PARTICK THISTLE 3 Jones (48), Saunders (64), Zanatta (90+3) INVERNESS CT 1 Keatings (57)

Partick Thistle climbed out of the relegation play-off place with an impressive victory in an entertaining battle of the Jags at the Energy Check Stadium.

The Maryhill men are now on a run which has seen them defeated only once in seven games and boss Ian McCall praised his players’ resilience.

He said: “In this league you’ve got to battle. At the top or the bottom, you’ve got to fight for everything because all the teams are very evenly matched.

“Out of seven games now it’s five wins, a draw and a defeat so it’s not a wee run we’re on anymore – it’s a substantial run and we look forward to Dundee here next week.”

The game burst into life in the secondhalf with chances galore for both sides – but the home side deservedly came out on top, strikes from Alex Jones, Steven Saunders and Dario Zanatta giving them all three-points while James Keatings netted for the visitors.

The first-half provided chances for both sides with Thistle’s Reece Cole being denied on a couple of occasions by Mark Ridgers.

Caley also had opportunities, Miles Storey testing Scott Fox early on and Shaun Rooney firing a header over the bar from a corner shortly before the break.

Partick grabbed the lead on the restart after great work from Cole, who slipped through to Jones who slid the ball under Ridgers with a composed finish.

Cole could have doubled Thistle’s lead, but his 20-yard strike was saved by Ridgers.

Inverness threw the outcome into doubt nine minutes later as Keatings cleverly finished from a corner.

However, the Maryhill Jags then reinstated their lead when Saunders slammed home a knock-down from a corner.

The home side made sure of a vital win when substitute Zanatta finished from close-range in injury time.

Caley boss John Robertson reckoned his side should have been awarded a penalty by referee Steven McLean but refused to use that as an excuse for the defeat.

He said: “Tam O’Ware collided with Jordan White in the first half but the striker was booked for diving.

“Now, did it affect the game, the defeat? No, you can’t really say that but on another day we get it.

“The ref said he felt he propelled himself and it would have been soft. Willie Young used to say to me, ‘Penalties are like eggs – hard or soft they are still eggs’.”