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Andrew Davies unwittingly gave Thistle victory

Partick Thistle benefited from Ross County's misfortune to win their fourth straight top-flight match for the first time in nearly 40 years.

County defender Andrew Davies diverted Stuart Bannigan's cross into his own net after a dreadful first half.

Kris Doolan almost doubled Thistle's lead when he hit the crossbar twice in close succession.

But one goal proved enough to take the Jags to within a point of fifth-place County.

Alan Archibald's men are seventh - level on points with Dundee - and record their best winning sequence in Scotland's highest division since 1977.

It was a shame it had to come via Davies' mistake as the former Middlesbrough man has been a steady influence at the heart of the County backline over recent months.

A tight game in Glasgow was settled by just the one goal

But that moment did do its bit in sprucing up a poor game.

It took until the 14th minute before there was a serious piece of goal-mouth action and it was a nice confidence booster for Tomas Cerny, recently back from an ankle injury.

At a windy Firhill, Partick Thistle's Czech goalkeeper reacted well to repel Davies' poked effort from six yards after the Englishman had met Martin Woods' free-kick.

The visitors maintained that pressure and a few minutes later Jonathan Franks pounced on a loose piece of Jags play, but the square ball the winger rolled across the box was not met by anyone in navy blue.

Michael Gardyne, starting for the Dingwall men in place of the injured Raffaele De Vita, watched a couple of efforts nearly trouble Cerny, which was more than the hosts managed to create in a first half short of inspiration.

Davies' Christmas gift came when he stuck out a leg to clear Bannigan's delivery but put it past Fox by mistake.

Doolan, so often Thistle's saviour this season, headed off the bar twice in the space of a few seconds after David Amoo's cross from the left.

Ross County appealed for a penalty when Jackson Irvine appeared to be tugged back in the box by Thistle captain Abdul Osman but referee Andrew Dallas did not agree.

The hosts defended stoutly as County pressured near the end and credit must also be given to Sean Welsh. The Jags man, who has been blighted by injury over recent seasons, put in a heroic and tireless performance in midfield.