Partick Thistle 0-0 Queen of the South

Feb 24 2008 Alan Mcmillan Reports

Partick Thistle 0 Q0s 0

DEFIANT Queens stretched their unbeaten run to eight games - despite having to play more than half the match without skipper Jim Thomson.

The big defender was sent packing 11 minutes before the break for a foul on Mark Roberts and after that Gordon Chisholm's only aim was to take a point.

Thistle hammered away at their opponents for most of the second half but never looked likely to breaking down the stubborn Queens defence.

Ian McCall's side had an early shout for a penalty when Stephen McKeown appeared to head a Gary Harkins cross against the arms of Ryan McCann but ref Alan Boyd saw no offence.

The away side suffered a blow in 23 minutes when limping left-back Bob Harris had to be replaced by John O'Neill. And the sub had a chance to make an instant impact when Paul Burns found him unmarked at the back post but his header finished in the side netting.

Queens suffered again in the 34th minute when captain Thomson was shown a straight red for a tackle from behind on Mark Roberts.

It seemed a harsh decision and the incident sent tempers soaring with the whistler booking O'Neill and Thistle's David Rowson before calm was restored.

Queens adjusted to the dismissal as Sean O'Connor moved into defence leaving Stephen Dobbie alone up front.

McCall (right) brought on striker Paul Keegan for defender Simon Storey and Thistle went at Queens from the re-start.

But Chisholm'smenheld out and could have snatched victory late on but John Stewart wasted his chance.

MoM: O'Connor (Queens)