TONY WATT’S early header gave Partick Thistle the city derby bragging rights – and consigned Queen’s Park to another defeat at The city Stadium.
The Spiders have yet to be defeated on the road, but have taken just one point from four games on the southside do far.
A sold-out stadium saw the Jags striker nod the visitors ahead in the seventh minute of this re-arranged clash, and though the Spiders pushed for an equaliser in the second half, Josh Clarke in the Thistle goal was largely untroubled.
Queen’s Park gave Timam Scott a first start in league football and began the derby clash without captain Euan Murray in defence. His replacement Henry Fieldson had the Spiders’ opening two chances but headed over and pulled a strike wide.
That was the story of the game for the Spiders as though the chances, or half-chances, arrived – they were various converted into efforts on target.
It was a contrasting performance from the bright showing against St Johnstone on Saturday – but like then, an old Spider returned to haunt as Ben McPherson sent in the deep cross that Watt headed in despite Calum Ferrie’s best efforts.
Matty Shiels then made a great interception to knock a curling shot from Logan Chalmers out for a corner as Thistle sought to extend their lead.
Queen’s crept back into the game as the first half drew to a close but by then they’d racked up more cautions from referee Sean Murdoch than they had attempts at Clarke’s net.
Carlo Pignatiello was first for a harsh decision as he chased back against Aidan Fitzpatrick. Logan Chalmers escaped censure for wiping out Tyrece McDonnell, but the midfielder was next in Murdoch’s book for a stretching challenge on Letsosa.
That forced Sean Crighton’s hand at half-time and with a change necessary he took off the impressive teen to protect him from further punishment and sent Seb Drozd on to the right wing.
Drozd created several chances throughout his 45 minutes, but like his team-mates, couldn’t trouble Clarke.
Letsosa went very close on 52 minutes, curling an effort inches wide after QP failed to clear convincingly.
Then the Spiders had their best chance of the match. Or course it fell to Josh Fowler, but this time he was shutdown by the Jags defence.
Fieldson outmuscled Letsosa and won back possession from the little midfielder. He played in Fowler who raced into the box. With Aidan Connolly in support he went alone and blasted a shot at goal – but was blocked out for a corner by a defender. mUch to Connolly’s frustration.
Fieldson created the next chance too, this time driving up the left and playing in Drozd, but he too saw his shot blocked. Roddy macgregor and Timam Scott combined to recycled the ball and Fieldson earned another corner, but the Spiders’ set-pieces failed to threaten.
The ball did end up in the goal at the Somerville Drive end with 23 minutes left. Drozd danced round three players and fashioned a chance but again bodies in the way protected Clarke’s goal though Pignatiello knocked in the rebound from an offside position.
Drozd had brightened up Queen’s Park’s second half and Sean Crighton sent on more pace and creativity for the tiring Connolly and Scott in Josiah Sowa and Grant Savoury.
But their fellow sub Drozd made another chance, winning a free-kick after being released by Charlie Fox, then taking it himself. It was a wicked curling effort, just too high, that caught the net supports behind the goal for added effect. Not far away, but as close as Queen’s would come.
The Spiders have left several games this season feeling they’d taken less than they deserved, but few will complain at Thistle taking the full complement.
Nevertheless Queen’s Park pressed for an equaliser and brought in-form under-19s attacker Ross McLean on for a senior debut, but were almost caught with a sucker-punch at the other end as Ferrie denied Watt with a brilliant low save on the 89th minute.
Just as he had on Saturday Matty Shiels had a late chance to level in the final throes of the game, but it wouldn’t come and another visiting side left The city Stadium with three points as Queen’s Park prepare for a trip to Fife on Saturday.
QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Fieldson, Shiels, Fox, Pignatiello, Longridge (McLean 81), Connolly (Savoury 65) , Macgregor, Scott (Sowa 65), Fowler, McDonnell (Drozd 46).