A first half goal from Ally Mitchell was enough to see Kilmarnock progress to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup despite a dogged performance by Second Division leaders Partick.

Thistle gave as good as they got in a bruiser of a Cup tie that saw six players booked in the first half.

The Premier League side had a more polished look about them but the visitors more than made up for that with their efforts.

Killie had the brighter start with Mitchell firing in a couple of long range efforts that had Kenny Arthur's goal under threat.

But Thistle too had their moments with Mark McNally joining his attack to force Gordon Marshall into a diving save.

It was Killie however who took an early grip on the game with the pace of Craig Dargo posing the main threat up front.

In the 14th minute his looping header landed on top of the Thistle net and minutes later he headed Gary Holt's cross wide of the goal when he should at least have hit the target.

The game badly needed a goal and in the 28th minute Rugby Park veteran Mitchell obliged with a cracking volley that brought the home fans to their feet.

The Thistle defence had several opportunities to clear the danger but they paid the penalty when Mitchell crashed the ball home past Arthur from 20 yards.

Seven minutes from the interval Dargo should have doubled Killie's lead when he was set up by Christophe Cocard but the striker shot straight at Arthur from six yards.

It was a different story after the interval with the visitors pushing forward at every opportunity in a bid for the equaliser.

In the 49th minute, Marshall took no chances when he turned over a Danny Lennon cross for a corner and minutes later he raced from his goal to clinch away a free kick from the same player.

But on occasions Thistle were caught out at the back and almost paid the penalty.

A 57th minute header from Dargo just cleared the crossbar and then substitute Jerome Vareille tested Arthur from 20 yards.

It was a nerve-wracking last 10 minutes for the Premier League side as Thistle pushed forward but Kilmarnock held out to atone for last season's third round defeat at the hands of lowly Alloa.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, Innes, Dindeleux, Baker, Mitchell, Holt, Mahood, McLaren (Hay 85), Cocard (Vareille 59), Dargo (Wright 82).

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Reilly.

Booked: Mahood, Innes, Mitchell.

Goals: Mitchell 28.

Partick: Arthur, Archibald, Craigan, McNally, Hamilton, Docherty (Stewart 48), Collins, Lennon (Brown 82), McLean (McCallum 75), Hardie, Shaw.

Subs Not Used: Lindau, McGrillen.

Booked: McLean, Archibald, Craigan.

Att: 8,836

Ref: Ian Fyfe (Scotland).