90’+4’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Queen’s Park 0, Partick Thistle 4.90’+3’Post updateAttempt saved. Malachi Boateng (Queen’s Park) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.90’+2’Post updateAttempt blocked. Scott Tiffoney (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.90’+1’Post updateAttempt saved. Aidan Fitzpatrick (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.90’Post updateAttempt missed. Danny Mullen (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Aidan Fitzpatrick with a cross.
Partick Thistle sealed an 8-3 aggregate victory over Queen’s Park to progress to the Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final against Ayr United. Scott Tiffoney finished off an intricate move with a close-range finish and Kevin Holt knocked in the visitors’ third before half-time. Substitute Danny Mullen’s late header completed the scoring for Thistle, who remain in contention for a top-flight return after a five-year absence. They will be at home to Ayr next Friday, with the second leg the following Friday at Somerset Park. The winner will progress to meet the second bottom side in the Premiership.
Queen’s Park had gone into last Friday’s Championship decider with a chance of automatic promotion but their eventual 5-3 defeat by Dundee secured the title for the Taysiders. Defeat in the play-offs meant they missed out on a third successive promotion and a first top-flight campaign since 1957-58.
The visitors capitalised on their chances early on, with Graham scoring powerfully from the left of the box after Kyle Turner’s corner had picked him out. Steven Lawless then set Jack McMillan free to cross for Tiffoney in the six-yard box and a simple finish dealt another fatal blow to Queen’s Park’s hopes. Holt then forced in a rebound after Graham’s downward header had been kept out by goalkeeper Calum Ferrie.
Queen’s Park needed four goals just to force extra time, but they could not manage a comeback as Thistle held on for a comprehensive win. Aidan Fitzpatrick’s shot was saved before Mullen nodded in on the line for Thistle’s fourth and eighth overall in the tie.