Partick Thistle 0-0 Inverness CT (original) (raw)

Poor finishing saw Partick Thistle pick up only their second point in two months against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Caley will be pleased to have left Firhill with a point but could have taken the lead through Billy McKay.

Kallum Higginbotham and Kris Doolan could not find the net as the hosts carved out chances in the first half.

And the Glasgow Jags' profligacy continued with Steven Lawless heading wide in the second period.

The point takes Partick Thistle further clear of Ross County and Hearts, who both lost on Boxing Day, while Inverness move up to third.

Peterborough, Burnley, Bournemouth and Rotherham have all been linked with a January move for Caley Thistle's star striker McKay.

Their interest would have been increased by his speed of foot early on as he latched on to a slack Conrad Balatoni passback.

The Northern Ireland international struck a low shot which was turned round the post by Scott Fox.

The home team though had two excellent chances to break the deadlock before the mid-point of the first half.

Higginbotham had the first after a fine run and a one-two with Lawless, but his toe-poked effort was well saved by Dean Brill.

The next fell to Doolan but somehow he contrived to head a James Craigen cross over the bar from two yards' range.

Partick brought on Stephen O'Donnell for Jordan McMillan at the interval as they looked for attacking options on the right.

The home side, whose last win was in Inverness in October, frustrated their supporters with two more chances squandered early in the second half.

Lawless sent a diving header wide of Fox's left-hand post before Higginbotham shot over from four yards on the hour mark.

Alan Archibald's men were on top but found Brill in form synonymous with his name.

After Craigen shot wide, Christie Elliott had an effort from the edge of the penalty box well saved.

Then it was the turn of Higginbotham's replacement Forbes to be denied by the Caley Thistle keeper as he produced an excellent save from the substitute's 25-yard strike.

And, in the end, both sides had to settle for a point.

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