Championship runners-up Partick Thistle take on Premiership side St Mirren tonight, with a place in next season’s SPL at stake. The Premiership play-off final will be decided over two legs, with the return match in Paisley on Monday 25th May.
That's us for our live reporting tonight. Bring on Monday!
All square after an entertaining first leg at Firhill — and what a game we've got to look forward to on Monday night in Paisley.
Aidan Fitzpatrick cancelled out Mikael Mandron’s opener as both sides created chances in an open and competitive play-off clash.
Gary Mackay-Steven hits the ball off the inside of the far post - wouldn't have mattered as it was offside.
Partick Thistle have looked the stronger side since equalising through Aidan Fitzpatrick and have continued to put St Mirren under pressure at Firhill.
Fitzpatrick has been central to most of Thistle’s attacking play, sending another dangerous cross through the box with nobody there to finish it. The hosts have sensed a chance to take an advantage into the second leg.
St Mirren have still threatened on the counter, with Roland Idowu driving into the box before Allan Campbell’s delivery failed to pick out a teammate.
Tony Watt drives to the byline before cutting the ball back across goal, where Aidan Fitzpatrick arrives unmarked at the back post to fire home.
Richard King produced an important block to deny Luke McBeth before Lee Ashcroft headed wide from the resulting corner with a great chance in the box.
Killian Phillips scores
... however, Josh Clarke reacted well to get down low and push the effort away.
The Buddies have looked sharper in midfield during this spell and are beginning to grow into the game.
St Mirren survived a major scare after Alex Samuel latched onto a loose ball inside the box, with the Buddies fortunate not to concede during the scramble that followed.
Richard King’s poor header gifted Alex Samuel a huge chance for Partick Thistle, but the striker saw his close-range effort saved before the rebound bounced back off him and spun wide.
St Mirren have made four changes from Sunday’s match against Dundee United as they prepare for tonight’s Premiership play-off final first leg at Firhill.
Mikael Mandron and Killian Phillips are among the players brought back into the starting side.
Partick Thistle have also reshuffled their team, with Tony Watt, Luke McBeth and Cale Loughrey coming into the line-up.
Dan O’Reilly and Ben Stanway miss out through injury, while Oisin Smyth is ineligible to face his parent club.
Partick Thistle have gone closest so far through Aidan Fitzpatrick, who cut inside from the left before firing narrowly wide of the far post.
St Mirren have also threatened. Allan Campbell saw an effort blocked inside the box before later volleying over the bar from a difficult angle.
The Buddies have enjoyed spells of possession, but Mikael Mandron squandered a promising opening after a heavy touch allowed Thistle to recover.
The home support has created a strong atmosphere inside Firhill, with drums and constant chanting from the John Lambie Stand throughout the opening stages.
Partick Thistle XI: Clarke, Reading, Loughrey, Ashcroft (c), McPherson, Fitzpatrick, McBeth, Crawford, Chalmers, Samuel, Watt.
Subs: Budinauckas, Dolan, Falconer, Letsosa, Logan, Mackay-Steven, Turner.
St Mirren XI: Sinclair, Fraser, Freckleton, Gogic, O’Hara (c), Tanser, King, Devaney, Campbell, Mandron, Phillips.
Subs: Calvin, Douglas, Falconer, Idowu, McMenamin, Nlundulu, Richardson, Tamosevicius, Young.
St Mirren manager Craig McLeish has named his side in a 3-1-4-2 shape, with Mikael Mandron and Killian Phillips leading the line.
Partick Thistle line up in a 4-4-2 formation under Mark Wilson.
