I’m Zak in the game Rudden hero after lightning return to Bairns

Gordon Waddell

they’re running out of. In the end they took a point each but both ended up losers as the chasm to safety widened.

Alloa’s three points left a gap of six for Falkirk and seven for Jags to bridge with just 15 games left.

Thistle did all the running and took all the territory but they were nonexistent in the final third.

The Bairns tucked in and still had the best chance of the half as Rudden cut in from the left but took the wrong option trying to beat Conor Hazard from too tight an angle.

The flow didn’t change after the break and Thistle took the lead just after the hour.

Sean McGinty stroked the ball wide to James Penrice and Spittal tucked away his delivery with a shot that flew into the bottom corner.

The game changer in Thistle’s eyes came in 74 minutes when Andrew Dallas gave Gary Harkins a second yellow for a challenge on Ross MacLean.

Two minutes later, the Bairns were level. MacLean’s delivery was met by Ciaran McKen na , but de spi t e Hazard’s save, Rudden was there to bundle it home.

Bairns boss Ray McKinnon said: “That’s four points out of six away with a lot of new players so we’re pleased.”