St Mirren 0-1 Partick Thistle

St Mirren are level on points with the Scottish Premiership's bottom team Ross County following another costly defeat.

Familiar flaws were evident as the home side failed to create any meaningful chances against Partick Thistle.

They were then undone in the 75th minute when Christie Elliott scored with a low shot to beat Marian Kello.

The game was grimly fought, and often even, but that is of little consolation to St Mirren, who have won only one point at home this season.

The encounter soon became a test of nerve. There was plenty of industry and determination, but the efforts to produce something meaningful tended to become a toil.

The two sides were evenly balanced, which meant that neither could take command of proceedings.

Partick Thistle had looked the more accomplished team in the opening exchanges, slipping some neat and clever passes across a surface made slick by a constant downpour.

They managed to create a couple of half chances, both of which were Sean Welsh efforts from distance. Neither troubled Kello, even if the ball was treacherous to hold because of the conditions.

Once the home side found its organisation and commitment, though, the balance of play was shared evenly between them.

Old faults restricted them both, since they were incapable of dominating possession or creating opportunities in and around the penalty area. Even when James Marwood did scurry into the penalty box on the left hand side, he pulled his shot across the face of the goal and wide.

There were brief flurries of intent and a desperate tackle brought a free-kick to the home side just 20 yards from goal. Kenny McLean curled his effort round the defensive wall, but Scott Fox was able to comfortably hold the ball in the Partick Thistle goal.

St Mirren have picked up just one point at home this season

An attempt was made at half-time to jolt the game into a more lively encounter, since the Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald brought on Gary Fraser for Welsh, who took a series of heavy knocks in the opening half.

Fraser then steered a shot from 20 yards straight at Kello, while Elliott ought to have been more decisive when he met Stephen O'Donnell's cross at the back post, but he headed high and wide.

St Mirren had fewer options on the bench, since the manager Tommy Craig was denied the services of seven players through injury and the substitutes were mostly youth players. The one change Craig could make with some confidence was bringing on Ross Caldwell for the tiring Callum Ball.

The liveliness of the game continued, and the play tended to swing fairly consistently from one end to the other, but it still lacked the finesse or ingenuity of touch for either side to make a breakthrough.

It took a substitute to change that dynamic, and Declan McDaid made his impact soon after coming on for Thistle.

It was his run down the right then firm cross that created the chance for Elliott, and the midfielder rifled a shot low and hard past Kello.

There was joy for Thistle, but a familiar sense of frustration for the home side, whose efforts were undermined by the lack of a cutting edge up front.

Adam Drury came close with a long-range effort just before the end, but his effort flew wide.