Caldwell praises Partick after battling side earn point against Dunfermline
Thistle sit just a point above bottom side Alloa with five games left to play
Gary Caldwell praised Partick's persistence as they fought back from two goals down to grab a crucial point from a 2-2 draw at home to Dunfermline.
The Jags' survival hopes were on the verge of taking a major dent when Tom Beadling and Bruce Anderson fired the Pars ahead.
But an own goal from Ryan Blair gave the Maryhill outfit a lifeline before Scott McDonald fired a precious equaliser with 13 minutes left.
The point sees Thistle move out of the drop zone but with only a one point cushion there is all still to play for with five games left of the campaign.
"It was a great response from the side considering the start to the game,'' Caldwell told the club's website.
"The first 20 minutes weren't good enough. We didn't start the game with any intensity. We had poor body language, we weren't ready for the fight and the two goals woke us up.
"For 60-65 minutes after that, I thought we were outstanding. The way we played was on the front foot. We had forward momentum throughout the second half in the chances we created.
"It's never easy when you give the opposition a two-goal start to come back and win the game and we just fell short in doing that. The character and reaction from everyone in the side was fantastic.''
Falkirk dropped into the play-off spot after allowing basement boys Alloa to drew level on points with a crucial 2-1 win at the Indodrill Stadium.
Dario Zanatta smashed in the opener but Ray McKinnon's visitors hit back just after half-time through Zak Rudden.
But there was more pain in store for Falkirk as Jordan Kirkpatrick handed the points to Jim Goodwin's Wasps late on.
Queen of the South remain in touching distance of the battle at the bottom after they could only scrape a 1-1 draw at Palmerston.
Kyle Jacobs' long-range effort put Queens - who sit three points in front of the bottom two - ahead but Charlie Telfer's second-half equaliser for the Ton leaves them four in front of the relegation zone.
Inverness leapfrogged Ayr into third spot after Brad McKay nodded home the winner at Somerset Park