Tuesday 13th May, 2025 at 11:30pm
Partick Thistle suffered a setback in their bid for promotion with a 2-0 loss to Livingston at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill on Tuesday in the Premiership Play-Off Semi Final First Leg.
The Jags came into the game off the back of an epic 2-0 victory over Ayr in the Quarter Final second leg at Somerset Park on Friday.
Thistle welcomed back Logan Chalmers and Dan O’Reilly to the XI after missing the game on Friday, while youngster Jamie Low kept his place at left back after an impressive debut as Ben Stanway moved to the bench and Kyle Turner dropped out through injury.
Livi made their intent clear early, with a whirlwind opening few minutes seeing the West Lothian side have at least four chances in a matter of seconds before Cristian Montaño’s effort was finally blocked by David Mitchell.
Livingston hogged the ball early on, but were unable to create any meaningful chances in what was a fast and fiery opening.
Even after an exhausting two legs against Ayr, Thistle matched Livi’s tempo in the early going. The hosts looked hungrier, getting themselves to balls first and showing an aggression which Livi struggled to match.
Logan Chalmers was impressive on his return from injury, creating space down the left throughout, before capturing a lackadaisical pass from Ryan McGowan, only for his shot to easily dealt with by Livi keeper Jerome Prior.
Brian Graham, after being man of the moment on Friday, got his first opportunity of the night on 27 minutes. Some exquisite play from Robbie Crawford saw him square the ball to Graham, but the captain was unable to get anything on his attempt at a back-heel flick.
Crawford came close moments later. Jinking the ball into the box really well, Crawford’s attempt flashed past the far post as it remained goalless.
Partick Thistle were in the driver’s seat until the 39th minute, when Livingston opened the scoring against the run of play.
Robbie Fraser overlapped Cristian Montano down the left-hand side, before squaring the oncoming Scott Pittman who hammered home from inside the six-yard box to give Livi the lead.
With the wind taken out of Thistle’s sails, Livingston nearly made it two before the break. An error from Jamie Low allowed Montano into space. David Mitchell got himself to the shot, parrying it away.
The ball made its way to Stephen Kelly, who hit from long range, only for Lee Ashcroft to clear it off the line, ensuring Thistle went into the break only a goal down.
Half Time – Partick Thistle 0 Livingston 1
There was one change for Thistle at half time, with Alex Jakubiak coming in for Luke McBeth as Thistle attempted to take the game by the scruff of the neck and get more forward.
Almost immediately, Livi were on Thistle’s case, with Montano getting his head a cross from the right hand side, forcing Mitchell into a save seconds after the restart.
After being devoid of aggression in the first half, it was now Livi who were on top physically.
Daniel Wilson went for an ambitious overhead kick, sailing over the Thistle crossbar, but would make amends moments later.
A free kick wide on the left came to Wilson, whose effort rattled off the crossbar and over the line to double Livingston’s advantage.
Now in firm control, David Martindale’s side tried to put the tie out of sight with a third quickly after. Mitchell again was forced into a good save, this time from Pittman, as the Jags found themselves under the cosh.
After his dream debut on Friday, Low came close yet again, finding the head of Graham once more. This time though, Graham’s chance flew wide.
The quick pace of the first half dissipated late on, as Livingston dictated the tempo and ground the game to a half.
Lee Ashcroft however almost had a moment to remember on 82 minutes when his pop shot from long range, after a darting run forward, was inches away from going in, clattering off the crossbar to deny the defender a highlight reel goal.
In stoppage time, Thistle spurned a great chance to halve the deficit, with Chalmers teeing up Graham perfectly in from the right. Graham was unsuccessful in his efforts to convert at the back post as Livingston’s clean sheet remained in tact.
Full Time – Partick Thistle 0 Livingston 2
Thistle now travel to the Home of the Set Fare Arena on Friday knowing nothing short of a two goal win will do. Interim co-managers Brian Graham and Mark Wilson will hope that the Jags’ tremendous support can spur them on for what would be a famous comeback.
Partick Thistle; David Mitchell; Jamie Low, Luke McBeth (Alex Jakubiak 45’), Daniel O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft (Zander MacKenzie 88’), Kanayo Megwa: Stuart Bannigan (Ben Stanway 66’), Robbie Crawford, Logan Chalmers, Aidan Fitzpatrick (Stevie Lawless 65’); Brian Graham
Unused Substitutes: Lewis Budinauckas, Matthew Falconer, Nick Lockhart, Liam Rooney, Liam Dolan
Livingston: Jérôme Prior; Jamie Brandon (Daniel Finlayson 66’), Ryan McGowan, Danny Wilson, Robbie Fraser; Scott Pittman, Macauley Tait, Stephen Kelly, Lewis Smith (Tete Yengi 63’), Cristian Montaño (Andrew Shinnie 79’); Robbie Muirhead (Stevie May 62’)
Unused Substitutes: Jack Hamilton, Matthew Clarke, Reece McAlear, Michael Nottingham, Samson Lawal
Referee: Don Robertson
Attendance: 5,470
By David Forrest
50/50 Winners
First Prize – £435 – Ticket Number 247637
Second Prize – Chance to take part in crossbar challenge – Ticket Number 248500
