Alan Archibald salutes Partick Thistle players after victory at St Johnstone

Manager Alan Archibald hailed the effort from his players after Partick Thistle registered back-to-back victories in the Premiership for the first time this season.

An injury-time winner from captain Abdul Osman earned a 2-1 win over St Johnstone, after Kris Doolan's first-half opener had been cancelled out by Saints striker Steven MacLean.

Following Wednesday's away success against Dundee, Archibald was delighted with his side's points haul as they registered just a third league success and made it four games without defeat to move into seventh in the table.

The Thistle manager said: “I thought we were strong in the second half. I was worried because we went with the same boys again, except the goalkeeper, for the third game in a row.

“But I thought the energy levels were fantastic.

“It's been a good week. After dropping points against Ross County at home it looked tough but we've taken seven points from three hard fixtures.

“We now go into a run of games which is tough again but we've given ourselves a great platform to go and perform.”

After losing late goals themselves this season, most noticeably in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with County and in the 2-1 home defeat to Hearts earlier in the campaign, Archibald said it had been pleasing to come up with Osman's late winner.

He added: “We've been on the wrong end of three late goals recently and that's probably why the celebrations were so emphatic.

“It's hard on the opposition but it's very pleasing when you get one.”

St Johnstone were themselves seeking to cap a fine run in which they had defeated Tayside rivals Dundee and earned a satisfying point in the midweek draw with Rangers.

However, a costly error from midfielder Liam Craig covering back in his own box allowed Thistle substitute David Amoo to set up Osman's winner.

At one point during the game Saints were heading for second place in the table but they ended the 90 minutes in fifth and manager Tommy Wright said: “If you defend how we did for both goals then you concede goals.

“When you get into injury-time you should see the game out, but we didn't because we make a bad mistake and get punished for it.

“And rightly so. We were the architects of our own downfall.

“Liam shouldn't be there, I don't know why he's there. Joe Shaughnessy can clear the ball and Liam's come into an area where he doesn't have to help.

“When he does get there he should just clear the ball but we don't do it.

“If you see the game out you get a point. It's a poor, poor goal to give away.”