17th Dec 2022 Partick Thistle 3 Ayr United 2 (SPFL Championship - game 18)

matches:2022-23: ← 28game 2930 →

58y, 2m, 17d	Ian McCall	Lee Bullen

Stuart Bannigan; Aidan Fitzpatrick
Lee Hodson; Cammy Smith

Harry Milne (1-1, 21 mins); Brian Graham (2-1, 45‎+‎1 mins); Steven Lawless (3-2, 56‎ mins)		Dipo Akinyemi (0-1, 9 mins); Logan Chalmers (2-2, 47‎ mins)
Kyle Turner (1-1, 21 mins); Harry Milne (2-1, 45‎+‎1 mins); Kyle Turner (3-2, 56‎ mins)		Andy Murdoch (0-1, 9 mins); Andy Murdoch (2-2, 47‎ mins)
Darren Brownlie; Stuart Bannigan; Brian Graham; Steven Lawless		Charlie Albinson; Sean McGinty; Dipo Akinyemi

Brian Graham (Anton Dowds, 73 mins); Aidan Fitzpatrick (Zander MacKenzie, 79 mins); Steven Lawless (Tony Weston, 89 mins)		Sam Ashford (Logan Chalmers, HT); Ben Dempsey (Brad Young, 64 mins); Finn Ecrepont (David Bangala, 64 mins)

25y, 3m, 11d	Jamie Sneddon	Charlie Albinson
24y, 11m, 29d	Jack McMillan	Finn Ecrepont
26y, 1m, 18d	Harry Milne	Paddy Reading future Jag
28y, 8m, 7d	Darren Brownlie	Nick McAllister
32y, 3m, 17d	Aaron Muirhead	Sean McGinty former Jag
30y, 3m, 0d	Stuart Bannigan	Andy Murdoch
19y, 10m, 18d	Cole McKinnon	Ben Dempsey future Jag
31y, 8m, 5d	Steven Lawless	Josh Mullin
35y, 0m, 24d	Brian Graham	Dipo Akinyemi
25y, 1m, 7d	Kyle Turner	Mark McKenzie
21y, 8m, 27d	Aidan Fitzpatrick	Sam Ashford

27y, 4m, 16d

32y, 8m, 13d	David Mitchell	Aidan McAdams
29y, 10m, 22d	Kevin Holt	Logan Chalmers future Jag
26y, 0m, 28d	Anton Dowds	Brad Young
27y, 3m, 23d	Cammy Smith	Scott Tomlinson
19y, 3m, 0d	Tony Weston	Kinlay Bilham
27y, 9m, 16d	Danny Mullen	David Bangala
18y, 2m, 27d	Ben Stanway	Fraser Bryden
20y, 1m, 20d	James Lyon	Paul Smith
17y, 3m, 19d	Zander MacKenzie	Dylan Watret

notes

Both sides generally in playing order.
The 'network' erroneously credits Sam Ashford with the assist for Ayr United's first, when in fact it was Andy Murdoch. Initially, the 'network' credited Harry Milne with Thistle's second goal, awarding the assist to Steven Lawless. The reality (confirmed in interview by Harry Milne himself) was that his header was put over the line by Brian Graham, right on the goal line. The 'network' changed its decision and awarded the goal to Brian Graham but, carelessly, didn't change the assist accordingly. We apply the goal/assist as Brian Graham/Harry Milne. The 'network' offers no assist for Ayr United's second, when in fact it was, again, Andy Murdoch.

TTA report

A fine curling shot from the edge of the box put Ayr ahead completely against the run of play (9). Milne headed home at a corner (21) then Graham touched in Milne's header for 2-1 (45+1). Another fine individual goal from out wide made it 2-2 (47) but Lawless volleyed in from close range for the winner (56) Thistle's play richly deserved.

Media report

17-Dec-2022, Stuart Wilson, Daily Record

Steven Lawless fired a controversial winner as Partick edged a five goal thriller at Firhill. Ref David Munro was at the centre of controversy as United were left to rue some big calls which saw them lose out in Maryhill. The Honest Men remain top of the Championship despite the reverse but were left wondering what might have been after a pulsating clash in Glasgow. Boss Lee Bullen named a youthful bench which included five Academy graduates and a first place in the squad for under 18s midfielder Scott Tomlinson. But United's threadbare numbers were able to make the perfect start when Akinyemi produced a moment of magic to fire them in front. The striker collected a ball on the left touchline and, with seemingly little danger on, shifted inside before beating two men and rifling into the top corner from 20 yards. The goal stunned Thistle after the hosts had made a bright start but they were able to regroup and get back on level terms when Harry Milne headed home a Kyle Turner corner. Brian Graham then fired just wide as the hosts threatened to quickly turn the game on its head. But Thistle were well on top and they forced their way ahead with the last action of the first half when Graham bundled home a Milne knockdown with Ayr screaming for offside against the striker.

That forced an interval switch from Bullen, who introduced Logan Chalmers for Sam Ashford - and the change had an immediate effect. The on loan Dundee United winger produced a moment of magic straight from kick off as he shifted the ball on to his left before curling a brilliant effort into the far corner. The game's breathless pace continued as Thistle went straight back in front after a huge moment of controversy. Ref David Munro failed to give a free kick for a bad challenge on Ben Dempsey 25 yards out - although subsequently returned to book Thistle defender Darren Brownlie after seeing the damage done to the Ayr midfielder. From the resultant Thistle restart, the Jags raced straight to the other end as Lawless converted an Aidan Fitzpatrick cross to rub salt in the Ayr wounds. Ayr were immediately forced to replace the crocked Dempsey with David Bangala, while Brad Young was pitched on for Finn Ecrepont to add even more of an attacking threat. And the on loan Villa striker should have made it 3-3 when pouncing on a spill from Jamie Sneddon but his effort was straight at the keeper. And although United pushed late on for a point, they were ultimately left frustrated as thoughts now turn to the top of the table visit of Dundee on Friday night.

Reaction

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall (speaking to the Daily Record):

It's a big result for us because we have five players out injured. No-one at this club ever thought we were out of the title race. We are all united now in getting this club to win matches.

Ayr United manager Lee Bullen (speaking to the Daily Record):

We scored two wonderful goals. Our video analyst has seen their second goal. Brian Graham is standing on the line. There is no way he could be onside.

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