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Steven Anderson scores the winner for Thistle

Steven Anderson's goal propelled Partick Thistle into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals after a hard-fought battle with East Fife.

Defender Anderson, on loan from St Johnstone, headed home Craig Slater's second-half corner.

Blustery conditions at New Bayview meant slick football was at a premium, with Anderson's strike on the hour making the difference.

The Firhill club are in the last eight for the second time in three years.

Thistle were put out of the Challenge Cup by East Fife in September, but it rarely looked like that feat would be repeated in Methil.

Storm Erik blows over for Thistle

Bayview is famed for being one of the most exposed grounds in Scotland.

That, coupled with Storm Erik, meant there was no place for fancy or even basic football at times. East Fife seemed more prepared for the conditions in the earlier stages, but the main threat to Thistle's goal came when keeper Conor Hazard was forced to catch his own clearance after the wind blew it back.

On the stroke of half-time East Fife protested for a penalty as Anderson and Antonio Dowds tussled in the box, but referee Don Robertson said play on.

Into the second half and Miles Storey thought he'd broken the deadlock for Thistle, but his shot came off the underside of the bar.

But minutes later, the breakthrough came. A deep corner was floated in from the left and Anderson was there at the back post to nod it home.

'We were punished for not taking our chances' - reaction

East Fife manager Darren Young: "We're all in there pretty gutted that we're not in the draw. I think we deserved at least a draw and we're on top, we don't take our chances and then we're punished.

"We had two penalty claims that I'll see back, but the boys seem to think were pretty stone wall. We coped well and at times you couldn't tell who was the championship side."

Partick Thistle manager Gary Caldwell: "We knew it was going to be difficult, but the conditions made it even more difficult.

"It was important that we ground out a result and I was delighted in the manner in which we did that, we've not done that since I've been at the club so that was the pleasing part."