PARTICK Thistle manager Ian McCall believes his side can now start looking up the table after recording back-to-back Championship wins for the first time this season following their 3-1 success over Inverness.
The Firhill outfit have been at the wrong end of the table for the majority of the campaign but they have now hauled themselves up to eighth place following second half goals from Alex Jones, his first for the club, Steven Saunders and sub Dario Zanatta.
James Keatings drew Inverness level but Partick were not to be denied and in their last seven games they have suffered just one defeat and picked up five wins. Now they are just seven points off the play-offs and if they can continue this run will be in the shake-up for those.
McCall said: “We’ve had five wins, a draw and a defeat in our seven games and the defeat I’ve told the players to ignore as we had a player sent off after three minutes.
“So it’s not a wee run any more, it’s a substantial run now for us and we look forward to having Dundee here next week.
“We’ve got to start looking up the table if we keep this run going. The window opens in January and we’ll be looking to strengthen.”
Inverness goalkeeper Mark Ridgers pulled off a fine save to keep out a Reece Cole free-kick and the visitors were convinced they should have had a penalty in the first half when Jordan White tumbled in the box following a tangle with Tam O’Ware.
Referee Steven McLean booked White for simulation, which was very harsh, and then flashed a yellow at Inverness manager John Robertson for his protests at the decision.
Three minutes after the interval Jones fired Partick ahead as he kept his cool when clean through on goal but that was cancelled out by Keatings, who was allowed too much space inside the six-yard box to hook home an Aaron Doran corner.
Partick reclaimed the lead when Saunders reacted quickest to latch onto a loose ball inside a packed penalty area at a corner and forced it over the line. Then in injury-time at Inverness chased an equaliser, Partick broke upfield and Zanatta beat Ridgers to the ball and then produced an impressive finish from tight on the bye-line.
Inverness manager Robertson felt his side could have had two penalties. Robertson said: “Carl Tremarco was convinced he should have had a penalty as he was caught on the shin and the Jordan White one is a penalty. The big centre-half grabbed him and stopped him getting there. The ref and linesman have missed it. To book Jordan as well adds insult to injury.
“We asked the referee and he said he felt Jordan propelled himself and it would have been soft. We made our feelings known, I didn’t swear or say anything derogatory.”
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