Partick Thistle dominated throughout as they defeated St Johnstone 3-0 in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon.

First-half goals from Kris Doolan and Conrad Balatoni saw Thistle lead by two at half time before Stuart Bannigan scored the third to put the result beyond doubt.

Thistle opened the scoring within the first three minutes when Doolan headed the ball into the net from Abdul Osman's cross.

Doolan should have added a second after eight minutes, rounding St Johnstone keeper Alan Mannus but shooting wide of the open goal.

Partick's lead was doubled a minute later when central defender Balatoni headed into the roof of the net.

With the Saints defence at sixes and sevens in the opening stages of the match, Ryan Stevenson's attempt to add a third was stopped by Mannus.

Partick continued to dominate and Stevenson smashed a volley against the left upright in the 40th minute.

Michael O'Halloran tried to pull a goal back for the Saints before half time, but his shot went over the bar.

Balatoni headed the ball over the bar from a corner after the restart, before St Johnstone defender Murray Davidson also missed a header a few minutes later.

Thistle continued to attack in the second half, with James Craigen shooting off target after a neat dribble into the penalty area.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 65th minute when Bannigan's shot nestled into the bottom-left corner, after the Saints defence failed to clear a free kick.

Thistle's victory sees them move nine points ahead of the relegation playoff place, while St Johnstone stay in sixth.