J ACKIE McNamara's men stretched their unblemished league record to six straight wins, albeit with a victory ultimately earned by endeavour rather than flair.
After a first 45 minutes in which Partick showcased the type of football their fans have come to expect this term, they were made to sweat by a battling second-half performance from their Fife visitors.
Aaron Muirhead gave Thistle the lead with a first-half penalty. But Jamie Stevenson equalised three minutes into the second half and the scoreline remained level until Scott Linton's 70th-minute own goal.
"Cowdenbeath got a massive lift from the goal and put us under a bit of pressure," said Thistle manager McNamara said. "It was about how we responded to it. We can't have it our own way for 90 minutes and play great football. We have to be able to mix it as well. I was delighted with the response from the players."
It was obvious from the opening exchanges that Cowdenbeath goalkeeper Thomas Flynn was set for a busy first half as Thistle swarmed forward in their usual swashbuckling style.
He had a let-off in only being booked for fouling Christie Elliott just inside his area after 14 minutes, as the Thistle striker tried to skip round him and get a shot away, but he was picking the ball out of his net 11 minutes later when Aaron Muirhead fired home from the spot after Chris Erskine was brought down.
By the time the whistle blew for the end of the first half, Thistle should have had the points sealed. They launched wave after wave of attack but the second goal proved elusive, with Elliott heading wide at the back post before Steven Lawless twice tried his luck from distance with no joy.
Colin Cameron's side pulled level in spectacular fashion, when Jamie Stevenson rifled a superb long-range effort past Scott Fox. That signalled the start of a renaissance for the visitors, with Lewis Milne and Marc McKenzie both having efforts saved.
Thistle had rarely threatened Cowdenbeath's goal in the second half and when Flynn was beaten again the damage was self- inflicted as Linton diverted Aaron Sinclair's cross into his own net.
Central Park manager Cameron said: "I know how good my players are and they are good enough to play in this league. They have to start believing it more themselves. I felt that let us down two years ago [the last time they were in the First Division] but we are a better team this time around."
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