The adoption of a 3-5-2 shape to counter Thistle's usual formation was revealed by McGhee in his pre-match interview. To make it work he included Ferguson to partner McManus and Heneghan at the back. The 20 year old, one of last season's cup winning U20s, looked assured in his first league start of the season - as did McMillan in the widened midfield.
The Moult/McDonald partnership returned to its productive best with the younger man back to full fitness. Alan Archibald was generous in his post-match comments about our striking duo, "We couldn't handle their front pairing. We had three centre-backs playing today and we couldn't get to grips with them."
Mark McGhee was happy to talk of the clean sheet and the satisfaction that Samson would take from it. The 'keeper was aided by some determined defenders who were willing to make huge efforts to block shots as Thistle tried in vain to claw themselves back into the contest. The manager was delighted with the performance and noted that we can travel to Tynecastle next week with some confidence.
Such is the compact nature of the league that a sizeable defeat would have landed us at the bottom of the table. Instead we now hold sixth place and can be tempted to look up rather than down.
Fixtures against Hearts(a) and Celtic(h) will occupy the Fir Park tactics board in the next couple of weeks but if we can get the tactics and attitude right we may have more reasons to be cheerful.