Queen of the South 3 Partick Thistle 1

Last updated : 02 April 2005 By Footymad Previewer

Angry Thistle boss Dick Campbell let his feelings show to his players after they slumped to a 3-1 defeat by Queen of the South and left themselves deeply in the relegation mire.

But Campbell was ever optimistic and insisted: "We are not down yet...there are five games to go, and I know we need to win them all, and rely on others losing points - but it can be done."

He saw his side start brightly against Queens, but then lose a goal just befoe the half hour in Queen's first real raid.

They failed to clear a corner, and David David McNiven headed home from close range.

Six minutes later, Queens went two up when Eric Paton pounced on a loose ball outside the box and slammed it into the corner of the net.

Campbell took a desparate gamble after the break putting on three substitutes subs, but it only resulted in Queens going three up when McNiven smashed the ball home after 50 minutes.

Thistle did give themselves a slim lifeline seven minutes later when sub Stephen McConalogue shot home from the edge of the box, but they just could not get another past the Dumfries defence.