Partick Thistle

  • 5-4-3
  • 4th in Scottish Championship

    Livingston beat Partick to win promotion to Scottish Premiership

    Livingston clinched promotion to the Scottish Premiership after beating Partick Thistle 3-1 on aggregate in the play-off final.The Lions ended a 12-year absence from the top flight of Scottish football after beating the Jags 1-0 in the second leg to send Alan Archibald's side down to the Championship.It is a second promotion in as many years for David Hopkin, whose side have exceeded expectations and backed up their 2-1 win at the Tony Macarnoi Arena on Thursday.Keaghan Jacobs scored his second goal of the tie to all-but finish it early in the second half and Conor Sammon missed a late penalty that would have only given the hosts a slim chance.There was a real edge to proceedings in the early stages, with Thistle keen not to let the visitors have it all their own way.Livingston gave as good as they got though, and for all their intent the Jags still struggled to string together any sort of attacking threat.The opening 20 minutes was littered with stoppages in play with the visitors happy to slow the game right down to the frustration of the crowd.Thistle enjoyed the majority of possession, but the little threat they offered in the opening half hour was from out wide and that played right into Livingston's hands as their three centre-backs were able to deal with crosses into the box, despite being forced further and further back.Jordan Thompson and Shaun Byrne each saw shots blocked inside the Jags' area before Blair Spittall forced a fine save - the first of the match - with a drive from outside the area that was heading towards the bottom corner.Despite their best efforts to gee the team on, a lively crowd grew steadily more anxious with their side 45 minutes away from losing their Premiership status.The killer blow came in the first minute after the break, and again it was Jacobs on target with his third of the season, stroking in from the edge of the area after a cross was knocked back into his path to open up a two-goal lead in the tie.The game returned to the pattern of the first half, with Thistle dominating but not threatening.Blair Spittall, Steven Lawless and Christie Elliott eventually had shots easily saved by Neil Alexander, but the hosts never looked like they believed they could close the two-goal gap.Home fans started to leave the stadium early as it became clear their five-year stay in the Premiership was coming to an end, and Sammon's miss from the spot merely compounded a bad afternoon as Livingston clinched promotion.
    • 6Y
    • PA Sport

      Livingston seize initiative in play-off final

      Livingston are one game away from Premiership football after seeing off Partick Thistle 2-1 in the first leg of the play-off final.No team has been promoted through the play-offs since 2014, but David Hopkin's side are just a draw away from the top flight after a deserved win over Thistle.They came into the final on a high after seeing off Dundee United, but after Kris Doolan scored early on it looked as though it could be a long evening for the West Lothian outfit.However, Keaghan Jacobs scored and Scott Pittman added a second after the break on a night when the hosts missed several chances to put the tie out of sight, despite going behind early on.Doolan had already threatened inside the area and he did not need a second invitation as he gleefully accepted Baily Cargill's brilliant cross from deep on the left to head into the corner.If any Livi fans were concerned their team could get blown away by the Premiership outfit, they were soon reassured as they regrouped quickly to hit back just three minutes later.It took an error from goalkeeper Tomas Cerny to level the scores, but it was Jacobs who claimed the goal after hitting a first-time effort back across Cerny from the right. The Thistle stopper could not get a firm enough hand to the ball and saw it slip through his grasp into the goal.Livingston have attracted attention for their physical approach this season, but there were hefty challenges flying in from both sides. However, the hosts' direct approach was paying off as the Jags dropped deeper inside their own half.Jordan Thompson should have hit the target when he drilled wide before Cerny pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Lee Miller's header as Thistle continued to live dangerously.The pace dropper after the break, but once again it was the second tier side who started to dominate as the game went on against a Thistle side that looked short on ideas and bereft of confidence.Pittman, who scored a memorable winner at Tannadice in the semi-finals, almost gave the Lions the lead just after the hour, but Cerny got down well to save with his feet after a jinking run from halfway.The hosts soon had the advantage they deserved after substitute Josh Mullin burst down the right and drilled a low ball across the area from the byline and Pittman made the run to the near post to prod it into the roof of the net.After seeing out the remainder of the game, Livingston ensured they would only need a draw at Firhill on Sunday to secure their place in the top flight.
      • 6Y
      • PA Sport

        Doolan winner keeps Partick Thistle's survival hopes alive

        Kris Doolan scored a second-half winner for Partick Thistle against Dundee as the Jags confirmed their fight for Ladbrokes Premiership survival will go to a play-off final with Livingston.The Maryhill men went into the last game of the season two points ahead of bottom side Ross County and knowing victory would secure their top-flight status for a while longer at least.Alan Archibald's men returned to the dressing room after a goalless first half to discover County were a goal to the good at St Johnstone which had the Jags, with their inferior goal difference to the Dingwall side, staring at the prospect of automatic relegation.However, in the 62nd-minute substitute Doolan, who had only recently replaced Ryan Edwards, scored a typical poacher's goal from inside the box to earn a 1-0 win, although Saints did their bit too by levelling late against County.Thistle will travel to Liv on Thursday with the return game in Glasgow next Sunday.Dundee fans were unhappy at the end of the game but they were safe from the threat of relegation and boss Neil McCann was able to give first starts to 19-year-old keeper Calum Ferrie and defender Daniel Jefferies with Genseric Kusunga and Roarie Deacon returning.For Thistle, Steven Lawless and Miles Storey came in for Doolan and Chris Erskine, who watched from the bench as the visitors almost took an early lead.However, Adam Barton's header from a Storey cross in the sixth minute brought a great finger-tip save from Ferrie, who then confidently punched clear the subsequent corner.The Taysiders looked the most likely to get the breakthrough.There was a penalty claim in the 25th minute when Dundee defender Cameron Kerr was bundled to the ground in a challenge by Storey but referee Steven McLean gave an infringement the other way.Five minutes later a left-footed drive from Paul McGowan was parried clear by Maryhill keeper Tomas Cerny, and soon afterwards the Dundee skipper was replaced by Randy Wolters after picking up an injury.It was at that point Thistle took over and just before the interval Barton failed to connect with Edwards' right-wing cross just eight yards from goal and when the ball fell loose, Storey dragged his shot wide.Minutes after the break, following a corner from substitute Blair Spittal - who had replaced Storey for the start of the second half - Ferrie made another fine save from Danny Devine's header with the home side surviving the corner.Doolan replaced Edwards in the 55th minute as Archibald reshuffled and the substitution paid off in dramatic style when Lawless played in the striker with a clever pass and the Jags' talisman slipped the ball past Ferrie to change the complexion of the afternoon.However, there was still work to do for the visitors as Dundee threatened in the tense final stages, with Cerny making a fine save at his near post from a Wolters drive.But the Maryhill side held out and after the Staggies slipped up, they now have a two-legged chance to retain their top-flight status.
        • 6Y
        • PA Sport

          Partick Thistle slip closer to the drop with home loss to Motherwell

          Ryan Bowman's header pushed Partick Thistle closer to the drop as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell.The striker was afforded space to head home David Tunrbull's free-kick from six yards on the hour mark and all but consign Thistle to a bottom-two finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership.Alan Archibald's side are three points behind Hamilton with a game remaining but Accies have a 13-goal advantage.The only bright spot of the night for the hosts was Ross County's defeat by Dundee, which leaves the Dingwall side bottom by two points.Thistle travel to Dundee on Saturday where they might need victory to avoid automatic relegation given their goal difference is nine worse than the Staggies, who face St Johnstone in Perth.Motherwell were without Richard Tait through illness and 18-year-old midfielder Turnbull was handed a first start, but the William Hill Scottish Cup finalists were otherwise at full strength and eager to atone for a 5-1 home defeat by St Johnstone.Thistle started with intent and Conor Sammon flashed a header across the face of goal inside 60 seconds before Trevor Carson made a point-blank stop from Ryan Edwards' header.But there were some nervy moments for the home fans as Motherwell forced a series of corners after Thistle's pressure subsided.The hosts picked up again in the latter stages of the half and Carson made decent saves from Martin Woods and Chris Erskine.Turnbull came close with a deflected strike after beating two men but the home fans were audibly lifted by news of a Dundee goal and Sammon shot just wide from 18 yards after a good run by Doolan.However, Motherwell were enjoying more of the ball after Stephen Robinson's half-time switch, which saw midfielder Gael Bigirimana replace wing-back Stephen Hendrie.And the visitors took the lead after Baily Cargill was adjudged to have fouled Chris Cadden. Turnbull whipped in the free-kick from the right and the unmarked Bowman headed home.Carson parried a curling strike by Christie Elliott while Cedric Kipre was receiving treatment but the visitors recovered their composure once the French defender was back on his feet.Thistle were struggling to create clear openings and Miles Storey could not capitalise when Kipre's slip handed them a chance, the substitute shooting beyond the far post.Tomas Cerny kept Thistle in the game by saving Tom Aldred's header and they threw men forward in five minutes of stoppage time, but substitute Blair Spittal headed straight at Carson and Aldred made a crucial last-ditch tackle on Sammon.
          • 6Y
          • PA Sport

            Partick Thistle held by Ross County as relegation battle goes down to wire

            The bottom two in the Ladbrokes Premiership Partick Thistle and Ross County remain deep in the relegation mire following their a 1-1 draw at the Energy Check stadium at Firhill.Jags attacker Chris Erskine volleyed in a Kris Doolan cross after 22 minutes, but against the run of play Staggies striker Billy Mckay levelled three minutes before the break for the league's basement club.However, with no more goals in the second half County remain two points adrift of Thistle with only two fixtures remaining.Fellow relegation battlers Dundee and Hamilton, both three points ahead of the Maryhill men in the relegation play-off spot, meet at Dens Park on Saturday as the battle for survival comes to the boil.Thistle started the night with conviction and striker Conor Sammon had the ball in the net within minutes, but long after referee Kevin Clancy's whistle had sounded for a foul on County captain Marcus Fraser.The Jags were more aggressive and purposeful and their lead was deserved.Dingwall defender Harry Souttar missed the flight of a long ball, leaving Doolan to race down the left and cross for the unmarked Erskine to hammer the ball past goalkeeper Scott Fox from eight yards out.The goal served to increase the tempo of the match and shake County out of their slumber.Moments later defender Liam Fontaine headed a Michael Gardyne free-kick into the hands of Jags keeper Tomas Cerny, but the home side were not long in driving forward again looking for the second.However, to their frustration, they found themselves pegged back when, after the Thistle rearguard failed to clear another Gardyne free-kick from the right, Fontaine hooked the ball back into the Thistle box and Mckay pounced to slam the ball past Cerny from close range.It was a goal which must have irked Thistle boss Alan Archibald and he sent his side out to make amends in the second half.However, County were less inclined to let them have their own way and Cerny did well to parry wide a powerful Gardyne drive before Mckay headed a Fraser cross wide.Tension increased by the minute, mostly among the home supporters in a crowd of 4,312 who saw County grow in confidence.Partick's defending became nervy and in the 74th minute Gardyne flashed a drive from the edge of the box just over the bar.In the 84th minute, as the home side rallied, County keeper Fox made a good fingertip save from a drive from substitute Miles Storey and, in a frantic finale, he blocked Danny Devine's header before referee Kevin Clancy brought an end to a gruelling battle.
            • 7Y
            • PA Sport

              Naismith pulls the Hearts strings as Jambos see off Partick Thistle

              Steven Naismith pulled the strings as goal-shy Hearts burst into form with a 3-0 win over Partick Thistle.The Jambos had scored just two goals in their previous four league outings and averaged less than a goal a game before breaking the shackles at Tynecastle.They scored all three goals in a dominant first period, with Naismith setting up Kyle Lafferty before netting one himself and John Souttar added a third.It was undoubtedly Naismith's finest display in a Hearts shirt and he, along with Joaquim Adao, controlled the game against a poor Thistle side who remain deep in relegation trouble.It was evident early on that the hosts were the better side as they adapted quickly to the cut-up Tynecastle surface that was made worse by the pre-match snow.The Jambos started the game confidently and dominated possession with Naismith and Adao combining nicely and it was through those two that they took a deserved lead.After 17 minutes of solid pressure, Adao slipped a low ball into the feet of Naismith and the on-loan forward backheeled into the path of Lafferty. The big striker raced clear of the defence before slotting confidently through the legs of Tomas Cerny for his 17th goal of the season.The home team's dominance was such that Thistle could have been down to 10 men inside the first 20 minutes, but Abdul Osman escaped a second yellow card in as many minutes for a foul on Danny Amankwaa before Naismith doubled the lead.Again it was smart play from Adao that opened things up as the midfielder broke down the right and picked out Naismith inside him, and the forward tucked the ball away first time to give Craig Levein's side a cushion.Thistle grew into the game a bit more after the second goal, but they never posed a threat to goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin. The game was as good as over in the 44th minute when Souttar slid in to guide home a long throw from Michael Smith and open up a three-goal lead.Alan Archibald made two substitutes at the break and changed the shape of his side, but it was to no avail as the second half went at a comparatively pedestrian pace compared with the first.They were unable to fashion any openings as Hearts sat on their comfortable lead.Miles Storey eventually tested McLaughlin with a couple of quickfire efforts but the goalkeeper was equal to them as the game fizzled out for a comfortable three points for Hearts.
              • 7Y
              • PA Sport

                Partick Thistle 0-0 Aberdeen

                Partick Thistle and Aberdeen fought out a goalless Ladbrokes Premiership draw at a wet Energy Check Stadium at Firhill which left the home fans the happier.A blustery, rain-soaked afternoon helped produce an encounter heavy on effort but short on quality with defences on top.The point took the second-bottom Jags four points clear of basement side Ross County while the third-placed Dons, now without a win in four matches, cut the deficit behind Rangers to five points, with the Light Blues hosting leaders Celtic on Sunday.With four straight defeats - three in the league - the Maryhill men went into the match desperate for a win.Chris Erskine, Steven Lawless, Christie Elliott, Andrew McCarthy, Martin Woods and Miles Storey all came into Partick's starting line-up, with the former made captain on his 250th competitive appearance for the club, while Andrew Considine and Dominic Ball returned for the Dons.The visitors had the best of what chances there were in a poor first half, the first coming in the 15th minute when Dons midfielder Kenny McLean curled the ball just wide of the far post.In the 24th minute, however, referee Greg Aitken infuriated the home supporters when he ignored claims of a foul when Erskine went to ground in a tangle with Ryan Christie, when Partick's attacking midfielder would have been clean through on goal.The best chance came in the 33rd minute when Christie latched on to a McLean pass down the right and drove into the box before cutting the ball back for skipper Graeme Shinnie.However, the midfielder's rather tame side-footed effort from 12 yards was blocked by Tomas Cerny with the Maryhill side clearing to safety.Dons striker Stevie May then knocked a McLean cross past the near post just before the break.Thistle stormed into the second half with Pittodrie keeper Freddie Woodman pushing a Lawless drive past for a corner, from which Erskine's header was cleared off the line by May.At the other end, Christie flashed an angled-drive past the far post and the match settled back into crash-bang-wallop mode with increasing tension.It looked like one goal would be enough to secure the points but amid much late enthusiasm, neither side could get the breakthrough - Woodman made a late save from Partick substitute Ryan Edwards, on for Erskine - and perhaps neither side deserved anything more than a share of the spoils.
                • 7Y
                • PA Sport

                Partick Thistle

                SOCCER

                  Partick Thistle 1-2 Dundee

                  Simon Murray opened his Dundee account with two late goals to hand Neil McCann's Dark Blues a dramatic 2-1 win over Partick Thistle at the Energy Check Stadium.Conor Sammon's seventh goal in as many games had put Alan Archibald's team ahead three minutes before the break.But they could not hang on as Murray struck twice in the final five minutes to hand the Dens outfit a precious win.The result now sees them climb to eighth - seven points in front of the automatic relegation spot - and leave Thistle perched just one point above second-bottom Hamilton.Sammon was denied an early opportunity when Josh Meekings did brilliantly to get himself in the Irishman's way just as he looked set to finish off a flowing Thistle move.Thistle were making all the running in the opening stages but it was Dundee midfielder Glen Kamara's mistake which almost gave them the opener on 27 minutes.The former Arsenal trainee took a heavy touch as he tried to control Miles Storey's cross but Martin Woods could not take advantage as his first-time effort flew straight at Dee keeper Elliott Parish.The visitors eventually got going as the half-hour mark ticked by. Murray could not beat Tomas Cerny with a lob attempt, while the Jags number one was just as alert to deny Mark O'Hara after he had robbed Callum Booth.Roarie Deacon was next to threaten for Neil McCann's side as his pile-driver fizzed just wide but it was the hosts who grabbed the half-time lead as Sammon continued his hot streak.Mustapha Dumbuya sent a cross to the back post which was knocked down by Ryan Edwards for Sammon, who bundled it over the line before Parish could claw away the danger.Dundee should have hit back five minutes after the restart, however. Sofien Moussa's attempted overhead kick was never any threat to Cerny but it did drop for strike partner Murray, who completely missed the target from just three yards out.Thistle also wasted the chance to double their lead after 60 minutes when Chris Erskine calmly brought down Storey's cross in the box but his spin and shot was kept out by Parish's legs.But with the clock ticking towards 90 Dundee launched a cavalry charge.Murray grabbed the leveller on 85 minutes as he pounced at the back post to turn home an A-Jay Leitch-Smith effort.He had the ball in the net again seconds later only to be flagged offside, while Leitch-Smith rattled a post.However, Dundee refused to settle for a point and got their winner in the 90th minute as Steven Caulker's defelcted strike broke for Murray, who climbed above a ruck of players to nod home.
                  • 7Y
                  • PA Sport
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                  2024-25 SPFL Championship Standings

                  TeamGPWDLGDP
                  Falkirk12921+1729
                  Livingston12651+623
                  Ayr United12633+721
                  Partick Thistle12543+419
                  Queen's Park12543+119
                  Hamilton Academical12435015
                  Raith Rovers12426-414
                  Greenock Morton12246-910
                  Dunfermline Athletic12237-49
                  Airdrieonians12129-185

                  2024-25 Team Leaders

                  Scottish Championship

                  Rankings

                  Scottish Championship

                  Goal Difference
                  4
                  4th
                  Goals Scored
                  11
                  6th
                  Assists
                  8
                  4th
                  Goals Conceded
                  7
                  1st