NOT since March 2007 have Partick Thistle tasted derby defeat against Clyde.

But it could just be this stunning 4-2 success is more important than any of the other six matches that make up that magnificent seven-game unbeaten sequence.

Having gone 180 minutes without finding the net and losing two of their last three games, Thistle's promotion challenge appeared to be over.

However, in rattling four goals past a Clyde side who had lost only once in their last seven outings, Thistle are up to third place in the Irn-Bru First Division having re-discovered the vital spark in front of goal.

This derby victory was also the Firhill side's first on the road since August, while the three points have taken Ian McCall's men to within six of leaders St Johnstone, who arrive at Maryhill in 12 days for a pivotal clash.

And, as he savoured victory, a delighted McCall said: "We were terrific. At 3-1 we had two or three great chances to put the game to bed and then Clyde got a penalty I felt they didn't deserve and then were denied one I felt they did deserve.

"But we created so many chances there is no doubt we deserved to win. It was a great three points."

McCall added: "We seem to go from being the best team in the world to the worst in the space of a week and back again - and that just cannot keep happening."

With just over a minute gone, Thistle displayed a determined intent to fire their way to victory when Scott Chaplain's 25-yard drive was turned round by David Hutton and, from the resulting corner-kick, Simon Donnelly's header was this time superbly plucked by Hutton.

Shortly after, a superb reverse pass by Willie McLaren sent Pat Clarke through and his six-yard strike eluded Jonny Tuffey only to drift a yard wide.

But, with momentum flowing one way then another, Clyde made the breakthrough in the 19th minute. Tuffey, hovering on his 18-yard box, elected to continue on a walk into no-man's land, when a loose Simon Storey header broke between him and John Robertson and Clyde striker Clarke nipped in and rifled home from 40 yards out.

But, just before the half-hour mark, a fine Marc Twaddle cross was superbly headed home by Donnelly and, a minute later, the game was turned on its head when Alan Lithgow chopped Chaplain inside the penalty area, Gary Harkins slamming home to make it 2-1.

Five minutes before the break it was three. Liam Buchanan burst into the box and squared a low ball to the arriving Chaplain and, under pressure, the ball broke loose and Paul Paton was on hand to lift it over the advancing Hutton from six yards out.

Twice inside the opening two minutes of the second period Clyde should have scored when Tuffey denied McLaren from close range and then Alan Trouten touched a Dave McKay cross a yard wide.

But Clyde were handed a lifeline when McKay went down under a Twaddle challenge and Clarke blasted home the spot-kick.

Four minutes from time, however, Buchanan turned Billy Gibson and blasted home a searing 20-yard strike that beat Hutton all ends up and finally wrapped up all three points.

Clyde No.2 Dougie Bell admitted poor defending had been the Bully Wee's downfall. He said: "In the second half at 2-3 we were denied a stonewall penalty, but bad defending is what killed us. At one up we had a 15-minute period of madness when Partick scored three times and that was another big factor. But that was the worst we have defended all season."

Clyde: Hutton, Lowing (McKay 45), Brown, Wilson (Waddell 70), Gibson, Lithgow, Trouten, Kettlewell, Clarke, Stevenson (O'Reilly 45), McLaren. Subs not used: MacLennan, Cherrie.

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, Twaddle (Roberts 65), Storey, Robertson, Archibald, Chaplain, Rowson, Buchanan, Donnelly (McKeown 80), Harkins. Subs not used: Kinniburgh, Lennon, Hinchcliffe.

Ref: M Tumilty. Att: 2016. PARTICK THISTLE have told midfielders Ryan McStay and Chris Turner they are free to leave if they can find new clubs.