SOMETHING had to give.

The team with the perfect home league record took on the one with the unblemished away record and it was Partick Thistle whose streak came to an end, Morton's victory another twist in what may be a compelling contest for the Irn-Bru first division title.

The destination of the silverware will not be decided for some time but the champions will surely emerge from one of these two or Dunfermline Athletic, whose promotion hopes suffered a late blow in a 1-0 home loss to Falkirk.

"It has been a long time coming and hopefully we can stay there until the end of the season," said Allan Moore, the Morton manager, after his side drew level on points with Thistle at the top. "We knew it was going to be hard and, for 25 minutes, we were given the runaround. I didn't have to say much at half-time, though.That's why I picked my most experienced team."

Trailing by three points in the title race, the Boxing Day contest was arguably a bigger match for Moore's side than Thistle. They had won 3-1 at Cappielow earlier in the season but found themselves on the back foot almost immediately as Jackie McNamara's side opened brightly.

Thistle thought they had an opener after eight minutes but Steven Craig was denied by referee Bobby Madden, who judged he had fouled the goalkeeper Derek Gaston as they jostled for a cross.

Craig provided Thistle's main goal threat but he spurned a glorious chance, fluffing his header from an Aaron Muirhead cross when unmarked in the area.

The Morton defence was kept busy, with Kevin Rutkiewicz and Willie Dyer required to clear from the line as Thistle piled on the pressure. Their persistence eventually paid off, however, with Craig nodding home a Steven Lawless centre, and, before the half was out, Aaron Sinclair hit a post while Graeme Smith, the home goalkeeper, pulled off a superb save, tipping a Mark McLaughlin header over the bar to keep Thistle's advantage intact.

The lead should have been built upon but poor finishing, on a couple of occasions, and decision-making cost Thistle dear. The first opening fell to Forbes but his shot, after a powerful run from Craig, was blocked by Gaston. The goalkeeper was left in no-man's land minutes later but Craig elected to shoot rather than square to Chris Erskine and the chance was lost.

Partick's profligacy was to prove costly as Morton equalised just after the hour mark. Martin Hardie, a Firhill favourite of the past, converted after Smith found a stinging shot from Tony Wallace too hot to handle.

Thistle were soon on the back foot following a red card for Forbes – the midfielder collected two bookings in seven minutes.

Conrad Baltoni, of Thistle, cleared a Fouad Bachirou effort from the line but the winner soon arrived, substitute Scott Taggart converting David O'Brien's cross at the back post.

McNamara was a frustrated man at the final whistle, especially over the disallowed "goal" early on. "Stevie Craig's was a totally valid goal; he has not looked at the goalie and put it in. I thought a lot of decisions were baffling. [There were] bookings for our players and other ones that didn't get punished. I thought there was a lot of inconsistency."

SOMETHING had to give. The team with the perfect home league record took on the one with the unblemished away record and it was Partick Thistle whose streak came to an end, Morton's victory another twist in what may be a compelling contest for the Irn-Bru first division title.

The destination of the silverware will not be decided for some time but the champions will surely emerge from one of these two or Dunfermline Athletic, whose promotion hopes suffered a late blow in a 1-0 home loss to Falkirk.

"It has been a long time coming and hopefully we can stay there until the end of the season," said Allan Moore, the Morton manager, after his side drew level on points with Thistle at the top. "We knew it was going to be hard and, for 25 minutes, we were given the runaround. I didn't have to say much at half-time, though.That's why I picked my most experienced team."

Trailing by three points in the title race, the Boxing Day contest was arguably a bigger match for Moore's side than Thistle. They had won 3-1 at Cappielow earlier in the season but found themselves on the back foot almost immediately as Jackie McNamara's side opened brightly.

Thistle thought they had an opener after eight minutes but Steven Craig was denied by referee Bobby Madden, who judged he had fouled the goalkeeper Derek Gaston as they jostled for a cross.

Craig provided Thistle's main goal threat but he spurned a glorious chance, fluffing his header from an Aaron Muirhead cross when unmarked in the area.

The Morton defence was kept busy, with Kevin Rutkiewicz and Willie Dyer required to clear from the line as Thistle piled on the pressure. Their persistence eventually paid off, however, with Craig nodding home a Steven Lawless centre, and, before the half was out, Aaron Sinclair hit a post while Graeme Smith, the home goalkeeper, pulled off a superb save, tipping a Mark McLaughlin header over the bar to keep Thistle's advantage intact.

The lead should have been built upon but poor finishing, on a couple of occasions, and decision-making cost Thistle dear. The first opening fell to Forbes but his shot, after a powerful run from Craig, was blocked by Gaston. The goalkeeper was left in no-man's land minutes later but Craig elected to shoot rather than square to Chris Erskine and the chance was lost.

Partick's profligacy was to prove costly as Morton equalised just after the hour mark. Martin Hardie, a Firhill favourite of the past, converted after Smith found a stinging shot from Tony Wallace too hot to handle.

Thistle were soon on the back foot following a red card for Forbes – the midfielder collected two bookings in seven minutes.

Conrad Baltoni, of Thistle, cleared a Fouad Bachirou effort from the line but the winner soon arrived, substitute Scott Taggart converting David O'Brien's cross at the back post.

McNamara was a frustrated man at the final whistle, especially over the disallowed "goal" early on. "Stevie Craig's was a totally valid goal; he has not looked at the goalie and put it in. I thought a lot of decisions were baffling. [There were] bookings for our players and other ones that didn't get punished. I thought there was a lot of inconsistency."