Kris Doolan led Partick Thistle into the cinch Premiership play-off semi-finals sooner or later after the demise of his father as his group swept Queen’s Park apart at Ochilview.
The Thistle supervisor was within the dugout at Ochilview as his group received 4-0 to arrange a semi-final towards Ayr, the primary leg of which might be at Firhill subsequent Friday.
Objectives from Brian Graham, Scott Tiffoney and Kevin Holt put the tie past doubt earlier than half-time and the Jags soaked up some second-half strain with none main scares earlier than Danny Mullen sealed an 8-3 combination win.
Thistle introduced on Thursday that Lawrence Doolan had died within the morning, and assistant supervisor Paul McDonald carried out media duties after coaching. However the Firhill supervisor was again at work to proceed his spectacular begin to administration – he has now misplaced simply as soon as in 15 video games.
Queen’s Park, whose Lesser Hampden house stays beneath redevelopment, solely turned skilled lower than 4 years in the past and a 3rd consecutive promotion would have accomplished their bold plan to play within the prime tier for the primary time since 1958 properly forward of schedule.
However Scotland’s oldest soccer membership led the Championship for a lot of 2023 and have paid the worth for a late season collapse. They’ve received simply as soon as in 9 matches and shipped 13 objectives in every week of their three greatest video games of the season, together with final Friday’s title decider towards Dundee.
Thistle followers gave their former centre-forward Doolan a particular reception when the clock hit 9 minutes they usually had been grateful for David Mitchell’s save and Darren Brownlie’s goalmouth clearance in the course of the ovation after Connor Shields’ header had despatched Jake Davidson clear.
The gang included Neil Lennon, Duncan Ferguson, Ayr supervisor Lee Bullen plus Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin, whose group are battling to keep away from the play-offs or worse.
Ferguson would have been pleased with Graham’s 14th-minute end because the skilled striker guided house a side-foot volley following Kyle Turner’s deep nook.
Aaron Healy hit a half-chance straight at Mitchell from 18 yards earlier than Thistle doubled their lead with a well-worked purpose within the twenty eighth minute. Steven Lawless discovered Jack McMillan with a intelligent return move and the right-back squared for Tiffoney to complete.
Holt bundled house the third within the forty first minute as he adopted up on a parried header from Graham, who was quickly denied a second purpose by a point-blank save from Calum Ferrie.
Queen’s Park supervisor Owen Coyle made three half-time modifications however wanted Ferrie to make a one-on-one cease from Tiffoney early on.
Thistle annoyed their hosts and substitute Mullen nodded house within the 82nd minute after Ferrie had made an unorthodox cease together with his foot from Cammy Smith’s deflected effort.
