enough start, though it is clear that we need to find another option up front before the end of the month.

Man of the match: David Rowson