Partick Thistle secure play-off as Livi title dream ends
Partick Thistle secured the final promotion play-off spot and extinguished any hopes of Livingston's Scottish Championship title party with a narrow win in West Lothian.It was an own goal by Heart of Midlothian loanee midfielder Macaulay Tait that gave the Jags the deciding goal seven minutes before half-time.There was a nervousness emanating from the stands with a lot at stake for both sets of supporters and that was definitely finding its way on to the pitch.As early as the third minute, player-manager Brian Graham was gifted a chance to give Thistle the lead but blasted over from 12 yards with the goal gaping.At the other end, Robbie Muirhead was clean through on goal after a terrific flick-on by Cristian Montano, but goalkeeper David Mitchell stuck out his left boot to deny the Livingston striker.The home side continued to dominate but were hit by a sucker-punch seven minutes before the break.Kanayo Megwa fired a cross into the Livingston box that Tait attempted to clear but could only knock the ball beyond his own goalkeeper high into the net.Livingston kept driving forward and Stephen Kelly's effort rebounded off the underside of the crossbar and clear.As news filtered through of Falkirk leading Hamilton Accies, the home fans' hopes of a title party were becoming slim.However, the team kept pushing forward and Lewis Smith had a goalbound effort blocked by McBeth as they laid siege on the Thistle goal.Thistle now face Ayr United on Tuesday at Firhill, with the second leg of their quarter-final a week later at Somerset Park.Livingston await the winners for the right to face whoever finishes in second bottom spot in the Premiership for a place in next season's top flight.
Livingston manager David Martindale: "The result really is irrelevant at this point, because Falkirk went and done the business and we've got to be man enough to congratulate Falkirk. They're up there for a reason, so I take my hat off to them."We had something like 70% possession. They get the goal from an OG. Wee Mac's [Macaulay Tait] unfortunate with the clearance."We've had two or three really good opportunities to get something from the game. The majority game is played in Partick's half. They're holding on for top four at that point. I thought the boys were a wee bit unlucky."Partick Thistle player-manager Brian Graham: "In the last two weeks the team as a whole, the coaching staff, everybody was in it together. The fans were absolutely superb tonight."And we said to the boys before the game that it's up to us whether the league finishes tonight or it carries on. And, for us, it carries on."We got the three points we were looking for - we couldn't come here hoping for a draw. I said that to everybody all week, 'we cannot come here and hope for a draw and think that will be enough'. We got the three points and now it's about recovering and going again Tuesday night."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Daily Record
Callum McGregor 'still not over' Celtic Scottish Cup heartbreak as skipper using 'horrible' Aberdeen defeat as fuel
The skipper also paid a touching tribute to late Lisbon Lion John Clark Callum McGregor admits he'll NEVER fully get over Celtic 's Hampden heartbreak but is hell-bent on using it as fuel once the action resumes. The skipper saw his effort saved in the penalty shoot-out as Aberdeen claimed Scottish Cup success for the first time in 35 years. Brendan Rodgers ' Hoops, back in for the start of pre-season training on Friday, still walked away with the Premiership crown and League Cup. But McGregor said: 'The way it ended was a real sore one and everyone watching could see that. It shows the players care, it shows how much it means to us. 'So to finish on that was a little bit horrible. You have to try to process it over the close season. But when you reflect back and take stock, another two trophies, a really good run in the Champions League, some really good football, high-level performance consistently. 'There are certainly a lot of positives to take from it. Again the only negative is the way it finished, it kind of puts a dampener on everything. But when we look back it's been another positive season and we have to now draw a line under it, we come back with full energy again and we attack the new season from scratch, day one ready to go. 'For sure, it took a while to not get over it because I don't think I'll ever fully get over it. It's the ones that you lose that stick with you more than the ones that you win. 'So all it's done is given me more fuel and more fire to achieve more and continue to win things for Celtic. That's the positive I'm taking out of it. 'I don't think I've fully got over it but I think I've now managed to use it as fuel to drive myself forward and drive the team forward. We have to draw a line in the sand now and it's a new season.' McGregor, speaking to Celtic TV, returned to Lennoxtown at the end of a week in which Lisbon Lion John Clark died at the age of 84. The 32-year-old added: 'A hugely significant figure in the club's history, hugely significant person as well. Everybody who met him and came across him will tell you how humble and nice a man he was. 'Especially when I was young coming through the academy he was someone you looked at, you saw him pretty much everywhere you went, he was always here, he dedicated his life to Celtic. 'And it's only right that we remember him in the best possible way. My condolences, my sympathy go to his family as well because it will be a tough period for them. 'I just want them to know that everybody at Celtic, all the players, all the staff, are thinking of them as well. John was an amazing person and someone who was really important for the young guys like myself coming through. 'You saw him, you knew how important he was, he always took the time to stop and speak to you and make you feel part of the club. That was the real special thing about John was even long after he stopped playing, he was such an important and special figure for the club.'
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Daily Record
East Kilbride 1 Dunfermline 0: Kennedy hails 'exceptional' Kilby as they upset Pars in friendly
The League Two outfit got the better of the Championship side at K-Park Boss Mick Kennedy hailed 'exceptional' East Kilbride after they stunned Neil Lennon's Dunfermline side in a pre-season friendly. The newly-promoted League Two side upset the Championship side at K-Park this afternoon with John Robertson's early strike inflicting defeat on Neil Lennon's charges. EK made a habit of upsetting Championship sides last season, sending both Ayr United and Airdrieonians out of the SPFL Trust Trophy on their way to reaching the semi-finals. They can now add the Pars to their list of Championship scalps - albeit in a friendly - and Kennedy said: "The boys were exceptional. We were outstanding in the first 45 minutes and we could have been a few up. "We totally dominated the first half and missed some big opportunities to add to our lead. "They put on a fresh 11 at half-time and they had a spell of 15 minutes where they could have done better and scored, but I was really pleased with the first half. "The boys have only been in a couple of weeks and we have a distinct way of playing that doesn't really change, so we've had to get a lot into them in a very short space of time, so credit to the boys for picking it up so quickly. "We are a lot further forward this pre-season than we were last season. Our fitness is really good and we are in a good place. "We had Reegan Mimnuagh, Jack Leitch, Jack Healy, Jamie Hamilton and Erik Sula all missing today so there's even more to come. "Neil thought we were excellent as well and I think it was a good game for them. I think Neil has identified players he wants to bring in and he will strengthen his squad from what we played today. "But we managed to get a lot of new signings like Keir Foster, Ouzy See and Josh O'Connor involved today so I'm really pleased." It took Kilby just nine minutes to break the deadlock at a sold-out K-Park, with Robertson finding his way past the Pars' backline and calmy slotting the ball into the net. Seven minutes later the hosts though they had doubled their lead when Cammi Elliot had the ball in the back of the net, but the assistant referee flagged for offside. The Pars came close to a leveller just before the break when Connor Young cracked the crossbar with a strike and on the stroke of half-time Joao Balde saw a striek deflected narrowly wide down the other end. The woodwork came to EK's rescue in 62 minutes when Jake Sutherland's effort came off the post, but they managed to hold out for a winning start to pre-season against a Pars side just back from a warm weather training camp in Bulgaria. East Kilbride's next game is a behind closed doors clash with Premiership side Hearts on July 8.
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Daily Record
Motherwell in Aston Oxborough injury sweat after training camp setback
The Steelmen's No.1 has suffered an injury at the club's training camp this week Motherwell face a sweat over the fitness of goalkeeper Aston Oxborough after he picked up an injury at the club's training camp in the Netherlands. The 27-year-old Englishman missed a chunk of last season with a thumb injury, which saw him fail to feature for the Steelmen between January and May. And Lanarkshire Live Sport understands the shot-stopper has suffered an injury which has the potential to rule him out for four to six weeks. He is due to be assessed by the Steelmen's medical team. At worst, that would mean Oxborough would miss the entirety of the club's Premier Sports League Cup campaign in July and possibly the Premiership opener at home to Rangers on August 2, leaving fellow Englishman Calum Ward, who joined in January, and Matty Connelly as the club's remaining shot-stoppers. Connelly was due to return on loan to East Kilbride in the coming days but news of Oxborough's injury will delay or thwart that move entirely. The Steelmen are due to play their first pre-season friendly on Tuesday when they face FC Twente.
