Dunfermline Athletic 1 Partick Thistle 2

IF the Pars weren't feeling sick before, as a result of the bug that swept through the club this week, they certainly would have after the way this match unfolded.

Two preventable goals down at the break and looking decidedly under the weather, the home team perked up and were in rude health when Matty Todd slammed in a late strike.

The comeback was on but the post kept Dunfermline out - where have we heard that before? - and they had to take their medicine after the Jags held on for the win.

Training was cancelled on Thursday in a bid to stop the bug spreading and manager James McPake admitted: "It did affect us. I had a phone call at eight o’clock this morning from a player (who couldn't play).

"There were a couple of staff members - from the football department and other departments in the club as well.

"That happens and I just wish the players and the staff and their families all the best."

He added: "I’m bitterly disappointed for the players but really proud of the way they came out at 2-0 down and still continued to play the way we had asked them to, still on the front foot."

Just under 5,000 fans packed into East End for the last home match before Christmas as fourth in the Championship took on the team in third.

And it was the Pars who were in a generous mood, gifting two easy goals to Partick.

A short corner and cross to the back post from ex-Par Steven Lawless found Harry Milne, who outmuscled Josh Edwards and powered in a header in the 12th minute.

And right on half-time, goalie Deniz Mehmet came for a corner, fumbled and Brian Graham pounced to put the Jags two up.

McPake said: "We gave ourselves a real mountain to stay in the game after conceding two set plays.

“The players know that. We’re not going to point fingers because it is a team - we win and lose as a team but you’ve got to do your jobs at set plays.

"Other than that I’m proud of the players in terms of performance, but proud doesn’t get you points. It's a real sore one to take."

In an attacking midfield role, Todd's well-timed runs into the box saw him land the majority of Athletic's chances.

He was out of luck after showing fine technique, the ball dropped on the edge of the box and he caught it sweetly but found Thistle defender Lewis Neilson blocking what seemed a certain goal, while a second half strike was arrowing into the top corner until goalie Jamie Sneddon tipped it onto the post.

He missed the ball and swiped fresh air in attempting to convert a brilliant Edwards delivery and nodded over the bar when Paul Allan's cross was slightly behind him.

Todd had another effort saved by Sneddon before he finally got his reward, latching on to Edwards' low ball and side-footing it into the roof of the net.

That was in the 82nd minute and, urged on by a baying crowd, Pars moved in for the kill.

Alex Jakubiak thought he'd levelled in the 86th minute, his back-heel flick from Michael O'Halloran's cross sent the ball trundling goalwards but it hit the post.

Partick had looked comfortable at the break but Dunfermline dominated the second half, a terrific fightback that ultimately went unrewarded with the Jags' defence making crucial blocks to keep out efforts from Allan and Lewis McCann.

The boss said afterwards: "That is maybe one criticism of our team in the first half, we didn’t have too many clear cut chances.

"The killer bit that (Thistle striker) Brian Graham has about scoring at all costs.

"He has got that and has had that all his career.

“We needed a bit of that and second half that was there. From the minute the second half started I thought we were on the front foot.

"We pinned Partick back, we played some good football."

McPake continued: "The posts again kept us out, Matty’s strike was outstanding and I have not seen the other one back.

"It looked like it was going in. Look I’m proud of the progression in terms of where we were standing this time last year.

"We still need to keep winning games, we know that. We had won two in a row and we were desperate to make it three, we haven’t done that in this league yet."

To add to the hard luck story, Pars picked up yet another injury.

The unfortunate Sam Fisher had only just returned from a knock but had to leave the field after colliding with Milne late in the first half.

McPake said he was "gutted and frustrated" for the centre back, adding: "There’s nothing in it. The boy just stands his ground and Sam runs into him and he was a bit dazed.

"Credit to the kid, he wanted to go on and in hindsight we should have taken him off but he passed the tests and was adamant he was okay.

“He went up to hospital and we’ll take care of him."