Fri 2 May, 2025
William Hill Championship 
Almondvale Stadium, LivingstonWilliam Hill Championship
Fri 2 May, 2025. Kick Off: - 19:45
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
Ticketing Information:
The travelling Thistle support will be situated in the East Stand for this fixture. Please make sure to select the correct stand when purchasing your tickets.
Entry is through turnstiles 11-14, opening at 6:45pm.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS
Ticket prices:
Adult – £24
Concession (Over 65s, Students, Supporters with disabilities) – £16
Age 16-18* (No online sales) – £13
Under 16s** – £9
*Age 16-18 tickets can only be purchased on the day of the match with valid ID. No identification will result in no sale.
**Under 16s must be accompanied by an Adult or Over 65. A maximum of two Under 16s tickets can be purchased per Adult/Over 65 ticket.
Supporters who wish to purchase disabled and carer tickets should contact Livingston on 01506 417 000 or to organise this.
This game has been classed as a Category A match which means that there will a higher safety and security presence.
Parking is available in Car Park 3 – costing £10 cash payment for buses and £5 cash payment for cars.
After the match Supporters Buses will be placed at East End of the North Stand – please follow the directions of the police and stewards who will be in attendance.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Station Bar – 18:30
For seats call Duncan 07979496154 or e-mail
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick-up:
Jordanhill Railway Station – 18.00
Thornwood Bar – 18.05
Prices:
Adults – £20
Concessions – £14
Booking is essential. To make a booking contact Iain on 07779668357 or e-mail
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 17:00
Esquire House, Anniesland – 17:20
Maryhill Community Central Halls – 17:35
When booking it is essential that you state:
Fares:
Full fare – £20
Concessions* – £14
Primary School age – Free when accompanied by an adult
*Eligibility for concession fares:
Partick Thistle defeated Livingston 1-0 on a night filled with tension and nerves in West Lothian that ensured our season continues.
It was all or nothing for both sides at the Home of the Set Fare Arena with Thistle knowing that a result equal or better than Raith Rovers would see them secure the final play-off spot ahead of Tuesday’s first leg.
For Livingston, it was more Fast Car Friday than Helicopter Sunday as the Championship trophy sat equidistant between Falkirk and Livingston awaiting a winner. A win for Falkirk would seal the title, but any slip up would allow Livingston to clinch the league from under their noses.
Stuart Bannigan missed out through suspension after picking up a red card in the 2-1 win over Falkirk, whilst Josh Reid and Logan Chalmers were injured, with Kyle Turner and Ben Stanway coming into the XI instead.
It was a lively start with both teams going for it from the first whistle, eager to lay a marker down in their respective battles.
Livingston had the better of the early going, with chances created in and around the box. The pressure was cranked up with the news that Hamilton had taken the lead on seven minutes at the Falkirk Stadium.
It could have been a magnificent seventh minute for the hosts as Robbie Muirhead raced clear however the legs of David Mitchell came to Thistle’s recue.
Despite openings for Robbie Fraser, Stephen Kelly and Cristian Montaño, Thistle’s back line remained resolute, soaking up the pressure and standing firm.
The complexion of the night then took a complete u-turn on the 37th minute, with developments at both ends of the title race. An equaliser for Falkirk against Hamilton was punctuated by Thistle opening the scoring against the run of play.
A lovely three-man-move from Aidan Fitzpatrick, Ben Stanway and Kanayo Megwa saw Megwa find space on the right. He fired a pass across the box, only for Macaulay Tait to get in the way, inadvertently sending the ball into the Livingston net for an own goal.
Livingston tried to respond immediately, with Stephen Kelly firing off a shot moments after kick off. Luckily for the Jags, the effort clattered off the bar, ensuring we remained one to the good going into the break.
Half Time – Livingston 0 Partick Thistle 1
Thistle suffered an early setback three minutes into the second half when Sean Kelly went down holding his hamstring. Kelly was replaced by Stevie Lawless, who deputised in Fitzpatrick’s role as Fitzpatrick moved to left wing back.
By the hour mark, Thistle had more bodies down than the Royal Rumble with Brian Graham and Robbie Crawford also requiring treatment from the physio, with Crawford eventually coming off himself, replaced by Zander MacKenzie.
Thistle were under the cosh as an increasingly more desperate Livingston threw everything at them in search of a goal. Over at Hampden, Raith Rovers were now 3-1 up on an under strength QP side, leaving Thistle looking over their shoulder as their goal difference advantage was eroded away.
The Jags were penned into their own box and in serious danger, but the back three of Ashcroft, O’Reilly and McBeth were able to clear their way out of multiple risky situations as the tension continued to rise.
Not even a third Falkirk goal to all but seal the league title could convince Livingston to take their foot off the gas. They continued to threaten Mitchell in the Thistle goal as news filtered through that Raith Rovers had now stretched their lead over QP to 5-1.
Another injury, this time to Fitzpatrick, saw Ablade thrown on as a makeshift left wing back. It was backs to the wall, with Thistle knowing that one goal for Livi and one goal for Raith would sink their play-off hopes.
A brilliant save from Mitchell from a Stevie May shot kept us in the lead, as Thistle braved seven additional minutes of injury time following the downtime earlier in the half.
Livi were determined to spoil Thistle’s party, but The Jags made it through seven minutes of injury time to survive The West Lothian Alamo and confirm their place in the promotion playoffs.
Full Time – Livingston 0 Partick Thistle 1
There’s no time to rest for the Jags, who will now host Ayr at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill on Tuesday night in Quarter Final First Leg action, with the Second Leg three days later at Somerset Park.
Livingston: Jérôme Prior; Jamie Brandon (Daniel Finlayson 72’), Ryan McGowan, Danny Wilson, Robbie Fraser; Scott Pittman (Andrew Shinnie 69’), Macauley Tait, Stephen Kelly, Lewis Smith, Cristian Montaño (Tete Yengi 58’); Robbie Muirhead (Stevie May 72’)
Unused Substitutes: Jack Hamilton (GK), Shaun Donnellan, Matthew Clarke, Reece McAlear, Michael Nottingham
Partick Thistle: David Mitchell; Sean Kelly (Stevie Lawless 50’), Lee Ashcroft, Daniel O’Reilly, Luke McBeth, Kanayo Megwa; Ben Stanway, Robbie Crawford (Zander MacKenzie 62’), Aidan Fitzpatrick (Terry Ablade 80’), Kyle Turner, Brian Graham
Unused Substitutes: Lewis Budinauckas (GK), Luis Cameron (GK), Nick Lockhart, Matthew Falconer
Referee: Calum Scott
Attendance: 3,890
By David Forrest
What an effort from Thistle. Six points from the last two games against the top two sees Thistle into the play-offs.
Corner headed clear.
Update from elsewhere:
Full-Time
Queen's Park 1, Raith Rovers 5
A high Livi foot gives Thistle a free kick at the edge of their own penalty box.
Graham tries an effort from inside his own half but it doesn't threaten the Livi goal.
Into added time. Didn't see what the 4th official indicated. Too long.
Big save from Mitchell who pushes away a May shot.
Update from elsewhere:
Queen's Park 1, Raith Rovers 5
Shinnie is the latest player to be booked.
Livi win a free kick wide on the right following a foul from O'Reilly.
Kelly snatches at a shot from the edge of the box that goes wide of Mitchell's right hand post.
Update from elsewhere:
Queen's Park 1, Raith Rovers 4
Fraser heads the corner well wide of Mitchell's left hand post.
Yengi collects a yellow card for simulation.
May and Finlayson replace Muirhead and Brandon.
Shinnie comes on Pittman.
Update from elsewhere:
Falkirk 3, Hamilton 1
Thistle are under real pressure and they just manage to get the ball clear before Smith sends a shot wide of goal.
The corner is flicked away for a Livi throw on the opposite side.
Thistle getting penned in at the moment.
Update from elsewhere:
Queen's Park 1, Raith Rovers 3
Graham goes down at the edge of the Thistle box and the physio comes on to give him some treatment.
Thistle defend the free kick. The ball is clipped back into the box and the flag goes up for offside.
Livi win a free kick just in from the right touchline.
Yengi comes on for Montano.
Update from elsewhere:
Falkirk 2, Hamilton 1
McGowan picks up a yellow card following his foul on Crawford.
Another break in play as Robbie Crawford this time picks up a knock.
Update from elsewhere:
Queen's Park 1, Raith Rovers 2
Fitzpatrick has gone to left wing back with Lawless now filling the role that Fitzpatrick had been playing.
Break in play as Kelly goes down holding his hamstring. It doesn't look as if he will be able to continue.
A nerve shredding first half sees Thistle lead following Macauley Tait's own goal following a Kanayo Megwa cross from the right.
The important half-time scores from elsewhere are:
Falkirk 1, Hamilton 1
Queen's Park 0, Raith Rovers 2
As it stands Thistle would secure the final play-off spot and Falkirk would clinch the title.
All that can all change in the blink of an eye.
If that first 45 minutes was nerve wracking it will be nothing compared to what will follow in the second half.
Minimum of three minutes additional time to be played.
Kelly cracks a shot off the Thistle crossbar with Mitchell beaten.
Thistle take the lead. Megwa crosses from the right and Tait's attempted clearance finds the back of his own net.
Updates from elsewhere:
Falkirk 1, Hamilton 1
Queen's Park 0, Raith Rovers 0
Graham is fouled inside the Livi half. Turner over the free kick. It's headed clear.
Thistle free kick from wide on the left after a foul on Fitzpatrick.
Prior gets a strong fist to Turner's corner.
Graham does really well to find Stanway and his shot is blocked at the expense of a corner.
Boos in the Thistle ends as Livi win a soft free kick after a foul from Stanway.
The ball breaks to Montano inside the Thistle box. His touch is poor though with the flag up for offside in any case.
Fraser pokes a shot towards the Thistle goal but it is an easy save for Mitchell to make.
Turner's corner is cleared.
Kelly flights the free kick. Mitchell gets the ball away but collides with McBeth goes down. Livi pick the ball hup again but the referee stops play for McBeth to receive treatment.
Livi had a free kick deep inside the Thistle half. Some defending to be done.
A Montano shot is deflected before being hooked clear.
A low shot comes in that Mitchell saves at his left hand post.
The home fans are naturally a little excited. Muirhead fires a cross across the face of the Thistle goal.
Updates from elsewhere:
Falkirk 0, Hamilton 1
Morton 1, Dunfermline 0
Big chance for Livi as Muirhead gets beyond Ashcroft but Mitchell saves with his legs.
Half a chance for Thistle following a Turner free kick. Graham picks the ball up and fires a shot a foot or so over the Livi crossbar.
Thistle kick the game off.