Hibernian 3 Partick Thistle 2

Last updated : 08 January 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Steven Whittaker nabbed a late goal to give Hibernian a 3-2 victory against Partick Thistle at Easter Road and spare their blushes.

The Edinburgh side were coasting 2-0 at half-time through goals from Garry O'Connor and Stephen Dobbie, but Partick hit back through strikes from James Grady and Adrian Madaschi.

But Whittaker had the final say when he slid home the winner with six minutes left after an O'Connor pass.

Even then Grady hit the crossbar in the closing stages as Hibs were let off the hook.

Hibs took control at the start and Colin Murdock saw a near-post header cleared off the line by Grady.

Dobbie then brought down a through ball from Gary Smith in the box and his shot on the turn was just inches wide of target.

The breakthrough came in the ninth minute when O'Connor collected the ball wide on the right and left four defenders in his wake before stroking a left-foot shot past Kenny Arthur.

O'Connor had a chance to double Hibs' lead moments later but his right-foot shot was well wide with Partick caught out again at the back.

Partick came back briefly but could muster nothing to trouble Daniel Andersson in the home goal.

It was Hibs who stepped up a gear towards half-time. Arthur did well to touch an O'Connor shot into the side-netting in the 33rd minute but the second goal was only delayed a couple of minutes.

Dobbie added the second with a composed finished after O'Connor has sent Scott Brown scampering down the right. Brown's cutback found Dobbie unmarked and he lifted then ball over a stranded Arthur.

Grady pulled one back when he steered in a Derek Fleming cross after 53 minutes and Madaschi headed the equaliser in the 77th minute from a Fleming corner. But Whittaker had the final say.