One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Despite making the most awful start, astonishingly conceding twice inside the opening 90 seconds, Thistle fought back to deservedly earn a draw at home to league leaders Gretna at a very wet and windy Firhill courtesy of goals from Derek Young and Mark Roberts.

The Jags made three changes to the side that won at Ross County last weekend, Jimmy Gibson and Donnelly were preferred to Ferguson and Billy Gibson in midfield, and new signing Allan Russell made his debut in place of McConalogue alongside Roberts in attack. There were also home debuts for recent signings McChrystal and Smith, while an in-form Gretna made just one change to a settled line-up, Ryan McGuffie back after illness in place of McGill in midfield.

Before the game manager Dick Campbell had talked of the importance of getting at Gretna right from the start and hopefully grabbing the advantage with an opening goal, but he, and the rest of the Thistle fans inside the ground - including those yet to take their seats - had his head in his hands after approximately 90 seconds.

Straight from the kick-off Gretna were in front when, following a bit of pinball on the edge of the Jags penalty box, Erik Paartalu rifled in a shot that beat Tuffey low at his left-hand post. Worse was to follow with the visitors catching the Jags cold a second time straight from the restart when Jenkins won the ball and fed McMenamin, and he played a neat one-two with Skelton before sliding an angled drive past the despairing dive of Tuffey.

Thistle were stunned two be two down so quickly, but tried to hit back and Derek Young made his way into the box but was denied by the combined efforts of Canning and keeper Alan Main. A mazy run by John Robertson down the left wing then gave him the chance to test the keeper, but his weak effort was easy for Main to deal with.

Thistle got their reward in the 12th minute when Derek Young pulled a goal back; McChrystal headed down Donnelly’s free kick and the former Dunfermline striker reacted quickest to volley the ball past Main. Within a couple of minutes Gretna had the chance to restore their two-goal advantage when a couple of defenders slipped to give McMenamin an easy path to goal, but this time he failed to beat Tuffey.

After the hectic start to the game, Thistle went on to dominate most of the possession with the visitors seeming content to soak up the pressure and use their pace to break. However, there was little goalmouth action at either end as both sides struggled to compete with the blustery wind and torrential rain that was becoming worse as the half wore on.
Thankfully, by the time the second half started the rain had eased a little and apart from a couple of areas where the ball was sticking a little on the sodden turf, overall the pitch was holding up pretty well. And within two minutes of the restart, the home support were no longer worried about the weather, as Mark Roberts had picked up possession 25-yards from goal and hit a superb dipping shot that flew past Alan Main into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

With just over an hour gone, Allan Russell almost bettered that strike when he turned neatly away from Townsley and cut inside before curling in a terrific shot that Main had to tip round the post. Main was called into action again when a short corner gave Jimmy Gibson the chance to fire an effort towards goal, but this time the keeper was able to make a comfortable save.

Billy Gibson and Stephen McConalogue were introduced in place of the tiring Jimmy Gibson and Allan Russell midway through the second half, and both were booked, along with Derek Young, in the space of a few minutes as Gretna started to step up the pace in the closing period of the game. McConalogue was actually a bit fortunate not to see red, as his sliding tackle on Grainger was clearly done in retribution for a challenge just seconds before, and he showed no intent to win the ball.

Jonny Tuffey had earlier caused a couple of nervy moments with his enthusiasm to rush out of his area, but he capped a solid performance today with a terrific save 12 minutes from time when he did well to get a hand to a Grainger free-kick that was headed for the top corner. Ryan McGuffie then blasted over following a corner; while at the other end a long range Billy Gibson effort sailed harmlessly high and wide before Boyd’s header from a corner was scrambled clear.

Right at the death the visitors had a couple of opportunities to steal all three points, but McMenamin’s effort slid just wide of the far post and Tuffey then made a good block to deny Graham, so in the end the points were deservedly shared.

Man of the match:
SCOTT BOYD - The switch to the right side of central defence is certainly making a difference for the Jags youngster, and the opening two minutes excluded, he was again a solid performer at the back for Thistle.

Thistle: Tuffey 7, Smith 5, Robertson 7, Brady 6, Boyd 7, McChrystal 6, J Gibson 5 (B Gibson 5, 65), Donnelly 6 (Keogh 85), Young 7, Roberts 6, Russell 6 (McConalogue 72).
Unused subs; Arthur, Ferguson.

Gretna: Main, Townsley, Grainger, Jenkins, Canning, Innes, Paartalu, McGuffie (McGill 80), McMenamin, Graham, Skelton.
Unused subs; Barr, Bingham, Berkeley, Fleming.