In a game that had just about everything, including a nerve shredding 6 minutes of injury time, Thistle edge out Ayr by the odd goal in five. 

Leading 2-1 at the break Thistle were immediately pegged back at start of the second half but Steven Lawless restored the Thistle lead after 55 minutes. 

It was a surprise that there were no further goals at either end but it was a vital three points for Thistle. 

Still playing and Ayr have a free kick inside the Thistle half. 

Aye fans bellow for a free kick but a Thistle throw is the decision. 

Chalmers fouls Bannigan and Thistle have a free kick. Well into the third minute of injury time. 

We're into injury time. There could be quite a bit of that. 

Murdoch has a shot from the edge of the box. It's direct at Sneddon who is happy to grab hold of the ball. 

We've a break in play with both Lawless and Turner receiving treatment. That's going to leave Thistle a little short when play does restart. 

Dowds wins Thistle a free kick. It's on the left and Turner finds Milne with it. His cross is cleared though. 

Dowds isn't too far away from getting on the end of a Lawless cross into the box. 

Turner's corner is well defended. 

Akinyemi does well to hold off Muirhead but his shot from fully 30 yards out is ambitious to say the least and sails over the bar. 

The direction of play at the moment is all towards the Thistle goal. There is some relief though when Reading skies a shot high over the Thistle bar. 

Thistle make their first change of the afternoon. 

Sneddon doesn't make a clean save from Mullin's driven shot and Young looks set to score from the rebound only for Sneddon to make himself a big target to beat and makes a great blocking save. 

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Some strange appeals from Ayr for a penalty after a Mullin cross hits a Thistle defender. 

It's a fantastic clearance from Reading to get enough of the ball to clear a Fitzpatrick cross with a Thistle player at the back post ready to trap the ball home. 

Albinson claims a Muirhead header from underneath his crossbar following a Turner free kick from the right. It's an easy save for the Ayr keeper to be fair. 

Milne bravely gets in the way of a well struck McKenzie shot. The ball spins to the right where lawless completes the clearance. 

There is a coming together between McGinty and Graham after McGinty fouls Graham. Arms are raised and this will need some sorting out. 

Turner's corner nearly produces a chance of a 4th goal but when the ball breaks off a defender inside the 6 yard box there is no Thistle player there.  

Fitzpatrick breezes past Ecrepont but finds Albinson harder to beat. The Ayr keeper pushing Fitzpatrick's shot round the post. 

Thistle are back in front. Turner's cross finds Lawless and he hooks the ball past Albinson and into the Ayr net. This game has had a bit of everything today. 

Brownlie's heavy challenge on Dempsey earns him a yellow card. With Dempsey still down the Ayr fans are claiming that the card should have been of another colour. 

Albinson is able to get a strong hand to Fitzpatrick's shot to push the ball away from goal. It's been a frantic start to the second 45 minutes. 

McAllister does well to get his head to a Turner pass looking for the head of Graham. 

Fitzpatrick is able to get a cross over from the left but it is cleared. 

It's an absolute stunner from Chalmers who from the right hand corner of the Thistle box curls the ball beautifully wide of the reach of Sneddon. Quite the introduction from the Ayr half-time substitute. 

Thistle fall behind inside the first 10 minutes but are able to turn things round to lead at the break. 

Harry Milne heads the equaliser from a Turner corner and right on the stroke of half-time it's Brian Graham that gets the final touch to a Lawless cross to put Thistle in front. 

Thistle are in front as Graham heads home from close range. Ayr protest furiously for offside but after a conversation between referee and his Jackie Husband Stand Assistant and a nervous wait the goal stands. 

Milne rolls a cross right across the face of the Ayr goal but there are no takers. 

The corner is cleared

Thistle miss a great chance to take the lead as Turner has a clear sight of goal but watches his effort clip the outside of the post via a deflection. 

Into first half injury time.

Mullin clips the free kick in but there's no pace on the ball and Sneddon easily collects. 

Ayr win a free kick deep inside the Thistle half. It's probably a shade too far out for a direct effort on goal but still a test for Thistle to come. 

It's great play from Fitzpatrick who cuts in from the left. His low cross is inches behind Graham who is just a yard or two from the Ayr goal. 

A snap shot from Turner from outside the box drifts well wide of the Ayr goal. 

This time Turner's corner is headed clear at the front post. Thistle pick up the ball but play is halted when the referee spots an Ayr player down injured inside the box. 

Mikne has the Ayr defence on the back foot as he drives towards goal. He finds Turner with a pass to his left but Turner's route to goal is blocked at the expense of a corner. 

A cross comes over from the Ayr right that Akinyemi is too close for comfort to connecting with it. The ball ends up safely in Sneddon's hands though. 

It's a great chance for Thistle. Lawless does really well on the right and lifts a ball to Graham just outside the 6 yard box. He takes a touch and then drags the ball wide of target. 

Thistle are back on level terms. Turner's corner finds the head of Milne and he powers a header into the back of the net. 

The ball is worked out wide to Fitzpatrick on the left but his cross is a wild one and goes out for a goal kick. That kind of sums things up since Thistle fell behind. 

The wind has well and truly been taken out of Thistle sails with the loss of that goal. 

Despite the bright start from Thistle it's Ayr that draw first blood and it is a cracking finish from Akinyemi that has them in front. He collects a pass from Murdoch near the left hand corner of the Thistle box. He is shown far too much space inside and he takes full advantage of that and fires a stunning shot past Sneddon. Part great finishing, part poor defending. 

Graham twists his head to connect with a McMillan ball into the box. He can't, however, get enough power into his header and Albinson makes a comfortable save. 

Really positive start from Thistle and Turner's driven cross is just behind Graham. 

Turner has the ball on the left for Thistle. His cross is only partially cleared and it is worked into the path of McMillan who sees his shot blocked. 

Thistle kick off and will be shooting towards the John Lambie Stand in the first half. 

A combination of Firhill's undersoil heating and pitch covers, means that today's fixture against top of the league Ayr United is one of the few matches in Scotland to beat the freeze. 

After a blank week last weekend Ian McCall makes two changes to the side that drew with Cove Rangers a fortnight ago. 

Into the starting eleven come Stuart Bannigan and Aidan Fitzpatrick. 

Cammy Smith drops to the bench where there is a welcome slot for Kevin Holt while Lee Hodson misses out entirely. 

There is also no place for Ross Docherty who failed a late fitness test while Scott Tiffoney remains on the unavailable list.