Preview: Ayr United vs. Partick Thistle – prediction, team news, lineups

Ayr United are set to face Partick Thistle at Somerset Park on Friday evening in the second leg of their Scottish Championship playoff quarter-final.

The hosts hold a one-goal advantage heading into their home leg after a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture, meaning the visitors must overturn the deficit to keep their promotion dreams alive.

Match preview

© Imago

Ayr United, since their promotion to the Scottish Championship as League One champions in 2017-18, have experienced a rather inconsistent seven seasons in Scotland’s second division.

The Honest Men have finished in the playoff places in four of those seven terms, including this campaign, alongside a seventh and two eighth-placed finishes.

Despite reaching the playoffs several times, Ayr have yet to secure a return to the Scottish Premiership for the first time since the 1977–78 season, but they will be determined to break that streak this year.

Scott Brown‘s side enjoyed a strong 2024-25 regular season, consistently staying in the top three and eventually placing third with 63 points from 36 fixtures, from 18 wins, nine draws and nine losses.

That booked Ayr’s place in the quarter-finals of the promotion playoffs, matched with fourth-placed Partick Thistle, and the Honest Men hold the advantage after their first leg meeting on Tuesday.

The first leg saw an expectedly cagey affair between two sides that evidently wanted to avoid exposing themselves in the opening match of the playoffs, with the only goal of the game coming when Jamie Murphy headed home in the 55th-minute, giving Ayr a narrow 1-0 lead going into their home leg.

Ayr will now aim to defend that lead as they return to Somerset Park, and the hosts have every reason to be confident given their strong home record this term, recording 11 wins, five draws and two defeats in 18 home league games, while they are also undefeated in their last three home meetings with Partick.

Partick Thistle have also flirted with promotion since their relegation from the top flight in 2017-18, falling in the playoff quarter-finals in 2021-22, the final on penalties in 2022-23 and the semi-finals on penalties last season.

The Jags will be eager to secure their long-awaited return to the Scottish Premiership, but first, they must overcome a 1-0 deficit following their defeat in the first leg.

Partick have had a turbulent end to the 2024-25 campaign, with Kris Doolan being sacked in February after two years in the job following a run of one win in seven games, leaving Brian Graham and Mark Wilson in charge on an interim basis.

Despite that, Partick were able to hold on to fourth place in the Scottish Championship, sealing their playoff place with a 1-0 win on the final day of the regular term.

Their defeat to Ayr on Tuesday was just their third at home in the league this term, and a disappointing away record of seven wins, two draws and nine defeats leaves them as certain underdogs coming into the second leg.

Team News

© Imago

Ayr United suffered a significant injury setback before Tuesday’s first leg, with George Stanger ruled out due to injury, and their troubles continued early in the first half when Nick McAllister was forced off after a head collision.

Dylan Watret came into the back three as a result, and the defender could retain his place alongside Lenny Agbaire and Scott McMann, with Patrick Reading and Mark McKenzie from wide positions.

As for the the rest of the side, Brown may decide to not make any further changes after his side secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to Murphy’s 55th-minute header.

Partick Thistle will be without the services of Sean Kelly, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after the defender suffered a hamstring injury in the victory over Livingston on the final day of the regular season.

In response, the Jags switched to a back four in the first leg, with Kanayochukwu Megwa, Luke McBeth, Lee Ashcroft and Daniel O’Reilly in defence, and all four could feature again on Friday.

Co-manager Graham squandered several chances in the first leg, but as Partick Thistle’s top scorer this season with 15 league goals, he will be eager to make amends and score a crucial goal on Friday.

Ayr United possible starting lineup:
Clarke; Watret, Agbaire, McMann; McKenzie, Rus, Dempsey, Reading; McLennan, Oakley, Murphy

Partick Thistle possible starting lineup:
Mitchell; Megwa, McBeth, Ashcroft, O’Reilly; Turner, Bannigan; Lawless, Crawford, Fitzpatrick; Graham

We say: Ayr United 2-1 Partick Thistle

Another tightly contested clash is expected following the hard-fought first leg, but as Partick Thistle will be required to place more of an emphasis on attack as they aim to get back into the tie, Ayr will have more space in the final third, and we believe that will help the hosts secure the victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email

This post was originally published on this site