After three victories in a row, St Johnstone were brought back down to earth with a surprise defeat to Partick Thistle, who hadn’t won at McDiarmid Park for 22 years.
Spectacular long-range strikes from Gary Miller and Steven Lawless put the visitors 2-0 up and a Steven MacLean header early in the second period proved only to be a consolation for Saints, whose second half efforts were worthy of a point.
It was the visitors who made the brighter start, with Stuart Bannigan twice coming close in the opening stages.
After seven minutes a weak Tam Scobbie clearing header fell to him and his volley was collected at the second attempt by Alan Mannus, restored in the side after serving a one-game suspension.
Then on 10 minutes Mannus was beaten by a Bannigan 25-yarder but the ball just missed his top right corner.
Saints’ first effort of note came after Daniel Seaborne brought down Graham Cummins. Simon Lappin delivered the set-piece into the danger area, from where Cummins’ glancing header was wide of the far post.
Free-kicks were proving to be the Perth side’s best route to goal, with Dave Mackay having a 20-yard one tipped round the post by Tomas Cerny.
Thistle took the lead on 28 minutes.
Miller, playing against his old club, showed perfect technique to volley the ball home with the outside of his boot from 25 yards.
Saints had two good chances to equalise first when Liam Craig headed over from six yards and then Murray Davidson couldn’t divert a mis-hit Steven MacLean shot into the goal.
They were punished heavily when Lawless beat Mannus with another stunning long-range volley.
It was a different Saints team at the start of the second half literally and metaphorically.
Michael O’Halloran replaced Lappin and the team as a whole was straight on the attack.
Their reward was a goal on 48 minutes MacLean heading a Cummins cross home from point blank range.
And they would have been level moments later but for a fine Cerny save to deny Craig from distance.
With full-time approaching Cummins saw a back post header saved by Cerny and O’Halloran’s drilled ball across the box had no takers.
It was a grandstand finish and Abdul Osman was sent off for a hand-ball on the edge of the box (a second yellow) that seemed harsh. MacLean, who minutes earlier took too long after rounding the keeper, blasted over.
That was as close as it got, and Thistle held on for their win.