Spiders boss Coyle so proud of players’ fighting spirit

QUEEN’S PARK head coach Owen Coyle hailed his players for edging out Partick Thistle in a five-goal thriller to secure their first win in the Championship.

Coyle’s charges lost out by the same 3-2 scoreline to Ayr United in their last league game — and feared his men could have folded when Jack McMillan drew Partick level in the second half to cancel out Grant Savoury’s first-half opener.

Instead, Queen’s showed tremendous resolve as they reclaimed the lead through Tommy Robson, then Simon Murray added a third before Anton Dowds pulled one back late on for Partick.

Coyle said: ‘When you have had the punch on the nose that happened against Ayr United, when we didn’t deserve to lose the game, the whole dynamic changes.

‘But it was important the players knew the belief and trust I have in them.

‘We were really positive — and if you finish above Thistle this season, you’re going to be in the play-off places.

‘We showed an intent to win the game. At 1-1, it would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves after what happened last week, but we picked ourselves up and I liked the quality of the goal.

‘Our aim is to be competitive in this league and we will be.’

Queen’s Park made the early running as Robson tested Partick Thistle goalkeeper David Mitchell with a 30-yard drive. Mitchell then made an even better stop to tip over Scott Williamson’s snap-shot.

Partick grew into the first half and started to pose more of an attacking threat. Brian Graham forced a fine save from Calum Ferrie with a header from a Kyle Turner corner.

Graham spurned a chance to open the scoring as he did not get enough purchase on his header from a Steven Lawless cross and his effort was straight at Ferrie.

The home side made the breakthrough after 36 minutes through Savoury with a well worked free-kick routine.

Dom Thomas looked as though he was going to try his luck from 28 yards but instead slid the ball into Murray on edge of the penalty area and he laid it off first time to the onrushing Savoury.

The midfielder took a touch with his right and then slipped a clinical strike with his left under Mitchell.

Partick drew level after 64 minutes as McMillan played a slick one-two with

Graham and then produced a composed finish.

However, three minutes later, Queen’s restored their lead as Robson latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Malachi Boateng, who has joined on loan from Crystal Palace, and then finished from a tight angle.

Murray got in on the act when he reacted first after Jake Davidson forced the ball goalwards after his initial effort had been blocked on the line and the striker was in the right place to force it home.

There was a nervous finale when Partick substitute Dowds pulled one back, but Queen’s Park held on.

Partick manager Ian McCall said: ‘I’m disappointed we let down a fabulous support. I don’t think we deserved to get beat.

‘Going in at half-time one down was ridiculous as we had three or four great chances to score and didn’t.

‘Their first was a wellworked goal, as was ours, but the other two were a shambles.’