Partick Thistle assistant manager Alex Rae was left “absolutely delighted” after his men defeated Ayr United 2-1 at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill on Saturday, bringing the Jags to within two points of league leaders St Johnstone.
A whirlwind ten minute period saw the Firhill side race into a 2-0 lead through goals from Logan Chalmers and Alex Samuel, before passing up a chance to increase their lead from the spot.
Ayr found a foothold in the game and reduced the lead in the second half through Curtis Main on the hour to make things nervy, but Thistle managed to hold on for a vital result that sees Rae and manager Mark Wilson’s side keep the pressure on in the title race.
“We knew it was always going to be difficult” admitted Rae; “but we put ourselves in a good position. I’m really pleased with the way we went about our business today.
“It became a bit of a slog in the second half because they obviously brought on [Curtis] Main and [George] Oakley and they went a bit more direct.”
“We had to compete for everything, and it’s an important one because of the manner – you’re scratching it out at the end, and it’s a bit basketball-y in transition.
“I think we were absolutely delighted with the three points, and also the performance levels. It was competitive and the shift from each player was great as well because they were working ever so hard.”
Thistle got off the mark when a Leon King error in the 11th minute allowed Chalmers to get on the end of a Paddy Reading long ball, before coolly slotting past Ayr keeper Liam Russell.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0 to the Jags when Luke McBeth swung a ball into the box for Alex Samuel to head home, taking a detour off the post as it went in.
After another five minutes, Thistle could have made it three. King was at fault once again, barging down Samuel in the box, with referee Grant Irvine awarding a penalty.
Chalmers, however, had his effort saved by the legs of Russell as the Harry Wraggs missed their third consecutive penalty for the first time since 2020.
Ayr were buoyed by the penalty miss and tightened up at the back, stemming the flow of chances to ensure they went down the tunnel still only 2-0 down, after a tanking looked on the cards within the first twenty minutes.
On the hour, Ayr pulled one back, when George Finney’s drive pinballed round the Thistle area, before falling at the feet of Main, who lashed home the ball with aplomb into the roof of the net.
The Honest Men started to press for an equaliser, with Thistle being forced to show their defensive mettle to stay in the lead.
Ayr gaffer Scott Brown would get caught up in the moment, being sent to the stands. Brown received a second yellow, much to the delight of the Firhill faithful, after questioning referee Irvine’s decision to book Marco Rus for simulation.
In injury time, Thistle looked in danger when substitute George Oakley raced past the defence into a 1-on-1 chance with Thistle keeper Josh Clarke, but the former Ayr goalie held his nerve, denying Oakley with a superb stop to seal the three points.
With St Johnstone falling to defeat at home to Dunfermline across in Perth, the win sees Thistle close the gap at the summit to two points, albeit with St Johnstone having a game in hand against lowly Queen’s Park.
It sets up a blockbuster 1st-v-2nd clash between the two on Friday night at McDiarmid Park, with Thistle fans knowing a win under the lights would see them go top of the table for the first time this season.
“We’ve earned the right to be in the position we’re at” says Rae. “We tend to show a level of consistency, but we’re very much mindful of St Johnstone, they’re there for a reason as well.
“We’re going to have to prep as well as we can for the game, and it’s on the television, which is also an added bonus for everyone. I used to enjoy playing in front of the telly!
“It’s a league that anybody can beat anyone, and it’s really competitive. I was talking to an assistant manager of another club on Thursday night, he was from down south, and he was mentioning how competitive this league is.
“I said, ‘Oh aye, it’s been like that for a long time, when I was a wee boy it was like that’. Everyone can beat anyone on any given day, and I think that’s the beauty of this level. It’s so competitive, and if you’re not at your best you can come unstuck.”
