Scottish Cup highlights - St Johnstone 2-0 Partick Thistle

A goal either side of half-time helped St Johnstone overcome Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.

The fifth-round tie, which was twice postponed because of adverse weather, got off to a slow start with clear-cut chances hard to come-by.

But the game came to life on 42 minutes when Saints' Murray Davidson prodded home inside a crowded penalty area.

And substitute Liam Craig's superb volley sealed the home side's win 12 minutes after the interval.

Derek McInnes's side will face an away tie in the last eight against Brechin City, the Glebe Park outfit currently managed by former St Johnstone favourite Jim Weir.

The initial stages of the game descended into a midfield battle with Iain Flannigan's early shot over the bar for the visitors and Collin Samuel's shot well wide of the Thistle goal the only serious attempts in the opening half-hour.

But the shape of the game changed in the closing minutes of the half as Saints missed a great chance but quickly made up for it with the opening goal.

First, Samuel robbed the Thistle defence of possession and fired in an early shot that rebounded off the post.

But, within moments, the Perth side were ahead as Cleveland Taylor sent a driven cross into the box and Davidson stuck out his left boot to stab the ball past Fox.

Davidson (centre) celebrates his opening goal

Samuel continued to pose a threat to the Thistle goal in the opening phase of the second half and would have converted a flicked-on corner but for Scott Fox's brave goalkeeping, the stopper claiming the ball at the second attempt.

However, Saints did not have to wait much longer for their second goal.

Craig had replaced Taylor at the break and the ball fell invitingly 30 yards out for the midfielder to lash a dipping volley over Fox, under the bar and into the net.

The visitors passed up a good chance to halve their deficit when Paul Cairney went through on goal and rounded goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, but the midfielder did not get his shot away before being crowded out.

Cairney's game was quickly brought to an end when he was replaced with veteran Simon Donnelly just before Samuel made way for Saints team-mate Peter MacDonald.

Enckelman took a heavy touch in the act of receiving a pass-back, but the keeper recovered before Martin Grehan could profit.

There was a similar episode at the other end when Fox allowed a pass-back to run dangerously near the goal-line before eventually clearing the ball.

Fox required treatment on a bloody nose after a collision at a Thistle corner, but the keeper was able to complete the match.

There was outrage from the home team in injury time when MacDonald was booked for simulation, St Johnstone's players and management team claiming the striker had been fouled by Alan Archibald as he progressed towards goal.

That proved to be the last noteworthy incident of the match as Saints saw out their win.

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