IAN McCALL is playing down Partick Thistle's growing promotion challenge after his side's 1-0 victory at Dunfermline took them to within a point of Division One leaders St Johnstone.

The victory in Fife stretched Thistle's away unbeaten run in 2009 to six, with five victories and a draw.

And with the Jags having opened up a 12-point gap between themselves and Dunfermline, this victory effectively eliminated the Pars from the promotion race.

However, McCall believes leaders St Johnstone are still favourites for the title with Dundee and Livingston also significant threats to the second-placed Jags in third and fourth place respectively.

He said: "St Johnstone have the biggest squad with the most quality and that will be a big plus for them over the run-in.

"On top of that, Dundee have had a good win against Ross County, and have two games in hand on us, while Livingston will still feel they have a chance.

"Take all that into account and the fact we are really running with a 16-man squad at the moment then you still have to make St Johnstone favourites."

But McCall admitted he had taken extra satisfaction from Thistle's first victory in 26 long years at East End Park.

The Jags boss said: "If we had been a bit more composed with some of our football on the break, we could have made it easier for ourselves.

"But we know Thistle have gone a long time without a win at East End Park so it was pleasing to get one and cash in on St Johnstone's defeat."

The character that Thistle have now shown in bouncing back from the 1-0 derby defeat by Clyde at Firhill with back-to-back victories and clean sheets at Ross County and now Dunfermline may yet prove key to their promotion hopes.

Coupled with St Johnstone's 1-0 defeat by Livingston, that ended the Perth side's 22-game unbeaten run, it may be that Derek McInnes's side are now starting to feel the pressure as Thistle refuse to be thrown off the title scent.

On a bitterly cold day at East End, it was Thistle's defence, once again superbly marshalled by skipper Alan Archibald, who took the plaudits.

But after conceding territory and possession as the Jags posted their intent to hit on the break, it was Thistle who were handed the opener on a platter with just 18 minutes gone.

Pars skipper Scott Wilson crudely chopped down Gary Harkins as he burst into the home box, and the striker immediately dusted himself down to beat Paul Gallacher with the resulting penalty.

Dunfermline continued to pepper the Partick goal, although most of the Fifers efforts fell wide or over the top.

At the other end, a Thistle breakaway had Paul Gallacher smother Kris Doolan's full stretch toe poke just inside the Pars area.

With the second period following much the same pattern as the first, Thistle continued to soak up the pressure and menace on the counter. Then the game was enveloped in controversy as its pivotal moment arrived.

In 66 minutes, Dunfermline looked as if they had made the breakthrough their territorial domination deserved when David Graham's deflected shot hit the bar and Nicky Phinn turned in the rebound only to have it ruled offside.

It was a borderline decision, but one the Pars protested vehemently to no avail and Thistle shut up shop to see the game out.

Having now tamed their bogey team in Ross County and laid to rest their East End jinx, a home win on Sunday against Dundee would surely have Jags boss McCall struggling to douse the growing feeling of optimism enveloping Firhill.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Thomson, Wilson, Phinn, Shields, McCann, Bell (Loy, 32), Glass, Mole, Graham, Burke (Muirhead, 59). Subs not used: Ross, Willis, Reidford.

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Storey, Twaddle, Paton, Robertson, Archibald, McKeown (McKinlay, 71), Rowson, Akins (Donnelly, 67), Doolan, Harkins. Subs not used; Chaplain, Maxwell, Hinchcliffe.

Referee: D Somers.

Att: 2736.