Saturday 17th May, 2025 at 1:21am
Partick Thistle’s season came to an end on Friday night with a 2-0 loss at Livingston in the Premiership Play Off Semi Final Second Leg.
The Jags came into the game at the Home of the Set Fare Arena with a tough task, having lost the first leg at home by the same score-line.
Ben Stanway returned to the starting XI in place of Lee Ashcroft, as Thistle switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Stuart Bannigan rolled back the years, being deployed at left back for the first time since our title-winning 2012/13 season. Jamie Low was rested after two gruelling games in the last seven days, while Stevie Lawless returned too.
With everything to do, Thistle looked the most lively in the early going. They forged forward, attempting to try and rectify the two-goal deficit.
As promised by Brian Graham, Thistle “threw the kitchen sink” at Livi early on in search of a goal, getting a lot of joy down the right-hand side.
On eleven minutes, a cross from Stevie Lawless found its way to Graham who was through on goal. His effort was stopped by Jérôme Prior, only for the offside flag to be raised anyway.
There was then a spate of chances at both ends, with Lewis Smith eliciting a great save out of David Mitchell.
Graham then had a good opportunity minutes later when Aidan Fitzpatrick found him on the edge of the box, but BG’s curled effort was blocked by Prior.
Mitchell then required treatment after he is caught by a Livi striker as Mitchell came out to gather the ball as Chalmers tried to shepherd it towards him.
With five minutes left in the half, disaster struck as Livingston took the lead. In a carbon copy of their opener on Tuesday, Livi once again cut Thistle open down the right hand side, with defender Jamie Brandon firing a shot from the right. Mitchell was able to get a hand to the shot, but it wasn’t enough to stop the ball going in the back of the net.
Livingston nearly made it two almost immediately however Lewis Smith was well marshalled, with Thistle’s defence clearing the ball and ensuring they remained just a goal down at half time.
Half Time – Livingston 1 Partick Thistle 0
Livingston made two changes at the break. Jamie Brandon and striker Robbie Muirhead, both on eleven bookings and at risk of suspension for the play-off final, came off for Dan Finlayson and Andrew Shinnie, who tried to immediately make an impact, hauling himself to the floor in the hopes of a penalty which was waved off.
On 53 minutes, Fitzpatrick rode forward with the ball. Graham on his right was screaming for the pass, but Fitzy went for glory himself, only for his effort to be blocked easily.
Any glimmer of hope for the Jags fizzled out on 66 minutes when Stevie May spotted David Mitchell off his line and hit a half-volley over the keeper to make it 2-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate.
Graham came close after winning a free-kick just outside the Livingston penalty area. It bent in well, but was an inch or two too high and went out for a goal kick.
Livingston absorbed any pressure placed on them through the second half as Thistle failed to create any meaningful chances.
Bannigan was then subbed off with moments to go, allowing Liam Dolan to come on for his first team debut less than a fortnight after his 16th birthday, having appeared as an unused substitute the last two games.
Despite the insurmountable lead, the strong away support continued to sing and make noise throughout, giving their all in backing the team. It was just another example of the exceptional loyalty shown by the Jags faithful throughout the 24/25 season.
There was no injury time as referee Kevin Clancy blew on the 90 minute mark to draw the curtain down on Thistle’s season.
Full Time – Livingston 2 Partick Thistle 0
Livingston will now play Dundee or Ross County in the Scottish Premiership play-off final whilst Thistle will break for the summer as the club prepares for another year in the Championship in the 25/26 season.
Partick Thistle: David Mitchell; Stuart Bannigan (Liam Dolan 84’), Daniel O’Reilly, Luke McBeth, Kanayo Megwa; Robbie Crawford, Ben Stanway (Zander MacKenzie 72’), Aidan Fitzpatrick (Alex Jakubiak 65’), Logan Chalmers, Stevie Lawless; Brian Graham
Unused Substitutes: Lewis Budinauckas (GK), Luis Cameron (GK), Mathew Falconer, Nicholas Lockhart, Liam Rooney,
Livingston: Jérôme Prior; Jamie Brandon (Daniel Finlayson 46’), Ryan McGowan, Danny Wilson, Robbie Fraser; Scott Pittman (Reece McAlear 71’), Macauley Tait, Stephen Kelly, Lewis Smith (Stevie May 59’), Cristian Montaño (Tete Yengi 59’); Robbie Muirhead (Andrew Shinnie 46’)
Unused Substitutes: Jack Hamilton, Matthew Clarke, Michael Nottingham, Samson Lawal
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 3,432
By David Forrest
