Caldwell’s Jags take giant leap

PARTICK THISTLE manager Gary Caldwell will avoid looking at the Championship table until the end of the season as he insisted it is where they finish that is important, not where they are now.

But his side boosted their chances of remaining in the second tier of Scottish football as they secured a convincing win over Morton courtesy of a double from Kris Doolan and a goal from veteran defender Steven Anderson all before the interval.

Thistle climbed out of the dreaded play-off place at the wrong end of the table and Caldwell said: ‘The league table does not matter until the last game of the season.

‘What matters is we got a massive three points, we got a clean sheet which we haven’t had for a while.’

Morton started well but could not turn their early pressure into a goal as Jags goalkeeper Conor Hazard prevented Robert Thomson from opening the scoring.

Instead it was the visitors who made the breakthrough when Doolan latched onto a long ball from Shea Gordon and slotted past Robby McCrorie.

Morton were undone by two corners before half-time. Anderson’s header was blocked by Scott McDonald but fell back into his path and he lashed home. Then McDonald helped a Gordon outswinging corner goalwards and Doolan diverted it in.

The hosts failed to rally after the interval and Partick saw the game out with ease.

Morton manager Jonatan Johansson stated: ‘We should have scored first but the manner we lose the first goal was really poor defending and then we lose two set-plays.

‘It was hard to take.’