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St Johnstone avoided a sixth straight Scottish Premiership defeat but remain behind hosts Partick Thistle after grinding out a draw at Firhill.

The Glasgow side adapted better to difficult conditions created by the icy rain and strong winds in Glasgow.

But, without the injured Kallum Higginbotham, Thistle again lacked a creative spark in front of goal.

Saints had the best chance of the game only for Lee Croft to fire straight at goalkeeper Scott Fox.

It meant that the Perth side missed the opportunity to leapfrog their hosts.

However, Saints will probably be content to have extended their unbeaten run at Firhill to eight games since August 2008.

Despite playing both Brian Graham and James McFadden up front, they certainly appeared to have avoiding another league defeat as a priority in a season that is threatening to unravel.

Manager Tommy Wright was able to restore Frazer Wright to the heart of the defence and Chris Milllar to his midfield in place of Scott Brown and Gary Miller.

However, the return of the experienced pair struggled to change what has become a characteristically stodgy style of play.

The tactic of lumping long diagonal balls forward was doing little to help recent - and potentially creative - Saints signing McFadden escape from the anonymity that has shrouded the former Scotland striker for some years.

It did almost pay dividends, however, as the visitors looked intent on providing an early test for Thistle debutant Frederic Frans, who replaced the suspended Danny Seaborne.

Straight from kick-off, Dave Mackay's high ball forced a nervous header from the 6ft 4in Belgian and Graham fired into the side netting.

Thereafter, Thistle were the ones mastering the blustery conditions - and their opponents.

Bereft of Higginbotham, though, they once again failed to make the most of their studied build-up play.

Indeed, as the first half came to a close, it was Saints who came close as Croft raced clear only to fire lazily against the body of the advancing Fox.

Graham also unforgivably headed well wide when found in acres of space in front of goal by a Croft corner.

It was back to the same old routine after the break, with the Jags peppering the visitors' penalty box without fashioning a clear-cut chance.

Saints occasionally threatened on the break against a Thistle defence in which former Lierse man Frans had slotted in confidently.

In fact, it was they who came close to snatching an unlikely victory when Murray Davidson's header from a Simon Lappin header forced a goal-line save from Fox.