Partick Thistle 0-1 Ross County

Aug 31 2008 Alan Mcmillan At Firhill

STEVIE CRAIG fired County to a controversial first league win of the season then admitted he had sympathy for Jags' red-card sinner John Robertson.

Thistle had to play the second half with 10men after Robertson was shown a straight red in 43 minutes.

It came after referee Colin Brown was called over by his assistant Richard Gough who reported an apparent stamp by Robertson on Craig on the touchline.

But it seemed a harsh decision and it doomed Jags' bid to get back into the game after Craig's opener in just seven minutes.

And the former Aberdeen and Livingston hitman revealed he didn't think there was much in Robertson's challenge.

Craig said: "I thought their defender was just trying to step over me but the linesman must have seen something. It's just one of these things that happen in football."

Craig also claimed he got lucky with his goal and said: "When I jumped with their centre-half his momentum turned my body and the ball went in off my shoulder.

"But the gaffer brought me here to score goals and I don't really care how they go in.

I'll take 10 of them a season."

The home team started brightly and keeper Tony Bullock blocked a shot by Stevie Lennon after clever play by Simon Donnelly and Gary Harkins.

But two minutes later the Dingwall side were in front. Scott Morrison fired in a freekick and hesitation by the defence allowed Craig to head home at the back post.

Thistle were rattled and only a last-ditch challenge by Robertson stopped Craig getting in on goal again in the next attack.

But Harkins then headed over from six yards at the other end when he should have levelled from Ian Maxwell's cross.

It was end-to-end stuff and a Craig header was touched on to the post by Jonny Tuffey.

Robertson blocked what looked a netbound Richie Hart shot from Alex Keddie's cross as County continued to stretch their opponents. And two minutes before the break Thistle went down to 10 men.

Despite their disadvantage Jags went looking for a quick equaliser at the start of the second half and a Harkins effort was spilled by Bullock.

Andy Dowie was superb in the County defence and booted the loose ball to safety.

County tried to make their extra man count with some good passing moves and one ended with Paul Lawson curling just wide. Jags stopper Maxwell then stopped a shot by Richard Brittain on the line.

Thistle had few chances but Marc Twaddle wasted one when he headed over. They also had a penalty claim when Harkins appeared to be held but the ref wasn't interested.

Jags boss Ian McCall said: "That's our ninth game in 34 days and it showed.

"I haven't seen a replay of the sending-off incident. The boys say it wasn't much of a stamp. We'll bounce back."

MoM: Dowie (County)