Partick Thistle defeated Ross County 3-0 to progress to the next round of the Scottish Cup and make a start in their bid to put their playoff heartbreak at the hands of the Staggies behind them.
Brian Graham broke the deadlock, before Scott Robinson and Stuart Bannigan added to a miserable afternoon for County.
Thistle had the first shot of the match. Steven Lawless was blocked off by the Staggies’ new signing Eli King, and it fell to Robinson who curled an effort slightly too high.
Thistle continued to build on this positive start, knocking it around and making County move from side to side. They had a second opportunity when a Kerr McInroy free kick came in from the right, but Aaron Muirhead nodded well over the bar.
Victor Loturi came within centimetres of giving County the lead on the counter attack. Connor Randall flashed a ball across the six-yard box, but the Canadian international couldn’t quite get there to tap home.
King was keen to make a good first impression. Loturi won a duel against McInroy in the midfield, and it fell to the Cardiff City loanee who sent a stunning drive just past the post from 35 yards out.
It was Thistle to draw first blood though. Aidan Fitzpatrick sent a cross into the box that was missed by every County defender, and former Staggie Graham made no mistake in putting his side into the lead from point-blank range.
A defensive mix-up from Ross County saw the Jags bag a second. McInroy drew a save from debutant George Wickens, and it broke free for Robinson to tuck away despite the efforts of Connor Randall and Will Nightingale.
The Staggies had a shaky start to the second half, and were lucky to avoid conceding a penalty when a mistake by half time substitute James Brown led to Nightingale clattering Fitzpatrick in the box. Referee David Dickinson was however unmoved.
After this warning shot County managed to burst forward on the counter. Murray drove into the Thistle half and laid it off to Yan Dhanda, who could only find the grateful arms of Jamie Sneddon.
Jay Henderson and Jordan White had also come on at half time, and between them really should have reduced the deficit. Henderson found himself with only the keeper to beat, but fired it straight into Sneddon, and White followed up by ballooning the rebound over the bar when it looked easier to hit the target.
Thistle would punish County for this wastefulness. Stuart Bannigan was man with a score to settle in Dingwall, having spurned a chance to win the playoff final in extra time, before missing in the shootout. He showed no signs of a hangover from that game, as he smashed a looping volley into the bottom corner to ensure Thistle were cruising to a win.
When the full time whistle went to confirm the result, there was elation for the travelling Partick Thistle fans who had experienced so much pain in Victoria Park a matter of months ago. For Ross County fans however, there is concern as the second half of the season looms on the horizon, starting with a trip to face the champions in Celtic next week.
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