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For many years now, Partick Thistle versus Greenock Morton has served as one of the most highly anticipated games of the Scottish football calendar. Although not a traditional derby match, it’s a fixture that holds a degree of bad blood.

The current generation of each fanbase tend to view each other as a bitter rival and this feud can be pinpointed back to the First Division title race of 2012-13. Allan Moore’s experienced Morton men would lock horns with Alan Archibald’s youthful Jags side in their hunt for promotion to the top flight.

The Ton would ultimately blow an eight point lead at the top of the table, and Thistle were on hand to capitalize, winning the league title with 2 games to spare. The two clubs would have contrasting futures lying in wait. Partick Thistle would go on to spend the next 5 seasons competing amongst the best the country have to offer in the Premiership, whilst Morton were relegated to League One the following season, further fueling their deep- rooted resentment towards the Jags.

Fast forward to present day and that matchup is as ferocious as ever. Kris Doolan’s Partick Thistle boasting the bragging rights over Morton having trounced the Cappielow outfit in their backyard just a couple of months ago. Thus, the Championship basement-dwellers would head to Firhill seeking revenge as they looked to peel themselves off the foot of the table.

The Jags support - buoyed be the fact that last season’s Player of the Year, Jack McMillan, would make his long awaited return to the matchday squad, would receive a further boost when news filtered through that Morton’s main man, Robbie Muirhead, who so often proved to be a thorn in the side of his former club, would have to sit this one out as the men from Inverclyde found themselves plagued by injury.

Thistle would approach the game in search of an early goal, as they knew this Morton back line were susceptible to being caught cold having watched Owen Moffat of Dunfermline find the back of the net inside 20 seconds last weekend. And caught cold they were, as many of the Firhill faithful had just taken to their seats when the ball rippled the back of the net.

With only two minutes on the clock, Steven Lawless cut onto his sorcerous left foot, floating a deep cross for Kerr McInroy to run onto. The on loan Kilmarnock midfielder clawed the ball out the sky before expertly volleying the ball beyond the helpless Jamie MacDonald in the Morton goal. The Jags a goal to the good.

Morton would however find themselves with a route back into the game, as referee Alan Muir awarded the away side with a controversial penalty kick. No complaints for the eventual foul on Kirk Broadfoot, however the decision was met with protestations from those in red and yellow as the ball appeared to have hit the hand of a Morton player in the build-up. The ever-reliable Grant Gillespie duly slotted his penalty into the bottom corner to bring the score level, his tenth goal from the spot in Morton colours.

The games big flash point would come 20 minutes from time when Brian Graham’s number was held aloft to be replaced by Tomi Adeloye. The Thistle skipper made way to a torrent of abuse from the travelling support to which Graham replied with an offensive gesture of his own as he took his place upon the substitute bench. The restart was halted as the linesman alerted referee Muir of Graham’s act, the Jags striker was given his marching orders and sent down the tunnel as Muir brandished a red card from his pocket.

The match-winner would come just a few moments later. The unplayable Aidan Fitzpatrick, who had proved to be Thistle’s live wire all afternoon, made a darting run to the by-line before cutting his cross back to the feet of half-time substitute Blair Alston. Alston, with his back to goal, swivelled on the ball, flicking it past MacDonald at his near post to edge the Jags in front. A simply stunning goal fit to win any game of football.

Tensions continued to boil over after the full-time whistle with Morton gaffer Dougie Imrie clashing with Thistle assistant Paul McDonald. The pair having to be separated by their respective benches. A sign of the growing pressure on the Ton boss, who now finds his side four points adrift in bottom spot, having played a game extra, than the sides immediately above them in the table.

On the other hand, a massive three points for Thistle, retaining bragging rights over their Greenock counterparts, whilst also giving themselves a buffer in third spot having only tasted defeat once in their last seven outings.