THIS was always going to be a hard assignment for Cowdenbeath and an early goal for the Jags saw them facing an uphill task in Tuesday night’s Scottish Cup third round tie.

As promised manager Gary Bollan made many changes for the match with Iain Russell, Ross Pollock, Olly Hamilton, Jacob Glass and Mikey Herd coming in.

The outing will have benefitted their match fitness and while the Blue Brazil never gave up they just could not get into the game to hurt League 1 promotion challengers Thistle.

Desperate to earn a fourth round tie with Dundee United at Tannadice, Thistle started aggressively and forced two early corners and in two minutes former Blue Brazillian, Darren Brownlie, headed just wide.

But two minutes later the hosts took the lead. A good move caught out the visiting defence and Jonathon Tiffoney set up Shea GORDON who fired home from close range.

The League 1 side were going hard for a second and in nine minutes Nicky Hogarth made a fine save from a dangerous James Penrice cross with Zak Rudden waiting for a slip.

Cowden were having to work hard to keep the promotion challengers in check and Joe Cardle made a good run but before he could get a shot in the ball was cleared by Glass.

Cowdenbeath started to get a foothold and Robbie Buchanan fired in a shot which was blocked by Andy Bannigan but in 32 minutes a Cardle cross was met by MacIvor and his header was well saved by Hogarth.

Two minutes from the break Thistle ‘keeper Wright got in a fankle trying to clear a through ball but made a hash of it and Penrice needed to keep cool to clear the danger and keep his side ahead at the break.

Cowden needed to start the second period well to get back into the picture but in 50 minutes they fell two adrift.

Cardle caused the danger with a neat cross and RUDDEN bundled the ball into the net from only seven yards out.

Then in 68 minutes Rudden set up Connor MURRAY and his 16 yarder gave Hogarth no chance to make it 3-0.

The Blues used all their five subs to try to up their game and they put some pressure on Thistle but ‘keeper Wright was not worried too much as Thistle ran out comfortable winners.

Partick Thistle: Wright (7); Williamson (7), Penrice (7); Brownlie (6), Bannigan (7), Gordon (8); Cardle (Murray 64 (3) (7), Tiffoney (7), Rudden (6) (Lyon 76 (3), Niang (7), MacIvor (7) (Graham 69 (2). Subs not used, Sneddon, McKennna, Ocohli, Foster and Rodden.

Cowdenbeath: Nicky Hogarth (6); Fraser Mullen (6), Jacob Glass (7); Ross Pollock (6), Craig Barr (6) (Jamie Todd 46 (5), Mikey Herd (7); Robbie Buchanan (6) (Kyle Miller 65 (3)), Olly Hamilton (6)(Kris Renton 66 (3)), Iain Russell (6), Harvey Swann (6) (Gavin Morrison 65 (3)), Graham Taylor (6) (Lennon Watson 75 (3)). Subs not used, Jamie Pyper and Lewis Owens.