No Livi miracle for Martindale as Thistle make playoffs

The Herald Scotland

02-05-2025

The SPFL budget apparently doesn't quite stretch to a chopper for the delivery of the Championship trophy, so this was more Fiat Punto Friday than Helicopter Sunday, but regardless, the final day drama teed up tension the equal of just about anything we have seen for many a year.
And it seemed for a short while at least as though EH54 would indeed be punched into the SPFL Satnav as Hamilton Accies threatened to do the unfathomable at Falkirk.
In the end though, it was the doughty, dogged defending of Partick Thistle that was the defining factor here, along with a touch of good fortune that they earned when an incisive move ended with Livi midfielder Macauley Tait almost bursting his own net.
It may not often be said about this stadium - a ground that will perhaps forever be known as the Tony Macaroni, despite now going by the slightly less catchy moniker of the 'Home of the Set Fare Arena' - that there was a large, expectant crowd in attendance. But that is exactly what we had, with a section behind the goal having to be opened to accommodate the extra Livi fans who had come believing in a miracle.
The Thistle fans too had travelled in huge numbers, serving a reminder that for all the narrative around the title shootout was prominent, it only part of the story. The Jags had plenty on the line too, with a two-point advantage over Raith Rovers keeping them the right side of the playoff line going into the game.
Whether it was some classic managerial psychological mischief, or he was just as surprised as the rest of us to that his team had this opportunity, Livingston manager Martindale had long since publicly conceded the Championship title to Falkirk.
Some jitters from the Bairns though as they approached the line had led to something of a collapse in form, John McGlynn's men winning just one of their last five matches while Livi piled on the pressure with five victories from five.
And so, here we were. A win for Livi and anything but three points for Falkirk at home to a beleaguered Accies outfit would mean that Martindale's men had pulled off the improbable.
And if Falkirk lost, well, even a point would do. But surely that couldn't happen, could it? Early in the evening, though, Livi indeed climbed into pole position by dint of events elsewhere.
Just as Robbie Muirhead was released in on goal by a lovely first-time Cristian Montano pass, there was a development at Falkirk. The home crowd here rose in expectation of the net bulging, and they had every right. Former Thistle man Muirhead has been hugely impressive for the Lions this season, and you fancied he would finish off a glorious opportunity.
As it transpired, he toe-poked it straight at Jags keeper David Mitchell, who did the necessary to keep it out, but the Livi crowd stayed on their feet in any case to acclaim the Accies opener. Little did they know then that it would be the high point of their evening.
Just after the half hour, a deathly silence fell across the home end as a Falkirk leveller was a dagger to the heart of Livi's hopes. And soon after, Thistle landed the fatal blow.
A brilliant move down the right saw Aidan Fitzpatrick's cheeky backheel find Kyle Turner, who in turn released Kanayo Megwa toward the byline. His driven low cross was diverted into the roof of the net by the desperate lunge of the equally desperately unlucky Tait, and you felt the air starting to escape from the Livi balloon.
There are moments on occasions such as these when for the loser, it becomes clear it just isn't your night. For the hosts, it arrived moments later, as Stephen Kelly's wonderful, guided effort from the edge of the area came back off the face of the bar and was scrambled to safety. A quick glance to the left of the press box, tucked up in the far corner of the Main Stand, revealed hundreds of hands simultaneously and involuntarily being planted on heads.
By contrast, in the Thistle end, it was party time, tempered only slightly by news that Raith had scored two quickfire goals at Hampden. It may have been thought that Thistle's five-goal advantage over Rovers prior to kick-off may have meant that a draw would be enough for the Jags, but given Queens' Park's propensity for collapse lately, it brought the need for them to try and hold onto their lead into sharp focus.
Well, it was only fair that on a night of jangling nerves, the Thistle fans had their own taste of it. They stood and danced and sang, almost to a man, perhaps because they were twitching in areas that made it uncomfortable to sit.
Into the second half, and frustrations were boiling over. Referee Calum Scott was the lightning rod for the home fans' ire as he called a number of close calls in Thistle's favour, and the mood wasn't improved when news that Ethan Ross's double had seen Falkirk turn the night on its head.
Livi piled on the pressure. The Jags stood heroically firm. Raith's thumping of Queen's Park rendered meaningless.
And so, it is to be the playoffs for both of these sides. Thistle, finishing fourth, will have the tougher task to reach the promised land of the Premiership, but if either are going to get there, it is going to have to be done the hard way.
Just how they seem to like it.