Dunfermline: Five things we learned from Pars' Partick Thistle loss

Aidan Fitzpatrick's 89th minute strike was decisive for the Jags at Firhill, bringing a three-match unbeaten run in both the Championship, and SPFL Trust Trophy, to an end.

Here are five of the key takeaways from the loss in Glasgow.

Pars need to keep the ball better

Manager James McPake felt that the key reason for the difference in performance, and result, between Saturday, and their victory over Raith Rovers in their previous game, was their quality on the ball.

READ MORE: Pars 'weren't good enough on the ball' in Thistle defeat

He felt that they weren't good enough when they had possession and it was a fair analysis.

Throughout the game, which was scrappy and bitty for the most part, the Pars struggled to create in the final third.

All too often, when they had the ball in positions which were promising to build an attack, the pass forward wouldn't find its target, with possession turned over, leading to moves breaking down.

It was one of those afternoons where it just didn't happen, on a pitch perfect surface, with McPake admitting that they weren't composed enough on the ball.

James McPake felt his side didn't use the ball well enough on Saturday. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Not enough threat in attack

As alluded to above, Dunfermline struggled to create goalscoring opportunities.

Whilst you couldn't question their effort and application, the guile to force Thistle goalie, Myles Roberts, into serious action wasn't there.

Their best opportunity came in the second half, when Sam Fisher was unfortunate to head wide from a Kieran Ngwenya cross, and whilst Kane Ritchie-Hosler fired wide in the opening period.

The latter sent a shot towards goal as the game approached the final 10 minutes, which was a comfortable save for Roberts, that was Athletic's only effort on target.

Matty Todd, who made his comeback from injury as a first half substitute, agreed that his side "probably need a wee bit more threat going forward", but is confident that will "come with boys getting relationships with each other".

Defence on top - until the last minute

Thistle started the match well, with goalscorer Fitzpatrick and former Kelty Hearts loan star, Kanayo Megwa, causing problems in the first 15-20 minutes.

However, their chances were limited throughout, as were Dunfermline's. The hosts had a couple of headers off target, and a shot blocked, until Aaron Muirhead headed against the bar with 20 minutes to go.

Defences had been on top until Partick's late winner. (Image: Craig Brown.)

That was about it until Fitzpatrick latched on to a header forward. The Pars didn't do enough to stop him, as he twisted away from Chris Hamilton, and then created a half-yard of space as Aaron Comrie tried to block, before drilling the ball underneath Deniz Mehmet.

Thistle boss, Kris Doolan, said afterwards that his team "have players like Fitzy who will pop up and get you something out of nothing" - and that was the difference.

Injury woes

Dunfermline were forced into two enforced changes during the first half but McPake didn't use that as an excuse.

They lost David Wotherspoon, to tightness in his hamstring, after 24 minutes, and then centre back Tommy Fogarty, whose eye was closing over following an earlier collision with Harry Milne, shortly before the break.

READ MORE: New arrival Craig's "grateful" for Athletic chance

When it was put to him that his team had to adapt to those circumstances, McPake said that it "shouldn't have made any difference", noting: "That's football though.

"The squad's good. I've sat many a time and bemoaned the fact that we've not got enough players, we've not got this and that, but the squad's good."

Tommy Fogarty was one of two enforced Dunfermline substitutions in the first half. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Influential Todd returns

One plus from Saturday was the sight of midfielder Matty Todd returning to action.

The 23-year-old had been missing since pre-season, when he suffered a fractured collarbone, but was called upon by McPake to replace Wotherspoon at Firhill.

Todd was quickly into the thick of things and, aside from his legs "feeling it a wee bit" due to his lack of action, he reported post-match that he came through it with no issues.

Matty Todd made a welcome return to action on Saturday. (Image: Craig Brown.)

His manager has regularly sung the praises of Todd, and recently said that "any team playing us, they don't want to face Matty Todd".

The boyhood Pars fan's late runs into the box and goalscoring threat sets him apart from other central midfield options, and his return will be key to help Dunfermline's prospects moving forward.