Partick Thistle 4-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Hosts go top of Championship
- Published
Brian Graham doubled his tally from a defensive error
Partick Thistle climbed top of the Scottish Championship after thrashing Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Brian Graham's double rewarded the rampant home team's first-half dominance at Firhill.
Kevin Holt added a penalty and Anton Dowds thumped in a late header as Inverness' unbeaten start to the season crumbled in a feeble display.
George Oakley headed an injury-time consolation to deny Ian McCall's men a first league clean sheet.
Steven Lawless' superb reverse pass found Cole McKinnon to roll the ball across for Graham to open the scoring.
The impressive Scott Tiffoney pounced on a dreadful backpass from Robbie Deas to tee up Graham for a simple second, and the striker had a chance to complete his hat-trick after the break, only to fluff his attempted chip.
Holt slotted a penalty after David Carson felled Graham, before Dowds met Harry Milne's cross with a crashing header to make it 4-0.
Oakley mustered the Highlanders' response in the final seconds, heading home from a corner.
Victory moves the Maryhill club a point clear of Dundee, who are among the eight Championship sides in action on Saturday, with Inverness two points off the top.
Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall: "Near perfect. We lost a goal from a set-play which put a real dampener on the night. Other than that, we were very good.
"We could have scored more goals, there was a real desire about us. We've beaten a really good Inverness team who will be up there at the end of the season."
Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds: "I'm sore. Gutted, to be honest. Partick Thistle were the better team all over the park. We gave them a helping hand with a few of the goals.
"No excuses, we weren't good enough. I'm sure we'll get a reaction. My team have been brilliant all season and haven't let me down too many times."