Partick Thistle 2-1 Greenock Morton: Cheers to Maxwell's House

But first of all, a bit of a rant. Many, many thanks to the downmarket English tabloid who were at Firhill filming their latest telly shill, and who gave every child at the ground one of those kazoo things to blow during the match.

Because there is nothing finer than sitting for 15 minutes before kick-off, trying to read the programme to be greeted by an orchestra of pre-pubescent kazoo players all slightly out of sync. We've enough headaches at Firhill these days as it is without those induced by five year olds in Barcelona kits blowing their mini-trumpets every five seconds.

Anyway, back to Ian Maxwell. What a a star. In the absence of Archie at the back, he's been a steadying hand and a defensive rock. Certainly I feel far more comfortable seeing him at the centre of our defence than, say, Kinniburgh. Plus, he's turned into a goal machine. Four already this season, and not a duff one among them. Yesterday's may have been scrappy, but it was crucial in terms of timing and who could ask for more.

Yesterday, our first half performance was awful. Seriously just desperate. Damon Gray, who continues to infuriate and delight with alternate touches, was included ahead of Lennon, presumably to make sure he's match sharp ahead of Wednesday's cup clash with Rangers. But that's a gamble that didn't pay off and he needs to find his scoring boots again when the TV cameras come a-calling.

Morton, on this evidence, don't look much better. They've been a bit of a bogey team for us at times, none more so than on the last day of last season, when they pitched up at Firhill needing a result on the last day of the season, and proceeded to cast a blue and white hooped shadow over the launch of the board's Real Scottish Football initiative. Yesterday they looked scrappy and, a good spell around their goal aside, lacked any real presence or threat.

That said, we weren't vastly better - and notably it took the injection of Simon Donnelly into the team at half time to fire things up again. Sid's praises have been well-sung on this blog already this term, so I'll refrain from a repeat of a familiar tune, except to say that he inspired everyone around him - especially a lacklustre Rowson - into playing like a team at the top of Division 1.

So much of the passing goes through him, and so much of the game is dicated by him, that his presence has become vital - and who'd have thought that of a Dick Campbell signing. Yet in the pub afterwards it sparked the great debate - once everyone's fit, who do you drop to bring Sid in from the start?

I still say Harkins, although he was much improved yesterday from his recent turns and the sloppy silliness that has blighted his game was largely missing. He still can't seem to hit a three yard pass when he can achieve 60-yard ones with grace, but Harkins, Rowson and Donnelly playing off each other, with support off the wing-backs, are a genuine creative powerhouse by Div 1 standards.

So we sit second, with a trip to Almondvale and a top of the table clash to come next week. Midweek, however, is the Rangers game. Do we have what it takes to pull off something special there? Much depends on the starting line-up. But if Rangers stick out their aging back line and we can make use of Sid's creativity and the pace of Paton and Twaddle, we could yet spring a Firhill shock on Wednesday.