THE LONG GOOD BRI
Veteran Graham ain’t ready to give up on dream as glory double sinks Diamonds and edges Jags closer to top-flight return
Brian Graham continued a glorious indian summer to his playing career as he fired Partick into the Premiership play-off semis.
The 36-year-old Jags skipper’s double proved enough to see off Airdrie in a tightly contested quarter-final second leg.
Graham’s remarkable form this season has already seen him crowned PFA Scotland’s Championship Player of the Year but the prize he really wants is a top-flight return.
He is clearly a man on a mission as he looks to make up for last year’s heartbreaking defeat to Ross County in the play-off final. Kris Doolan’s side have momentum on their side as they now face Raith Rovers in the last four with the first leg at home on Tuesday night.
Securing back-to-back promotions proved beyond Airdrie but Rhys McCabe and his players deserve huge credit for a fine season.
Arron Lyall’s goal gave them hope after trailing 2-0 but their wretched record against Thistle at Firhill continued as they suffered an 11th consecutive defeat in this fixture.
Thistle were unchanged from the thrilling 2-2 first leg draw at the Excelsior Stadium on Tuesday but Airdrie suffered a blow as influential skipper Adam Frizzell missed out with a thigh injury.
He was replaced by on-loan Rangers midfielder Lyall in the only alteration to McCabe’s starting line-up.
The visitors made the brighter start in front of a raucous atmosphere in Maryhill.
Mason Hancock surged down the left to pose the first attacking threat of the match with the wing-back’s dangerous cross cut out by Aaron Muirhead just ahead of Gabby McGill in the six-yard box.
Airdrie produced some fluent, incisive passing football and one superbly constructed move in the sixth minute deserved a better outcome than Callum Fordyce’s blazed effort over.
Thistle were prepared to mix it up as they looked to respond and a searching through ball from inside his own half by Luke McBeth almost picked out Graham who was narrowly beaten to it by the advancing Robbie Hemfrey.
It sparked a good spell of pressure from the Jags and Airdrie keeper Hemfrey was beaten when Graham’s 25th goal of the season put Thistle in front.
Aidan Fitzpatrick had picked up a good position on the right and when the winger drilled the ball across the face of the six-yard box, Graham was on hand to sneak in behind Fordyce and tuck it home.
The Airdrie defender had his hand up immediately to claim for offside and TV pictures suggested he had a case.
But the assistant referee’s flag stayed down and the absence of VAR in the Championship ensured Graham and the home support could savour the moment.
Fitzpatrick had been well
policed by Kanayo Megwa in the first leg but the Jags winger was already having more of an impact here.
He looked to quickly follow up his assist when he cut in from the left and fired a shot just off target from a tight angle.
Airdrie continued to enjoy plenty of possession but struggled to create any clear-cut openings.
Thistle pushed for a second and Hemfrey had to look alert to clutch a looping header from Harry Milne under his bar after the full-back’s darting run into the box had been picked out by Kerr McInroy’s cross.
McGill saw a shot deflected wide for a corner as Airdrie tried
to find a leveller before the break but Doolan’s side looked solid and composed defensively.
McCabe decided a change was needed at half-time and Airdrie started the second half with Lewis McGregor introduced for McGill.
But before any change of shape or tactics for his side was able to make an impact, they found themselves 2-0 down.
Just over a minute after the break, Scott Robinson worked his way into the penalty area from the left.
His low cross found Graham who didn’t appear to be ideally positioned to receive it with his back to goal.
But the Jags hitman can do little wrong these days and he displayed all of his nous to steer a delightful flick with the outside of a boot beyond Hemfrey.
Thistle looked to be firmly in charge of the tie now and Graham had the home fans roaring in approval again when he tracked back to do his share of defensive duties as he blocked a powerful shot from McGregor.
Airdrie needed a fairly rapid response and they got it in the 55th minute. McGregor found Lyall in the centre of the penalty area. The young midfielder showed good composure to slide a low shot beyond David Mitchell’s right hand into the corner of the net.
It was back on a knife edge once more and McCabe made another change as his team stepped up the tempo in pursuit of an equaliser, Hibs loanee Murray Aiken replacing the tiring Charlie Telfer in midfield.
McInroy had a great chance to give Thistle renewed breathing space when he was played in by Graham but his tame hit was gathered by Hemfrey.
It was nervy stuff for the Jags and home fans had hearts in mouths when Muirhead miscued an attempted clearance and the ball flew just over his own goal.
Fordyce came agonisingly close to forcing extra-time when he smashed a shot against the bar in the 88th minute.
But Thistle saw it out.