Airdrie won their top-of-the-table clash against Partick thanks to a 19th minute goal by top scorer Owen Coyle.

The hard-fought victory puts them three points clear of Thistle and in the end they deserved maximum points.

In the first-half, the Diamonds dominated with the visitors failing to provide any goal threat at all.

A great build-up between Tony Smith and Craig McPherson put the latter in the clear down the left and his cross to the back post found its way to Coyle who was unmarked and easily nodded the ball home.

A minute later, it looked as if they would go two up when the ball bobbled about inside the visitors' six-yard box but Thistle managed to survive the danger.

After the interval, Thistle were much more worthy of their lofty league position as they took the game to the home side.

Their best effort came after 65 minutes when a powerful Martin Hardie header from a Stephen Craigan cross looked goalbound until Allan Ferguson pulled off a tremendous save.

Airdrie then had two further chances to put the game beyond Thistle, with the first one coming from Taylor as he latched onto a ball from McPherson to see the cross bar deny him Airdrie's second.

Then Lee Gardner had a great chance from the edge of the box after a cut back from McPherson only this time the post was to deny Airdrie.

It was a great victory for Airdrie as people were starting to doubt them to be serious title contenders but its Thistle who will have the questions asked after losing their second game in a row.

Airdrie: Ferguson, Armstrong, McPherson, Stewart, Taylor, James, Henry, MacFarlane, Coyle, Roberts, Smith

Subs: Gardner, Dunn, McDonald, MacDonald, Bennett