Partick thistle 0

hibernian 1

WHEN both managers and players describe the game as ''no classic'' you can be certain it was some distance short of entertaining. How far short depends on your own threshold of boredom but, to be fair, there was no question about the desire of the teams to do well.

They just chose the same day to be pretty ineffective at the business end of the park.

Hibs looked the better team but Thistle had more of the play. Either way, a draw would have been a just result. Un- fortunately for Thistle, football justice is a non sequitur.

The home side's articulate defender, Derek Whyte, summed up the difficulties facing his team.

''We put so much into that game it was a shame we got nothing out it,'' he said, ''but that is what happens when you are in our position.''

Thistle's position is bottom of the SPL, with no wins, two draws, and two points. The future is not looking red and yellow.

Still, as Whyte pointed out, it is not a situation that is new to the club, manager, or support. ''We are favourites to be relegated, just as we were last year. That is bound to be the case because we cannot go out and buy players. We know that we are short on quality and we have to make that up with extra effort. We didn't do that last week but we did this time and I thought dominated the game. We deserved to take something. To lose with a last-minute goal was hard to take.''

The former Celtic and Middlesbrough player also recalled that the scenario was not so different early on last term when his team had won only once around this point.

''Football is a strange game and things can change quickly. We did it last year and we can do it again. There is a great team spirit here and we can only keep working harder and harder to get the breakthrough. We are desperate to get a win for the manager.''

No-one could quarrel with that analysis. The Hibernian manager, Bobby Williamson, was pleased with his defence's showing and the three points, but was honest enough to concede that it was no sparkling show from his side.

''Firhill is a difficult place for any team and we knew it would be hard. We got a break with the goal, but these things tend to balance out over the season.''

The ''break'' was the deflection off Grant Brebner's shoulder of a free kick by the substitute, Derek Riordan, with less than a minute to go.

It was tough on Thistle keeper Kenny Arthur, excellent throughout, making one superb stop to deny Riordan who could not be faulted then, although later he made a mess of a fine chance laid on by Gary O'Connor.

''I was angry about that one,'' said the young man later, ''but at least we ended up with the three points.''

Thistle's fate had been sealed earlier when Gerry Britton did well to reach a fine cross from Jean-Yves Anis but headed against the bar. ''The sun was in his eyes,'' explained Whyte, ''but he was very unlucky.''

Two men were very lucky. First up, a bizarre incident involving Colin Murdock, the Hibs defender, who tapped a free kick towards Roland Edge but left it well short. There was a pause when everyone stopped before James Grady rushed in and raced for goal with the ball. Referee John Rowbotham, who may only have seen Murdock indicating that he hadn't taken the kick yet, ruled against Grady and the free kick was taken again.

Then there was the Thistle substitute, Stuart Taylor. He was fouled by Scott Brown, reacted angrily and used both hands to shove the Hibs man to the ground. A red card seemed guaranteed but Rowbotham opted for yellow.

Hibs thus joined Dundee and Motherwell in joint fifth place. Higher places could be sought because they can play a lot better than this. To the manager's credit, though, he lacked nothing in courage by playing three young strikers, O'Connor, Stephen Dobbie, and Brown.