ONE run has come to an end but another will have to wait to get going.
Allan Johnston and his Kilmarnock players avoided an unwanted place in the Rugby Park history books as they ended their five-game run of defeats yesterday, but it was to prove another what might have been afternoon for Partick Thistle.
Alan Archibald's side have yet to record back-to-back Premiership wins since returning to this level last season and after being held to a 1-1 draw at Firhill, that will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
The Jags have set their sights on a top-six place this season and this is the kind of match they need to be winning if that dream is to become a reality.
After an entertaining first half that saw Kilmarnock's Tope Obadeyi and Thistle's Dan Seaborne net within minutes of each other, the match turned into a war of attrition for those on the park and in the stands. The points were shared but there were few plaudits to be handed out.
"We are still in a good position in the league," Johnston said. "There are a lot of games this month against teams round about us, so it is a great opportunity to get back up the table."
Kilmarnock showed no attacking threat on their last trip to Glasgow as they were brushed aside by Rangers and surrendered their place in the Scottish Cup without a fight, but it took them just 11 minutes to find the net yesterday.
Josh Magennis nicked the ball from Jake Carroll on the left flank and while Paul Gallacher pulled off a terrific stop to deny Lee Miller, he could do nothing to prevent Obadeyi finishing the rebound from close range.
It was far from the start Thistle were hoping for but it didn't take them long to respond and pull themselves level at a freezing Firhill. Stuart Bannigan's free-kick was whipped into the area and it was Seaborne who got the decisive touch as he pulled away from the Killie defence and powered a header beyond goalkeeper Craig Samson.
With five minutes left of the first half, Bannigan almost turned from provider to scorer from a similar area as Samson was forced to retreat and tip the midfielder's free-kick over.
At the other end, Mark Connolly was denied by his skipper as Manuel Pascali inadvertently blocked the Irishman's header at the back post. While the first half was enough to keep the cold at bay and keep the crowd interested, there was little to shout about after the break, Obadeyi forcing Gallacher into action with a low shot in one of the few moments of goalmouth action.
Thistle were seeing plenty of the ball yet couldn't make it count as the home crowd became increasingly frustrated. Abdul Osman headed over after Bannigan whipped another teasing cross into the area and when Christie Elliott fired wide late on, the points were destined to be shared.
"We are disappointed it is only a point because we wanted three," Archibald said. "We will take it and move on. We are looking at Kilmarnock and Dundee and trying to stay with them."
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