Dick Campbell opted for the strongest team available to him, but Scott McCulloch picked up an injury in the warm-up, so Andy Gibson took his place. Hamilton started the game well and scored first after only a few minutes. A Lee Hardy corner was delivered to the back post, and Kenny Arthur really should have held the resultant free header. But he was only able to slap it out in front of him, and another mix-up led to the ball being knocked in by Gilhanney from a couple of yards out.
Thistle were fortunate not to fall further behind shortly after, when a short pass back from Fleming was picked up by Hardy, who then rounded Arthur but his shot some how went wide. Thistle began to recover from this poor start . Thistle were allowing Hamilton quite a lot of time and space in midfield, but the visitors did not really create many clear chances. . It was a free kick that saw Thistle draw level, with Kilgannon scoring past McEwan with his left foot drive. The Accies keeper may feel he should have saved it.
Hamilton were causing problems with their direct style. But after their slow start it was Thistle who held the edge and shortly before half-time they took the lead. Poor defending from Accies allowed Stevie Nicholas to win possession, and he found Darren Brady on the edge of the box, who finished well. Thistle finished the first half on a high, with Nicholas volleying over the bar from a corner.
Campbell decided not to make any alterations at half time, McConalogue limped off after another very nahstey tackle from the accies ,replaced by Adam Strachan. That change didn't upset Thistle as the usual skill and speed if strachen tested the kimits of the Hamilton Defence, and they continued to push forward and Ricky Gillies, who was having an impressive game in midfield, then hit the post direct from a corner. Unfortunately, as it so often is with Thistle, after a strong opening it was from a corner at the other end that Hamilton equalised from. A good delivery from the right was missed by Arthur allowing Steven Thomson the chance to stoop to head home.
Thistle were unable to hold onto any possession long enough to create much, while at the other end Keogh and Marvyn Wilson both shot over the bar as the visitors pushed for a late winner. And right on the final whistle they did sneak the win with Thistle's defence looking fairly static as they watched a knock down arrive to Brown Ferguson about 25 yards out, but the quality of the control and finish from the midfielder was superb, drawing applause from the Jags fans as well as the small travelling support behind the goal.
Dick campbell spoke to the official site today speaking about his dissapointment at the result as he knows that the thistle fans can turn on a manager as quickly as thistle can lose a goal.