We welcomed Partick Thistle to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium today and Manager Terry Butcher made three changes to the side that took Motherwell to extra-time on Tuesday evening.  Youngsters Graeme Shinnie and Nick Ross started their first league games and Andy Barrowman was rewarded for his first goal of the season against Motherwell.  Ross Tokely, Stuart Golabek and Robert Eagle missed out through injury with Stratford and Djebi-Zadi dropping to the bench.

With 22 minutes played we had our first real effort on goal when a Jonny Hayes free kick was headed goalwards by Nauris Bulvitis but the ball drifted past the upright.  Eleven minutes later a Bryan Hodge free kick brought a fine save out of Ryan Esson under the crossbar.

Partick Thistle took the lead on the 38th minute when Liam Buchanan found himself space in the six yard box and with his back to goal he sent a cheeky backheel past his marker and Ryan Esson.  Within a minute Thistle extended their lead when a long clearance over the top was misjudged by Russell Duncan and striker Buchanan pounced on the bouncing ball to send a lob over the advancing Ryan Esson.

A third was added right on the half-time interval when Liam Buchanan skipped past a couple of challenges on the Partick left and slid the ball across the box for the unmarked Alan Archibald to finish past the exposed Ryan Esson.

Half-time score: ICT 1 - Partick Thistle 3 (Buchanan 38 & 39 mins, Archibald 45 mins)

Striker Andy Barrowman was replaced at half-time by Danni Sanchez.  On the 57th minute another good save by Ryan Esson prevented number four when Simon Donnelly sprinted through but his shot was blocked by the arm of Esson.  Shortly afterwards Esson was again alert to push away substitute Chris Erskine's effort at the near post.

With 61 minutes played youngster Graeme Shinnie was replaced by Adam Rooney and within two minutes Rooney had pulled a goal back.  Winger Jonny Hayes glided past a couple of Partick challenges on the left and when he made it into the box he was upended by defender John Robertson.  Rooney made no mistake smashing the ball past John Tuffey from 12 yards.

Nauris Bulvitis picked up a yellow card for a foul on Partick substitute Jim Hamilton in the 75th minute.  A minute later we had pulled another goal back, Grant Munro played a deep cross to the back post and Richie Foran rose well to angle a header into the far corner of the net.

Full-time score: ICT 2 (Rooney 63 mins, Foran 76 mins) - Partick Thistle 3 (Buchanan 38 & 39 mins, Archibald 45 mins)

ICT Team

Esson

Proctor, Bulvitis, Munro, Shinnie

Ross, Duncan, Cox, Hayes

Foran, Barrowman

Subs: Allison (GK), Rooney for Shinnie (61 mins), Stratford, Sanchez for Barrowman (46 mins), Djebi-Zadi for Ross (88 mins)