Kris Doolan was the hero for Partick Thistle as they came from behind to defeat Ross County 2-1 to realistically end the Staggies’ hopes of finishing in the top six.
County had started well and took the lead in the 58th minute when Craig Curran netted his sixth goal of the campaign.
But the Maryhill men equalised only six minutes later when forward Kris Doolan netted his 100th goal as a Partick Thistle player before popping up with the winner 11 minutes from time to keep the Jags on course to finish in the top half of the table.
The result leaves County nine points behind Partick with three matches left before the split with the Jags boasting a vastly superior goal difference.
The visitors had an early claim for a penalty when Alex Schalk fell to ground under pressure from Liam Lindsay waved away by referee Willie Collum with only four minutes on the clock.
County started well and created the game’s first attempt but Craig Curran’s weak effort from the edge of the area was comfortably held by Tomas Cerny.
At the other end, Ross County goalkeeper Scott Fox prevented Steven Lawless opening the scoring with a downward header from a Ryan Edwards cross.
The Staggies had a second penalty appeal turned down after 20 minutes. Again it was Schalk who clashed with Lindsay and it looked a stronger claim than the first but again nothing was given.
The game was starting to open up and Partick almost caught out the Staggies on a counter-attack but Fox was equal to Lawless’ low drive.
Ross County had a third penalty appeal 10 minutes before the break with Craig Curran left stunned when Collum didn’t point to the spot after he was brought down by Edwards.
The Jags were forced to make a change in the final minute of the half when captain Abdul Osman suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Daniel Devine.
The best chance of the half arrived deep in injury time when a Marcus Fraser header was denied by the woodwork, with the County defender starting the move by running half the length of the pitch with the ball before almost applying the finishing touch from a Liam Boyce cross.
Partick started the second half better and Chris Erskine almost broke the deadlock with a terrific hit that was clawed away by former Jag Fox before Lawless thundered a shot over the crossbar.
But it was the Staggies who were to strike first. The goal came courtesy of a rampaging run by Martin Woods with Liam Boyce turning his cross into the path of Curran to lash the ball home.
But the lead lasted only six minutes with Doolan manufacturing a yard of space in the County penalty box to twist away from Fraser and bury the ball beyond Fox.
And Doolan had the final say when he put the hosts in front with 11 minutes remaining when he exchanged passes with Christie Elliott before slotting past Fox.
