ST JOHNSTONE stretched their unbeaten run to 15 games, but honours ended even at blustery Firhill.
Despite playing second fiddle early on, it was the Jags who went on to create the better chances and should have taken all three points.
St Johns
tone showed few signs of their midweek Scottish Cup exertions against Rangers as they made the more sprightly start in breezy conditions.
Home skipper Alan Archibald was forced into some no-nonsense defending to clear a swirling through ball before Jody Morris sent a snap shot soaring high over from 30 yards.
Gavin Swankie showed some subtle skills to make room on the right flank before releasing Liam Craig, whose drilled shot drifted narrowly wide of Jonny Tuffey's left-hand post.
However, the Jags keeper was forced to tip the ball over for a corner moments later when Paul Sheerin tried a delightful chip shot from the edge of the box.
It was the first of a string of flag kicks which kept Thistle on the back foot and Tuffey was in action again to claw a Derek Holmes header behind following a deep delivery by Swankie.
The pressure was almost relentless and Tuffey again denied Sheerin with a good save at his right-hand post.
Thistle finally enjoyed some respite when Scott Chaplain released Kris Doolan, but Stuart McCaffrey produced a well-timed tackle on the striker.
Back at the other end Scott Chaplain miscued an attempted clearance horribly and Swankie pounced with a low shot which Tuffey smothered carefully.
The Jags raced upfield with a sweeping move involving David Rowson and Simon Donnelly before Paul Paton's near-post cross was brilliantly intercepted by Kevin Rutkiewicz as Doolan closed in.
Saints responded through Andy Jackson's probing run from halfway, but the striker shot wastefully over with better options available.
The visitors threatened again when Craig fired a teasing in-swinging free kick into the box and Rutkiewicz's glancing header wrong-footed Tuffey only to slip inches wide of the far post. At the other end Gary Irvine made a crucial intervention to deny Chaplain who had played a neat one-two with Donnelly.
On the stroke of half-time Paton's free kick caused havoc in the Saints box and the ball fell for Donnelly. The former Celtic striker had the goal at his mercy but blazed over the bar from 12 yards.
A goal would have been cruel on Saints who had dominated the first half and a corner count of 7-0 in their favour reflected the balance of play.
However, Thistle made a bright start to the second period with Gary Harkins forcing Thistle's first corner with a teasing cross which McCaffrey was at full stretch to head over his own bar.
Moments later Paton's cross was only half-cleared and Harkins' net-bound half volley was deflected over.
Suddenly Thistle looked the more likely to break the deadlock and had a further chance when Donnelly pounced on a weak pass-back and dribbled round the stranded Alan Main.
However, the Jags striker was forced wide and the chance was lost.
The visitors relieved the pressure through a Craig corner that fell for Sheerin and his instinctive right foot volley was saved by the diving Tuffey.
Thistle should have claimed the points when Donnelly was sent clear by substitute Kevin McKinlay. However, Irvine produced a fantastic diving header to stop the effort on the goal-line.
The full article contains 583 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
