Airdrie had to settle for a share of the points after the proverbial game of two halves away to Partick Thistle, with Ben Wilson continuing his purple patch in front of goal.

There was one change for the Diamonds following last week’s draw at Cappielow, Lewis McGrattan replacing Gavin Gallagher, while defender Aidan Wilson made his long-awaited return to the bench after six months sidelined by injury.

Ex-Airdrieonians Kyle Turner, Ben Stanway and Kanayo Megwa were named in Partick’s first line-up under the interim management of Brian Graham and Mark Wilson following Kris Doolan’s dismissal earlier in the week.

The Diamonds started the brighter of the teams, Wilson almost getting to a third-minute Mochrie pass but foiled by the attentions of Lee Ashcroft.

Thistle’s recent loan signing Lewis Budinauckas saved Adam Frizzell’s free-kick attempt after seven minutes, holding the ball after initially blocking the strike under his crossbar.

Airdrie’s handball claims were waved away three minutes later as McGrattan’s cross struck Daniel O’Reilly’s hand in the box, with Mochrie and Wilson combining again on 15 minutes, but again the home defence hacked clear.

The resulting corner saw Dean McMaster’s delivery strike a defender’s head and loop onto the top of the bar, but the follow-up was dealt with, countered, and led to the home side’s opening goal. Frizzell blocked one attempted pass out, but the second was just too high for him and Thistle streamed forward in numbers, Megwa driving through the middle and threading a pass to Brian Graham, who made no mistake from 12 yards.

After Airdrie’s promising start, the Jags’ goal gave them the impetus and they enjoyed a period of control, O’Reilly firing over as he span onto Kieran Wright’s 22nd-minute punch.

Wright gathered a curling Logan Chalmers effort a minute later, saving again from the former Dundee United winger after Alex Bannon had forced him to the bye-line.

Stanway did well to rob Mason Hancock of possession on 27 minutes, but the midfielder opted to shoot left-footed when a square pass was the sensible option, and the former Diamonds loanee curled wide of the top corner.

McGrattan sent a low shot just wide through a crowded box just after the half-hour mark, and Hancock did well to dispossess Chalmers as play flowed from end to end.

A Megwa rugby tackle in the centre circle went unpunished on 33 minutes, and four minutes later the hosts were inches away from doubling their advantage as Stanway slammed a shot against the inside of the post. As play moved back into the Airdrie box, Wright saved well from the dangerous Chalmers.

With six minutes of the half remaining, Stuart Bannigan was booked for a trip on Wilson. The midfielder was perhaps lucky to stay on following a number of rash challenges in the aftermath of his caution.

Mason Hancock’s 40th-minute free-kick was saved by Budinauckas, and the Diamonds defender was doing his job at the other end two minutes later as he recovered possession from Chalmers.

The first chance of the second half fell to the home side, and Megwa’s teasing ball across goal should have resulted in a tap-in, but no Thistle attackers were able to get there in time.

Budinauckas pounced on Mochrie’s low cross seconds later, but the keeper was helpless as Wilson grabbed his sixth goal in as many games on 54 minutes.

Frizzell nicked the ball from Stanway deep in the Airdrie half, feeding Mochrie who surged forward supported by his captain and McGrattan. The Diamonds man returned the ball to Frizzell, who laid it on a plate for Wilson to calmly sidefoot home the equaliser.

Having substituted Bannigan after another couple of unpunished misdemeanours, Thistle were screaming for a penalty as Wright collided with Turner after an awkward bounce had caused Bannon to miscue his headed passback. Turner made the most of the contact, and referee David Dickinson decided no foul had been committed.

Stanway headed narrowly wide on 62 minutes, his last action before being withdrawn in a triple-substitution.

Megwa snatched at a 64th-minute strike before Budinauckas gathered Wilson’s flicked effort a minute later.

Ashcroft could only direct his header onto the top of the net after a 73rd-minute free-kick, and Airdrie subs Liam McStravick and Aaron Reid almost combined three minutes later, but the diminutive midfielder’s cross was just behind the big striker.

Lewis McGregor had also come off the Airdrie bench, and almost took advantage of a slack pass with eight minutes remaining, but his run was forced wide and his shot was well blocked.

Megwa was booked after an off-the-ball altercation with Lewis Strapp, with the Airdrie bench again asking questions of the referee.

A strong finish for Airdrie failed to yield a winner, with Ashcroft holding off McGregor before a diving block denied Frizzell at the death.

A return to the Albert Bartlett follows on Tuesday as the Diamonds welcome Raith Rovers, with closest rivals Hamilton and Dunfermline also facing off.