The Jags were under the cosh at times and it was as well that goalkeeper and captain Mitchell Stewart-Hill put in a man-of-the-match performance.
He pulled off some “phenomenal” saves that kept Thistle in the hunt for all three points, Blair said.
In front of him, Thistle had three centrebacks — Finn McAuley on the right, Cai Maclean in the middle and Matt Smith on the left — and wingbacks Sam Patterson on the right and Nick Land on the left.
The combination gave the Jags a composed look at the back, with the wingbacks their springboard to counter-attack down the flanks.
Ash McMillan and Cory Thomson, as holding midfielders, broke up Taradale attacks and looked to release attacking midfielder David Salmon and strikers Campbell Hall and Somerton.
Blair said McMillan was being given the opportunity to get forward more than he had in the past, and over the next few weeks the timing of his counter-attacking runs would be refined.
Salmon had been out of competitive football for the best part of five years while he concentrated on his police career, and showed enough on Saturday to suggest he would be an influential player for Thistle as he grew in confidence.
“Jimmy Somerton caused their defence problems,” Blair said.
“His ability to draw three defenders when he was on the ball created a lot of space for us to get players in behind their defence.
“That’s something we missed last year — someone to be a target man and create a bit of havoc.”
It was also good to see Campbell Hall back in action following his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“He did really well and will grow in confidence week by week,” Blair said.
The three substitutes taken away all came on and did what was asked of them.
“We wanted the starting fullbacks to know they could go gangbusters and be changed at 60 minutes,” Blair said.
Andre Baple came on for Patterson, Davie Ure came on for Salmon in the attacking midfield role, and Sam Royston came on for McMillan but took Land’s left wingback role and Land moved infield to take over from McMillan.
Somerton’s goal was a fine piece of opportunism. Wingbacks Patterson and Land stretched the Taradale defence before Land cut in across the penalty area and shot.
The Taradale goalkeeper palmed the ball away and Somerton pounced, scoring from 10 metres out, to the left of the penalty spot.
Thistle were upbeat at halftime, but Josling’s early second-half equaliser — a hard, low shot from the edge of the penalty area — kept things tense for the remainder of the match.
On Saturday, Thistle are away to competition leaders Napier City Rovers Feds — they beat Palmerston North Marist 3-0 at the weekend.
Still to become available for Jags first-team selection are winger Oska Smith and defender Ander Batarrita, who could be considered as early as this week. Cullen Spawforth’s medial cruciate ligament tear will take longer to heal.
