IAN McCALL was today left counting the cost of Partick Thistle's gut- wrenching 3-2 Firhill defeat at the hands of Dunfermline.

Left-back Marc Twaddle and sweeper Simon Storey have sustained leg knocks and are doubtful for Saturday's visit of Morton.

While centre-back Ian Maxwell, who was given a straight red for a last man challenge that led to the Pars victory clinching penalty, will be suspended.

And with leaders St Johnstone's 1-0 victory over Livingston now opening up a seven-point gap at the top of the first division, McCall was in no mood to play down the nature of his side's second defeat against the Pars.

The Jags boss said: "We have never talked about the title. If we can improve on sixth that is progress, but we now need to respond immediately against Morton at Firhill on Saturday.

"Certainly we can't afford another defeat. I thought that over the piece we were the better team. But Dunfermline were always dangerous on the break.

"We had chances that we couldn't convert and it is just very disappointing. We were perhaps a bit gung-ho in that we were so eager to exploit gaps. Dunfermline made us pay for that."

Just how damaging this defeat will ultimately be remains to be seen.

But it has halted a promising momentum that had seen Thistle unbeaten in their previous four league games in 2009.

In conceding three goals for the first time in the league this term, the Jags were strangely vulnerable at the back despite an immense performance from skipper Alan Archibald.

And the Firhill side's lack of attacking depth was shown when the substitution of Liam Buchanan broke up his blossoming strike partnership with new boy Kris Doolan and left Thistle toothless offensively.

That both Doolan and Buchanan scored provided concrete proof of the pair's lethal intent.

But the over-reliance on Buchanan was brought sharply into perspective when he is hooked.

Yet Thistle could not have made a better start and in nine minutes Paul Paton's dipping corner broke at the back post to Jags skipper Alan Archibald who slashed in a close-range strike that broke for Liam Buchanan.

The Thistle striker then supplied an instinctive point-blank finish.Four minutes later, however, Dunfermline were level. Nicky Phinn's back post cross was half-volleyed home by Stevie Bell with Jonny Tuffey helpless.

With Thistle pressing, Dunfermline countered with a classic sucker punch.

David Graham beat Paul Paton on the Jags right wing and his cross was nodded home by the unmarked Andy Kirk from eight yards out, just before the half-hour mark.

Three minutes later Jags reclaimed parity when Doolan latched on to a Tuffey free-kick exocet and buried low inside Gallacher's left stick.

Thistle retained their superiority after the interval and a searing Harkins volley from fully 30 yards out had Gallacher scurrying across his goal line.

That chance was followed by strong penalty shouts for challenges on Kevin McKinlay and Liam Buchanan, but both were dismissed by referee Willie Collum.

Then disaster struck with just two minutes left to play. Thistle were sliced open on the counter and Ian Maxwell was forced to bring down Stevie Bell in the Jags box to rob him of an easy tap-in.

Referee Collum rightly pointed to the spot and dismissed Maxy.

Despite a superb save by Tuffey from loan Ranger Rory Loy's initial strike, the Pars hitman followed up and lashed home the rebound to drive a dagger into the heart of Thistle's title ambitions.

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, Twaddle (Maxwell, 45), Storey (McKinlay, 20), Kinniburgh, Archibald, Chaplain, Rowson, Buchanan (Donnelly, 71), Doolan, Harkins.

Subs not used: Hinchcliffe, McKeown.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Thomson, Wilson, Ross (Loy, 56), Shields, McCann, Bell, Homes, Graham (Muirhead, 68), Kirk, Phinn (Mole, 78).

Subs not used: Harper, Reidford.

Referee: W.Collum.

Att: 2957.