It’s nights like this that remind you of what an asset Partick Thistle would be to the Premiership. And on this evidence, they’ll fancy their chances of finally ending their long eight-year exodus from the top flight.
The play-offs haven’t been a happy hunting ground for the Jags of late. They’ve got there in each of the last four seasons only to come up agonisingly short. You just get the feeling it might be fifth-time lucky.
There’s certainly nothing to fear in Paisley in the return leg on Monday night. Thistle gave as good as they got here – missing arguably their best player, Ben Stanway, through injury – against a side who were lifting the League Cup not too long ago. A draw was the very least they deserved.
As for St Mirren, well their dream season could yet end up being a nightmare. They only have themselves to blame for getting into this mess in the first place. There is so much quality in this squad. Indeed, they showed it in flashes last night. But there’s a vulnerability about them too. At this stage, character outweighs quality. And it’s up to them to show they have enough of it to pull through. Squeaky-bum time, indeed.
‘We've got one home game to secure our future,’ said interim boss Craig McLeish. ‘We'd have liked to take a win back home, a goal or a couple of goals, but we're dead even in the tie right now. The boys are in a good place. They're frustrated tonight because they know they can do better, which is good. I'd be more disappointed if that was our absolute best and we're coming away with a draw. We will be better on Monday night and then we have to just take care of business then.’
Roared on by a raucous home crowd, the hosts made a decent start as they looked to get in the faces of their opponents. On 10 minutes, Aiden Fitzpatrick was unlucky to see his curling effort from 20 yards bounce wide of the far post after the winger had jinked in from the left-hand side.
A sharp one-two between Mikael Mandron and Richard King saw the latter find Killian Phillips on the angle of the box. His first touch enabled him to get a snap shot away, only for Cale Loughrey to stick out a leg and divert it wide.
There’s no doubt that St Mirren’s inability to find the net has been the key factor in their demise this season. Even Livingston – who were destined for the drop from around Christmas – bettered their tally of 38. However, they’ve been no great shakes at the other end either. And that defensive slackness almost cost them big-time on 24 minutes.
King’s dreadful header on the edge of his own box was pounced upon by Alex Samuels, whose poke towards goal was blocked by Ross Sinclair before ricocheting off the forward and wide. Phillips showed a somewhat surprising turn of pace to get on the end of a threaded Mandron ball on the half-hour mark, but his left-footed effort was comfortably parried away from danger.
For all their endeavour, Thistle were struggling to create anything. Fortunately for them, St Mirren were only too happy to offer a helping hand. O’Hara and Freckleton got themselves in all sorts of bother 30 yards from their own goal, allowing Robbie Crawford to steal possession and lay it off for Tony Watt.
The former Celtic man drove to the edge of the box before letting fly with his left foot. It was far too comfortable for Ross Sinclair, however. Watt probably didn’t quite realise how much time he had. He was made to pay for it six minutes before the interval as St Mirren edged in front.
Mandron – who led the line terrifically all night – showed quick feet 20 yards out to evade a couple of half-hearted challenges, before finding Phillips in acres of space inside the area. The Irishman’s finish with the outside of his boot into the bottom corner was sublime.
Lee Ashcroft wasted a golden chance to level things up on the stroke of half-time, but somehow headed wide at the back post with the goal at his mercy. On the hour, Mandron capitalised on a loose Patrick Reading pass to no one in particular, but his strike from 18 yards lacked conviction.
Thistle’s response was emphatic. Watt made an intelligent run down the channel before making his way to the byline. His pass across goal was on a plate for Fitzpatrick to stroke home completely unopposed. From a Saints perspective, it was Sunday League stuff.
Fitzpatrick had his head in his hands shortly after, having skinned his man and flashed a ball across the face of goal which was just begging to be tapped in. No takers though. With seven to play, Saints substitute Roland Idowu took matters into his own hands, weaving his way into the box to get a sight of goal. Surprise, surprise, the finish was tame. His frustration summed things up for Saints.
