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St Johnstone bounced back from consecutive league defeats to earn a comfortable victory over Partick Thistle at McDiarmid Park.

Dave Mackay's deflected strike in the opening stages put Saints ahead before Steven Anderson's header early in the second half sealed the points.

Thistle had chances to get back into the match, but could not find a way past the home defence.

Saints remain in the Premiership's top six, with Thistle lying in ninth.

The home side started on the front foot and duly took the lead after just four minutes.

Captain Mackay strode forward and fired in a shot from just outside the 18-yard box, which took a wicked deflection and crept into the corner of the goal beyond Paul Gallacher.

The Saints players crowded Mackay in celebration after the skipper's goal

The opener gave the home side great confidence and Liam Caddis came close to adding a second with a header at the back post that was brilliantly tipped round the post by Gallacher.

Thistle slowly came into the game and were close to an equaliser after 20 minutes.

A corner came in from the left hand side that Ryan Stevenson was able to control before thundering a right-foot shot tagainst the crossbar.

Stevenson was involved in most of Thistle's play going forward but they were struggling to find a way past a stern home defence.

St Johnstone began the second half in the same way they had the first period - with an early goal.

A David Wotherspoon corner from the left side was met by Anderson, who glanced a header into the bottom corner.

Thistle brought on Kallum Higginbotham and Nathan Eccleston and the latter almost reduced the deficit.

The substitute found himself clean through on goal and looked certain to score when he rounded Alan Mannus, but his net-bound effort was brilliantly cleared by Brian Easton covering for his keeper.

Higginbotham then fired a shot wide from 25 yards.

Thistle have not beaten Saints in Perth since 1993 and that poor record was maintained as the home side eased their way to all three points.