Aussie rules as Edwards steps forward to seal Thistle win

PARTICK THISTLE eased their relegation worries by coming from behind to defeat their hosts, who are by no means out of the mire.

Hamilton dominated the opening 45 minutes and should have been more than one goal to the good and they paid the price for their profligacy when the visitors finally turned up for the second half.

Ironically, the key man for the visitors was Australian midfielder Ryan Edwards, who set up the first goal and scored the winner himself. Yet he had not been chosen to start the game and only did so due to defender Liam Lindsay suffering a hamstring injury during the warm-up.

This was only his third start for the Jags and his first goal made a compelling case for remaining in manager Alan Archibald’s side.

‘That’s what you’re there for as a sub; you’ve got to prepare for the unknown and I thought I did that well today,’ said Edwards.

‘It’s great to get the three points and I’m happy to have scored the winner.’

It was the home side who had taken the lead when Greg Docherty shot past Tomas Cerny in the 10th minute.

However, Mathias Pogba got the visitors back on level terms just after the break, before Edwards grabbed the winner.

Thistle boss Archibald said: ‘We were delighted to go in at only 1-0 down and get the opportunity to regroup and re-organise.’

Martin Canning was again subjected to abuse from disillusioned Hamilton fans at the final whistle. It is now over six months and 11 games without a victory at New Douglas Park and the Accies manager said: ‘It’s down to basics. I don’t think our goalkeeper has had a save to make in the game yet we lose two goals from crosses into the box and they’ve got to be defended — if you’re a centre-back then that’s your job. That’s what they get paid for, to go and put their heads on it.’