Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 2

The Pars were left sickened after failing to take anything from this match after a terrific second half fightback.

A bug swept through the club this week and it looked to have taken its toll as goals from Harry Milne and Brian Graham put the visitors two up at half-time.

But Dunfermline threw everything at the Jags after the break and pummelled their opponents, pulling one back late on with Matty Todd slamming a terrific finish in off the underside of the bar.

It set up a grandstand finish and in the 86th minute Alex Jakubiak thought he’d rescued a point only for the ball to come back off the post, the second time they’d hit the woodwork in the second half.

The defeat leaves Athletic in fourth spot, but they’re now seven points behind Thistle.

There was a boost for Dunfermline with the news that skipper Kyle Benedictus was back in training, as were fellow centre backs Rhys Breen and Sam Fisher, but he didn’t make the squad to face the Jags.

There were three changes to the side that won 2-1 at Airdrie last week, with Craig Wighton and Ben Summers dropping out completely and Aaron Comrie on the bench.

Fisher was in from the start, along with Jakubiak and Todd, with Breen named as a sub as Dunfermline set out to try and close the gap on Partick, the team immediately above them in third place.

The Glasgow side had won the earlier meeting in the league, a comfortable 3-0 win at Firhill at the end of September, although they were defeated in Fife last Friday night in a 4-3 TV thriller at Raith.

Thistle started the better side and it was Milne who opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

A short corner was taken to ex-Pars man Steven Lawless who whipped a terrific ball to the back post where the defender met it and powered a header in off the bar.

Dunfermline almost made an instant reply. Jakubiak took a heavy touch from Michael O’Halloran’s pass but won the ball back, barrelled into the box and then hooked his shot wide of the post from six yards.

There was a slight concern about how Chris Hamilton would cope with a much taller striker up against him, Partick’s Graham, but despite being about a foot smaller the Pars man won the first aerial duel.

And he followed that up with a crucial interception, snuffing out an away attack when Lawless’ through ball threatened to put Graham clean through.

However they just kept coming. Partick’s pressing of the ball when they lost possession was ferocious and they won it back time and again.

Joe Chalmers did get moving down the left and put a fine ball into the box but it was out of reach for Jakubiak.

Two huge blocks prevented Dunfermline getting right back into it. First Paul Allan latched on to a clearance at the edge of the box and thumped an effort at goal that Aaron Muirhead managed to get in the way of.

A moment later it was Todd who let the ball drop and then hammered it but Muirhead’s defensive partner, Lewis Neilson, got the block on this one to leave the home fans frustrated.

Ewan Otoo then burst forward and his low drive from 25 yards was well hit but Sneddon got down well to hold.

Fisher, who has only just returned from injury, limped out of the action again after a collision with Milne and had to be replaced by Comrie. He went to hospital as a precaution with a head knock.

And just on half-time it got even worse. Aidan Fitzpatrick swung in a corner from the left, Deniz Mehmet came for the ball and dropped it and Graham pounced on the scraps to fire Jags into a two-goal half-time lead.

Pars had a real go at the start of the second half. Todd’s low drive had the sting taken out of it by a challenge but it still forced Sneddon to get down sharply to save.

And the midfielder had to twist to meet Allan’s firm cross, which was slightly behind him, with his header ending up on the roof of the net.

Edwards then found sub Owen Moffat – he had replaced Chalmers - in space but he took too long to get his shot away and Partick’s defence slammed the door shut in his face.

It was Athletic showing the greater desire now and Edwards sent in a terrific cross that Todd missed completely with Partick thankful to only concede a corner.

You got the impression that one goal and the Pars would be right back in this and Todd again came close to finding it in the 72nd minute.

A great break saw Lewis McCann burst into the box and slip it right to the midfielder but his fierce drive was tipped onto the post and out for a corner by Sneddon.

Moffat then raced onto a pass but instead of pulling the trigger he crossed for McCann and the striker’s close range finish was blocked by Neilson.

In the 86th minute Dunfermline struck the post again, O’Halloran’s low cross was flicked on by Jakubiak’s heel but the ball trundled across goal and struck the upright before Sneddon gratefully flopped down on it.

Pars pushed to the very end but just couldn't grab an equaliser.