William Hill Championship
Sat 5 April, 2025. Kick Off: - 15:00
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Ticket Information:
Thistle supporters will be situated in the East Stand for this game.
Ticket prices:
Adults – £22
Over 65s – £17
Concession* – £14
Under 16s – £9
Parent and child (U16) – £27
*(Students, unemployed, disabled supporters, 16-17yo)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS
The turnstiles will be open from 2pm on matchday and Jags fans should enter through turnstiles 15-18 of the East Stand.
There will be QR codes displayed at the Turnstiles and there will also be a cash gate in operation in The East Stand.
Additional Supporter Information
Please note that this game has been classed as Category A with additional stewarding and police in place.
Car Parking is available on Petersburn Road at the cost of £3 per car.
Supporters’ Buses can park in their usual locations close to the ground at the cost of £6 per coach.
Please support The Jags for Good and Airdrie for All’s collection for Airdrie Community School Uniform Bank at the ground from 1.45pm. The uniform bank will accept clothing donations of all kinds for all ages, however, new socks, new underwear and stationary are particularly in need along with the other items listed HERE.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Station Bar – 14:00
For seats call Duncan 07979 496 154 or e-mail
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick-up:
Jordanhill Railway Station – 13:40
Thornwood Bar – 13:45
Prices:
Adults – £19
Concessions – £14
Booking is essential. To make a booking contact Iain on 07779668357 or e-mail
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 13:15
Esquire House, Anniesland – 13:35
Maryhill Community Central Halls – 13:50
When booking it is essential that you state:
Fares:
Full fare – £19
Concessions* – £13
Primary School age – Free when accompanied by an adult
*Eligibility for concession fares:
Partick Thistle suffered their first defeat with Brian Graham and Mark Wilson at the helm, as they succumbed to a 2-1 reverse away at Airdrieonians.
Thistle had hoped to continue their good run, unbeaten in six, as the battle for promotion play-offs continues to rage on.
Rhys McCabe’s Airdrie came into the clash remain bottom of the table, having narrowed the gap to Hamilton Academical in ninth to five points with a 5-0 demolition over Queen’s Park in midweek.
There was one change from last week’s 1-0 win over Morton, with Kyle Turner returning to the XI, replacing Alex Jakubiak.
It was a high-octane opening at the Albert Bartlett Stadium as both sides pressed hard and high from the opening whistle, with little chance to breathe for the respective defences.
Brian Graham had the first meaningful chance of the game on eight minutes. Josh Reid pinged a cross in from the left which Graham got his head to, but the ball sailed inches over the bar.
Chances for Crawford and Turner followed, before Airdrie fired back in quick fashion. A Diamonds free kick was scrabbled clear, only for McStravick to pick up the ball, but his shot was hit wide.
The Jags had a gilt-edged chance to take the lead on 19 minutes, when Graham managed to lose his man and pick up a pass from Reid to evade Airdrie goalkeeper Cade Melrose who crashed to the ground after colliding with a defender.
Clean through on goal, Graham took a touch instead of hitting it and was immediately bundled to the ground by Airdrie defender Aidan Wilson as they somehow got the ball clear. Graham’s protestations for a what looked like a stick-on penalty fell on deaf ears as the referee waved play on and Airdrie survived the scare.
Stuart Bannigan was involved in an amusing moment minutes later where he shepherded an Airdrie player into forcing the ball out of play even though the referee had blown for a foul about thirty seconds before.
On thirty minutes, Lee Ashcroft made a clever clearance to prevent an Airdrie chance. Even then, Lewis Budinauckas was forced into a save from long range as Airdrie cranked up the heat in the North Lanarkshire sun.
Two minutes later, Logan Chalmers split the Airdrie defence to get through on goal. Despite holding the ball up well, his finish flew over the bar.
The last five minutes of the half saw Thistle fighting to keep the scoreline blank in the box as Airdrie penned them in. First, Crawford managed to get the ball away from a scramble and moments later, Thistle had to batten down the hatches again from a corner, before McBeth rescued Thistle with a header clear as they went down the tunnel deadlocked.
Half Time – Airdrieonians 0 Partick Thistle 0
Airdrieonians picked up where they left off with more pinball in the box in the early going. Thistle’s failure to deal with a stramash allowed Chris Mochrie to fire home from close range, to give Airdrie the lead on 47 minutes.
Thistle tried to respond immediately, with Chalmers breaking through the back line do a one-on-one chance, but keeper Melrose was able to stop it.
The game’s frenetic pace started to slow down as Airdrie looked to consolidate their lead.
Just before the hour mark, Mochrie had a perfect chance to double Airdrie’s lead, only to drag his shot wide.
Thistle looked for an equaliser, and looked to gain control in midfield before claims for a penalty for a handball in Airdrie box were ignored by the referee on 79 minutes.
Two minutes later, Thistle were back level in the game, thanks to an equaliser from Ben Stanway on his return from injury.
A corner was swung in from Fitzpatrick, only to be cleared away and the ball fell to Chalmers on the left, and he crossed it into the box. Stanway then got his head to it, heading into the top right corner from six yards out to make it 1-1.
Spurred on by Stanway’s goal, Thistle went on the charge for a late winner. Dan O’Reilly looked to snatch it with a header in the last seconds of regulation time, only for Airdrie to clear it off the line.
Thistle were then caught on the counter, as Airdrie broke up the park. Mochrie found himself unmarked and fired past Budinauckas to give Airdrie the three points late on in an end-to-end game full of drama.
Full Time – Airdrieonians 2 Partick Thistle 1
The defeat sees the gap between Thistle and fifth-placed Raith Rovers reduced to three points with four games of the season left. Thistle return to action next Saturday, as they host Hamilton Academical at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill.
Teams
Partick Thistle: Lewis Budinauckas, Kanayo Megwa, Lee Ashcroft, Dan O’Reilly, Josh Reid (Aidan Fitzpatrick 63’); Stuart Bannigan (Terry Ablade 96’), Luke McBeth, Robbie Crawford (Stevie Lawless 81’), Kyle Turner (Ben Stanway 63’), Logan Chalmers; Brian Graham (Alex Jakubiak 81’)
Unused Substitutes: David Mitchell (GK), Zander MacKenzie, Matthew Falconer, Nick Lockhart.
Airdrieonians: Cade Melrose; Mason Hancock, Alex Bannon, Aidan Wilson, Dylan MacDonald; Adam Frizzell, Dean McMaster, Rhys McCabe (Rhys Armstrong 62′), Lewis McGrattan, Liam McStravick (Lewis McGregor 75′); Chris Mochrie (Gavin Gallagher 93′)
Unused Substitutes: Kieran Wright, Flynn Duffy, Sam Graham, Craig Watson
Referee: Greg Soutar
Attendance: 2,249
By David Forrest
Sat 5 April, 2025
William Hill Championship 
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Thistle lose a 90th minute goal to lose 2-1.
O'Reilly is penalised for a foul near the edge of the Airdrie box. This game is as good as over.
Stanway's cross lands in the arms of Melrose.
Airdrie break and Mochrie looks to have won the game with a low shot that beats Budinauckas.
O'Reilly's header is cleared off the line.
Thistle free kick deep inside the Airdrie half.
Budinauckas gets his fingertips to a shot to prevent Airdrie from going in front again.
Fitzpatrick's near post corner is cleared. Chalmers picks up the ball and crosses for Stanway to head home.
There are shouts for handball and a Thistle penalty. Play continues.
Fitzpatrick has his ankles clipped winning Thistle a free kick in the Airdrie half.
Budinauckas stands up tall to block a McGrattan shot.
No short corner this time but the Chalmers corner is headed clear before a foul at the edge of the box gives Airdrie a free kick.
Thistle are caught offside as they try and work a short corner.
Megwa's cross is pushed behind by Melrose for corner.
Big chance for Airdrie and Mochrie but he drags the ball wide of goal when he should score.
Thistle free kick midway inside the Airdrie half.
Activity on the Thistle bench. We're going to see a couple of changes at least.
The flag goes up for offside as Bannigan finds Crawford with the free kick.
O'Reilly is caught by a high foot and Thistle have a free kick deep inside the Airdrie half.
Nearly an immediate equaliser from Thistle but Melrose blocks Chalmers shot when the Thistle number ten is clear on goal.
The deadlock is broken as Mochrie fires high into the Thistle net from close range.
Graham pushes a pass to the feet of Chalmers whose shot is saved by Melrose.
Back underway. No changes from either side at the break.
No lack of chances at both ends but the first half ends goalless.
Thistle again deal with the initial corner but once more Airdrie pick up the ball again and McBeth needs to head clear to deny Airdrie a gal.
There is a real scramble in front of the Thistle goal before Crawford manages to clear.
Graham nods a chipped Megwa cross towards goal but Melrose collects with ease.
Budinauckas saves a Frizzell shot but the flag was already up for offside against the Airdrie captain.
Chalmers, all on his own up front, does well to hold the ball up but his shot goes high over the bar.
The initial corner is dealt with but Airdrie pick up the ball again. It takes a good clearance from Ashcroft to deny Airdrie a chance before Budinauckas comfortably saves a long range shot.
Airdrie free kick at the right hand corner of the Thistle box.
McCabe takes the free kick and draws a save from Budinauckas.
Airdrie break and win a free kick at the edge of the box, right of centre.
Graham looks to be bundled to the ground just as he's about to put the ball into the net but unbelievably there is no penalty.
McStravick has far too much space inside the Thistle box but thankfully his header is straight at Budinauckas.
Megwa beats his man down the right and sends over a deep cross. It's picked up by Reid who drills the ball goalwards where it is cleared before Graham can apply the finish.
The free kick goes deep to the back post where it is headed down. Thistle scramble clear but Airdrie remain on the attack. Megwa's clearance is picked by McStravick and he fires narrowly wide.
Airdrie's turn to win a free kick in a wide area and a chance to get the ball into the box.
Chalmers hits the corner to the front post where it is cleared. Turner tries to keep the attack alive but the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Crawford is bundled over and Thistle will get a chance to get the ball into the box from the free kick.
Thistle come close. Reid picks up a clearance and crosses for Graham to head narrowly over the bar.
The free kick is driven in by McCabe and Budinauckas is forced to punch clear.
Airdrie win a free kick just outside the Thistle box in line with the edge of the 6 yard box.
The sun is shining as the league season moves towards its climax with Thistle this afternoon making the short trip to face Airdrie.
Thistle come into this fixture off the back of a 1-0 win at Morton last Saturday and Brian Graham and Mark Wilson have made just one change to the side that started that game.
Kyle Turner, who provided the assist for Dan O'Reilly's winning goal against Morton, comes into start this one with Alex Jakubiak starting the afternoon on the bench.
On the bench there are welcome returns from injury for Steven Lawless and Ben Stanway.