No panic, but a lot of Arbroath anger

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rbroath boss Dick Campbell wasn’t getting carried away when his side were challenging for the Championship title this time last year and he hasn’t been unduly concerned about their lowly position this season.

However, Scotland’s longest-serving boss was more than a little ruffled by the manner of this Firhill defeat – a result which ended Thistle’s five-game losing run and left Arbroath with just one win in their last nine.

Campbell, booked for dissent following his reaction to a pivotal moment in the match, said: “Christmas came early for Thistle in the first half but at half-time I felt we could get our act together.

“At that stage I thought we could go on and win the game but I couldn’t believe how it turned out.”

The Lichties suffered an early setback when Brian Graham gave Thistle the lead, the veteran striker instinctively sticking out a leg to divert Kyle Turner’s free-kick into the net.

However, the visitors produced a spirited response and went on to enjoy the lion’s share of possession for long spells.

They created their fair share of chances but, as so often this season, they found the finishing touch elusive.

Dale Hilson, later to go off with a rib injury, almost drew them level with an angled shot just inches wide, before Dylan Tait fired narrowly over from the edge of the box.

Thistle keeper Jamie Sneddon then made an excellent save to deny Scott Allan who had met Marcel Oakley’s cross with a firm strike.

Florent Hoti went close on either side of the break.

But failure to convert chances came back to haunt them as they suffered a double whammy in the closing stages when first Turner increased Thistle’s lead after the referee failed to spot what Campbell believed was a clear foul on Tait in the build-up, and then Harry Milne headed in the third after the visitors failed to deal with a corner.

Campbell’s men were denied even a consolation when Milne nodded Bobby Linn’s netbound effort off the line in stoppage time, to complete a disappointing day for the Gayfield team.

The manager added: “It’s the most critical decision I’ve seen this year.

“The boy pulls Dylan Tait down, the ref waves play on and they score the second goal.

“It was appalling – if it’s not a foul I’m as well sitting in the house.”

Second-bottom Arbroath remain a point ahead of Hamilton but five behind seventh-placed Cove Rangers.

They have a break from league action on Saturday when they head to Fraserburgh for a Scottish Cup third round tie.