IT was almost one of the most amazing comebacks ever - but Partick Thistle just ran out of time in their bid to earn a positive result against Queen of the South.

Down 4-0 to the Dumfries side just after the break, the visiting support couldn't be blamed if they decided to leave Palmerston Park early to head back up the road after seeing their side serve up a shocking display against the team rooted to the foot of the First Division.

Even the most loyal of fans, the guys who usually stick with their team during the good times and the bad, would have been tempted to make a quick exit because of the way their team were performing.

They weren't at the races and were outplayed by the worst team in the division.

But, to be fair to the Jags faithful, they aren't the types to desert their side and they very nearly got their reward as Dick Campbell's men came within a whisker of completing a remarkable comeback in the final six minutes.

Mark McChrystal's close-range strike appeared to be nothing more than a consolation when he poked home at a corner.

But, when Mark Roberts converted a penalty a minute later and Pat Keogh added a third just three minutes after that, the most remarkable of comebacks was nearly complete.

However, it just wasn't to be as Thistle failed to hit an equaliser in the final two minutes of the match.

And, despite refusing to give up and battling until the final whistle, Campbell was still disappointed at the way his team performed in a match they were expected to take three points from.

The Jags boss said: "You don't need me to tell you that we gave some soft goals away. We were 3-0 down at the break and then lost another one not long after the re-start.

"We need to defend properly and we must be more aggressive.

"On the plus side, we kept working and didn't give up. But, although we managed to pull a few goals back, it wasn't good enough."

Sean O'Connor headed Queen of the South into the lead after just nine minutes and Jim Lauchlan nodded home a second from a corner before Steven Dobbie netted a third just before the half-time break.

And the former Hibs striker netted his second from the penalty spot just a few minutes after half-time to put his side on easy street with a 4-0 lead.

It was poor defending that was costing Thistle, but at least their late fightback made it a nervous final two minutes of the match for Queen of the South manager Ian McCall, whose side remain four points behind second bottom Airdrie, before the game finished 4-3.

He said: "I couldn't believe it. We were 4-0 up - it could have been six or seven - and then we end up hanging on desperate for the final whistle.

"It was great to come away with all three points after dominating the game.

"If we had failed to have won the game, it would have been a massive blow for us."

Partick THISTLE: Tuffey, Smith, John Robertson, Boyd (Keogh 46), McChrystal, Ferguson (Billy Gibson 46), James Gibson, Donnelly, Young, Roberts, Russell. Subs not used: Brady, McConalogue, Arthur.

Attendance: 2011 Referee: Chris Boyle