Thistle overcame a tricky challenge at Vale of Leven on Saturday in a big morale booster for this weekend's Scottish Cup match at Craigmark.

Scott Adam, who has been helping out behind the scenes while he waits for a knee operation, said he was pleased Largs came through the Vale test.
He said: "In these kind of games against a lesser opponent it is important you start well and don't let your opponents get their noses in front - and we got the early goal on Saturday thanks to Stuart Faulds strike but it was disappointing in the rest of the first half as we let them back in it and I felt we took our foot off the gas. Maybe it lulled us into a false sense of security.
"We improved in the second half and moved 2-1 in front but missed quite a few chances to put the game to bed and they got one back.
"I thought after 90 minutes it might go straight to penalties but the referee told us it was extra time and I think fitness wise we showed what we were capable of.
"Full praise to Laurie McMaster who hadn't trained all week due to injury, he came on and replaced Cory Hughes and did a good job for us, and set up one of the goals."
Adam said he was hoping for a carefree afternoon but it turned into a thriller with Largs having to seal the deal with two goals in the second period of extra time. He said: "I don't know if it is good for the heart-rate but thankfully we got the win in the end.
"I always felt during the game that we had another level we could go up to - it would have been nice to have a 3-0 or 4-0 but we were made to battle.
"We had chances in the second half with Louie hitting the bar, Frizzell was one one one with the keeper, and Liam Coogans also went close.
"Apart from the two corners Vale of Leven scored, I thought we dealt with everything comfortably."