On Alan Archibald’s 40th, this looked like being, well, a piece of birthday cake for Partick Thistle. Having watched his side forge a comfortable three goal advantage after just 30 minutes, the Jags manager could’ve nipped out to the Munns Vaults for a celebratory gargle. By the end of this fraught affair, though, Archibald probably felt more like 80 than 40 as Motherwell mounted a spirited second half resurgence which had the restless natives of Firhill in a nail-nibbling fever. Watching Thistle can add years to you. They grimly held on, though, and plundered a much-needed three points to bring themselves back into the pack at the bottom.

With the plummeting evening temperature about as pleasant as the prospect of going for a dip in the scuddy at the Maryhill Lock, this was not a night for hanging about and Thistle began with lots of vigour. There was plenty of forward momentum from the hosts and a delightfully executed breakthrough arrived on 16 minutes. Carl McHugh felled Miles Storey on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick, Blair Spittal plonked one into the top corner with great aplomb.

You could see the confidence rising in the ranks from that moment. All that was missing from the regular attacking charges was the triumphant toot of a bugle. With the red and yellow cavalry in full flow, the second goal duly arrived in a fairly straightforward fashion. Miles Storey drove into Motherwell territory and slid a pass into Ryan Edwards who lifted a composed finish high into the net. The hattered Steelman looked as shambolic as the once a year drinker at the office Christmas party and Thistle wasted no time in pouncing on their vulnerable guests. The lively, industrious Storey was heavily involved again as he released Conor Sammon who marched in on goal and stroked the ball past the advancing Russell Griffiths. There were only 27 minutes on the clock but Motherwell were probably wishing it was quickly tick-tocking nearer the 90 to put an end to the general wretchedness.

It was going to require quite an effort to salvage anything from the debris of that calamitous half hour. Andrew Rose had Tomas Cenry diving down to his right to gather a raking drive while Elliot Frear curled one over the bar as half-time loomed. There was not a great deal to concern Thistle, though.

There were worrying times after the break, however, as the visitors emerged with purpose. Cedric Kipre had the ball in the net on 55 minutes but, after a debate among the officials, it was chalked off. A few seconds later, Ryan Bowman had the ball in the net again and it stood this time despite Cerny’s best efforts at clawing the Motherwell man’s header off the line.

The visitors were galvanised and they upped the ante as Thistle found themselves on the back foot. A couple of goalmouth scrambles underlined Motherwell’s new found purpose.

With 12 minutes to go, they had even more reason to feel invigorated as they reduced the leeway further. Craig Tanner, a second-half substitute, wriggled his way into space and unleashed a powerful strike which zipped into the bottom corner. It was frantic stuff and Frear had a header in the last knockings which Cerny gratefully grasped.

Partick Thistle: Cerny, Turnbull, Keown, Spittal (Lawless), Barton, Devine, McGinn, Sammon, Edwards, Woods (Fraser), Storey (Doolan)

Motherwell: Griffiths, Tait, Grimshaw (Tanner), McHugh, Frear, Bowman, Rose (Bigirimana), Dunne, Petravicius, Kipre, Campbell