St Johnstone 2-0 Partick Thistle

Jan 6 2008 Michael Baillie At Mcdiarmid Park

ST JOHNSTONE goal hero Stuart McCaffrey enjoyed a dream debut in blue and white then insisted the idea of promotion is anything but fantasy for the Perth club. The on-loan Invernessman bagged the crucial opener for Derek McInnes' men in a frustrating afternoon and was impressed by the club's attitude.

And the defender insists it's not crazy to believe they can haul themselves back into First Division title contention.

McCaffrey - who will stay at McDiarmid Park until the end of the season - provided the spark St Johnstone needed on a difficult day with Steven Milne netting to secure what could turn out to be a vital three points.

The defender already has a First Division winner's medal from his time with the Highland outfit and revealed Caley were written out of the title race in 2004 but came back to prove everyone wrong.

Saints cut the gap on leaders Hamilton to 13 points and McCaffrey insists they are not out of the running.

He said: "It was an absolutely perfect day for me, we won comfortably and could have scored more.

"We've cut into Hamilton and Dundee's lead and all we can do is keep winning. The gaffer has stressed that to us - there's nothing to lose.

"At Inverness we came from at least this far back to win the title so we have to keep winning and see where it goes."

Saints boss McInnes has backed that idea by challenging his stars to make every game count.

He said: "It has been a good weekend as Hamilton and Dundee have dropped points but we are going to need a few more like those to gain the ground.

"I've stressed to players we need to put a run of wins together and see where it takes us. We've not managed to do that so far this season.

"Over the festive season we took 11 points from 15 and that's okay but because of our position we need to keep winning. That's the challenge."

Saints nearly took an early lead when Milne's effort was just cleared off the line by the alert Willie Kinniburgh inside three minutes.

Neither side was able to get the upper hand but in 35 minutes Saints carved out a second clear chance.

Milne gathered the ball inside the area, flicked it to Daniel McBreen who then returned the ball only for Milne to fluff his shot straight at the keeper.

Saints keeper Alan Main had been a virtual spectator but was called into action a minute later as Mark Roberts unleashed a low shot from 22 yards.

Veteran Main, however, got down sharply to his left and pushed the fierce effort away.

Saints were on the front foot after the interval and Liam Craig was unlucky with an effort from the left of the box.

The deadlock was finally broken in 62 minutes as Paul Sheerin's over-hit corner was gathered by Milne who rolled it into the path of Craig.

He swung it back in for Sheerin who drove cross in for McCaffrey to tap in.

And the points were secured in 73 minutes when Kevin Moon picked out Milne in the box to drill in.

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall felt his side deserved something from the game, saying: "In the second half we played well and created chances, I felt we were the better team."

MoM: McCaffrey (Saints)