Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Motherwell 0.
A late deflected strike by Steven Lawless secured a vital win for Partick Thistle in their bid to avoid being dragged into a relegation tussle.
The three points moved Thistle ahead of Motherwell, who would have cursed their luck at Lawless' injury-time goal.
For long enough the game had seemed certain to finish goalless, with both defences dogged.
Motherwell's best chance fell to Stephen McManus, whose header was cleared off the line by Gary Fraser.
The conditions set a challenge for the players. Sleet showers greeted them as they emerged for their warm-ups, and significant areas of the pitch were bare and heavily sanded due to the recent heavy rain.
Passes tended to be rushed in a crucial encounter, with both sides winless in the league in 2016 and aware that a continuation of that form would drag them closer to second-bottom Kilmarnock.
The early exchanges were promising, with Dan Seaborne meeting Stuart Bannigan's cross but seeing his header saved by Conor Ripley.
The flow of the game was routinely interrupted, though, with five players booked in the opening half.
There were flashes of attacking intent, with Scott McDonald and Marvin Johnson lively for the visitors and Lawless and Kris Doolan carrying a threat to the Motherwell defence.
The visitors managed a flurry of pressure before half-time and felt that Johnson was fouled in the area, but the referee Barry Cook waved play on.
Motherwell worked an opening for Stephen Pearson inside the area but his effort was deflected wide by Seaborne.
Thistle switched to a front two when Mathias Pogba came off the bench, and he carried a different type of threat to the Motherwell defence with his muscular presence. He managed to meet a Gary Miller cross with his head but the ball ended up on the roof of the net.
The breakthrough finally came when Thistle broke on the counter and Lawless saw his effort fly beyond the helpless Ripley via a deflection.
Line-ups
Partick Thistle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Cerny
- 2MillerBooked at 23mins
- 13Frans
- 3SeaborneBooked at 29mins
- 5Booth
- 8BanniganBooked at 35mins
- 6OsmanBooked at 38mins
- 11Lawless
- 4WelshSubstituted forPogbaat 65'minutes
- 14ElliottSubstituted forAmooat 72'minutes
- 9DoolanSubstituted forFraserat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Amoo
- 12Scully
- 18Wilson
- 19Edwards
- 22Fraser
- 27Nisbet
- 99Pogba
Motherwell
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ripley
- 18Law
- 32HallSubstituted forKennedyat 62'minutes
- 6McManus
- 3Hammell
- 26CaddenSubstituted forAinsworthat 86'minutes
- 14Lasley
- 8PearsonBooked at 41mins
- 11Johnson
- 77McDonald
- 20MoultSubstituted forGomisat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Ainsworth
- 9Fletcher
- 13Samson
- 15Chalmers
- 16Kennedy
- 17Gomis
- 23Thomas
- Referee:
- Barry Cook
- Attendance:
- 2,487
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Motherwell 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Keith Lasley (Motherwell) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Stephen Pearson (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Attempt blocked. Stephen McManus (Motherwell) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Abdul Osman.
Post update
Foul by Gary Miller (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Scott McDonald (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Partick Thistle 1, Motherwell 0. Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Gary Fraser replaces Kris Doolan.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott McDonald (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Marvin Johnson (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Callum Booth (Partick Thistle).
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Attempt saved. Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. Lionel Ainsworth replaces Chris Cadden.
Post update
Dangerous play by Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Keith Lasley (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Chris Cadden.
Post update
Hand ball by Morgaro Gomis (Motherwell).