A WELL-TAKEN goal from Kris Doolan cut St Johnstone's lead at the top of the First Division to just five points and simultaneously ensured that Morton's relegation worries are far from over.
Morton's stifling tactics were apparent from the first w
histle. Thistle attempted to pass their way through the visitors' massed ranks but soon became sucked into playing their opponents' long-ball game.
It was hardly surprising, then, that their first attempt on goal came from distance, a 25-yarder from Steven McKeown which was parried by Kevin Cuthbert.
Morton's goal threat largely came from set plays and, from Stevie Masterton's free-kick, Stuart Greacen sent a header across the face of Jonny Tuffey's goal but found no takers.
That warning went unheeded and in the 41st minute Greacen smacked a header against Tuffey's left-hand post from another dead-ball delivery by Masterton.
Cuthbert distinguished himself again when he dived to his left to push away a Harkins header from Paul Paton's corner but he was left exposed when Thistle broke the deadlock three minutes after the break.
Marc Twaddle started the move with a crossfield pass for Buchanan. He attempted to cut inside from the right but when his route was blocked, the ball broke kindly for Doolan and he lashed the ball into the net from 12 yards for his third goal in five starts since signing from Auchinleck Talbot last month.
