IF you were being facetious, you might suggest the events of the last few days have left Partick Thistle harbouring second thoughts about joining the Scottish Premier League.

In truth, though, this point makes Thistle's promotion to the top flight for the first time in nine years all but certain, moving them nine points clear of Morton with a vastly superior goal difference. But a plucky Raith Rovers played their part as party poopers to perfection, meaning Thistle's Scottish Football League farewell tour moves on to Falkirk. Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton are the other opponents who stand in the way of the point they require to get over the finishing line.

"It was a bit of an anti-climax," said Alan Archibald, their manager. "After such a big build-up this week maybe it was a bit of nerves. The boys are bitterly disappointed, we wanted to clinch it in style but we can't have a go after the amount of games they have played in the last two months. They have been incredible."

When the title is finally clinched, having made such a contribution to this team, it is ironic Jackie McNamara now seems intent on dismantling it. A decade ago, Archibald and assistant Scott Paterson moved from Maryhill to Tannadice and history seems to be repeating itself with Paul Paton and Chris Erkine. Chairman David Beattie confirmed both had agreed pre-contracts to join Dundee United this summer, and Archibald said both will leave with his best wishes. "That is what happens," he said. "They have been great servants for the club. There is no chance of persuading them to stay; we tried. They can go there and be secure financially for the next two or three years; that is one thing we couldn't match. They know the manager, he trusts them, they trust him and we wish them all the best. We will see what is out there and try to replace them."

It is fitting the manner of Thistle getting over the line should test of their resolve. At one stage, they were eight points in arrears of Morton, albeit with three games in reserve, but Archibald's promotion from player/coach has only added steel to this team. Since he took over in January, Thistle are still to lose a league match, having now taken 33 points of the 39 available. Much of the hard yards of this imminent title win have been grinding out their games in hand in Fife, but in a match originally postponed due to Partick's Ramsdens Cup final loss to Queen of the South, Raith replicated a goalless draw achieved earlier this month.

It was little wonder that Archibald was reluctant to make too many changes, naming himself on the bench and bringing Erskine in for Steven Craig. In front of a crowd of just under 5000, perhaps the magnitude of what they were about to achieve spooked this young team. Just 25 seconds were on the clock when Stephen O'Donnell, another man out of contract this summer, trod on the ball and allowed Brian Graham clean in on goal, but he could only find the side netting. Scott Fox, fresh from agreeing a new two-year deal, then twice saved his team with stops from Greig Spence. First the striker tested Fox from an angle, then profited from a Stuart Bannigan error but shot at the goalkeeper.

Thistle grew into the game. James Craigen, a man plucked from a Scottish Universities XI in pre-season stung, David McGurn's palms from long range, Erskine drilled one wide and Kris Doolan forced another save from McGurn. The same man really should have broken the deadlock shortly before half time, when the goalkeeper got a touch on a Ross Forbes cross but, as he lunged in, Doolan could only divert the ball over the bar.

Raith thought they might have had a penalty when Joe Cardle tumbled to the ground with Andy Dowie, his former Dunfermline team-mate, in close proximity, but Erskine seemed desperate to sign off with a telling contribution, testing McGurn as the first half elapsed then starting the second with another effort which was deflected behind off a Raith body.

Steven Lawless replaced Forbes and made an impact; he put one on a plate for Erskine which deserved better than being fired wide, then almost got the crucial goal himself with McGurn saving well from his drive, then doing even better with O'Donnell's rebound. Another Lawless shot flew a couple of metres wide but for all they battered away at the door, the party was to be postponed. "Not many teams get anything at Firhill so I am happy," said Grant Murray, the Raith manager.