Motherwell 2-2 Partick Thistle

David Partridge's late goal gave Motherwell a share of the points despite having played for almost an hour with ten men.

David Clarkson opened the scoring for the home side but Alex Burns pulled Thistle level.

Burns then put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after James McFadden was ordered off for a second bookable offence.

But Partridge levelled the scores to give Motherwell a point.

In a wet and windy opening, Partick pressed for the breakthrough but the home side took the lead after nine minutes and it was youngster Clarkson, making his first start for the Lanarkshire side, who got the goal.

Derek Adams took a short corner to McFadden on the left and his cross was deflected high into the six-yard box.

Clarkson went up for an overhead kick and although it seemed an untidy strike, the ball ended up in the net.

David Clarkson celebrates his first senior goal

Moments later, Clarkson should have scored his second from a McFadden cross, but somehow managed to send his close-range header wide of the left hand post.

The home side were in control and the Jags' cause was made more difficult in the 15th minute when Jamie Mitchell was stretchered off following a David Partridge tackle and was replaced by Paul Walker.

But from the consequent free-kick 20 yards from goal, former Motherwell striker Alex Burns levelled the scores with a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net, giving keeper Francois Dubourdeau no chance.

McFadden swung a 30-yard free-kick just over the Thistle bar before Jamie Buchan's fine run and shot from the edge of the box was parried away to safety by Dubourdeau.

In the 35th minute, Walker brought out another fine save from Dubourdeau with an angled shot from 12 yards.

But, a minute later, McFadden, who had been booked earlier for a foul on Buchan, was shown a second yellow for a foul on Stephen Craigan.

James McFadden is consoled after his red card

Thistle almost took the lead again two minutes after the re-start.

A Scott Leitch free-kick was headed off the far post by Dirk Lehmann from 12 yards out and, from the rebound, David Partridge scooped over from under the bar when it looked easier to score.

But Thistle raced up the other end and were awarded a soft penalty when substitute Walker was clumsily fouled by Motherwell defender William Kinniburgh.

Burns stepped up to slot the ball into the corner for his second goal of the game.

In the 74th minute a Lehmann header from the edge of the box was tipped onto the bar and over by Arthur but a minute later the home side got a deserved equaliser when Partridge floated in a header off the far post.

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Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Hammell, Partridge, Kinniburgh, Pearson, Adams, Leitch (Fagan 66), Lehmann (Ramsey 90), McFadden, Clarkson (Ferguson 82).

Subs Not Used: Quinn, Woods.

Sent Off: McFadden (37).

Booked: McFadden, Pearson, Leitch, Lehmann, Kinniburgh, Hammell.

Partick: Arthur, Lilley, Archibald, Craigan, Paterson, Buchan (McKinstry 77), Mitchell (Walker 18), Hardie, Lennon, Britton (Waddell 61), Burns.

Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Gibson.

Booked: Archibald, Buchan, Britton, Hardie.

Att: 6,262

Ref: Ian Fyfe