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00:00and Alistair Laman.
00:02Thanks as always Jonathan, playoff stalwarts Partick Thistle
00:06try for the fourth year in a row to regain Premiership status
00:10as Ayr attempt to end nigh on half a century out of Scottish football's top flight.
00:16It's still a long old road from here
00:19but both looking to get off to the best possible start this evening.
00:30Great turnout, and Virgil from both sets of supporters.
00:36Ayr fans making the journey up the M77
00:41before Thistle will do likewise on Friday.
00:53The rigours of the season have taken their toll on both squads
00:57and Thistle are able to call upon Stuart Panigan after his ban.
01:01He and Stevie Lawless come in with Sean Kelly added to their injury list.
01:05Ben Stanwy dropping to the bench.
01:11Ayr make half a dozen changes from the win over Ayrgy
01:13with a few rested for that one coming back in.
01:16Nick McAllister, Scott McMahon, Mark McKenzie, Mark Aroos, Conor McLennan
01:20and Jamie Murphy all stuck.
01:22George Stanger and Cole McKinnon missing.
01:25Hastie, Walker and Henderson are on the bench.
01:34Difficult to look beyond Brian Graham as a potential match winner for Thistle.
01:38As Jonathan mentioned, he got two in the play-off win over Ayr two years ago
01:41and needs just two more for 100 Thistle goals.
01:48George Oakley has just three fewer than Graham this season,
01:51but hasn't scored in ten, and we'll be looking to put that right tonight.
01:55David Dickinson is the man officiating this evening.
02:02Scott Brown certainly looks calm.
02:10Mark Wilson in the Thistle dugout, his former Celtic teammate.
02:25Both trying to help their side navigate through this first stage of the playoffs.
02:31Well, no rest for the wickets, or indeed those with Premiership aspirations.
02:38Thistle with a bit of momentum here, slightly less so,
02:42having secured their play-off spot a few games back, an early problem here.
02:48Well, we expect this to be full-blooded both sides giving their all.
03:02Oh, that does not look good at all.
03:07Nick McAllister looks as if he's in a wee bit of bother here.
03:11I think it was Dan O'Reilly as well that went up the challenge,
03:13but he clattered, didn't he?
03:15You know, you watched it in real time and it didn't look great,
03:20but the replay, unfortunately, looks even worse.
03:24Yeah, Nick McAllister already looks in a pretty bad way,
03:30Dan O'Reilly himself, although he's on his feet, looks pretty shaken.
03:36You know that all these players are out there and they're going to give their absolute all,
03:42sometimes putting their body on the line for the good of the team.
03:47The air medical team are obviously pretty concerned about Nick McAllister.
03:53What I was going to say, Michael, in terms of that momentum that Thistle have brought into these play-off games,
04:01and you mentioned also the air have just faded a little bit.
04:05How difficult is it to re-find that spark that is going to be required to get through these play-offs?
04:12Well, I mean, look, ultimately, if you were to ask either manager,
04:16of course they'd be wanting to come into it in better form,
04:21but you've seen over the years there's plenty of sides that you think are carrying that form,
04:25and then over the course of the players they're not able to see it through.
04:29then it's not easy to turn it around,
04:32and certainly with having to make a substitute inside the first minute, it doesn't help.
04:37That's good to see that he's up and he's walking off.
04:40It's really good to see because I have to say I was almost assuming that Nick McAllister
04:52wasn't going to play any more part in the game, and perhaps he shouldn't.
04:56I think that's the conversation that the air doctor or physio is having with him.
05:02Yeah, it is.
05:04Sometimes it has to be taken out of the players' hands.
05:07Dylan, watch it, was preparing to come on.
05:11Dan O'Reilly's going to be okay.
05:18Well, I mean, look, sometimes, you know,
05:21there are incidents that happen, you know, where clashes ahead,
05:23and you just say to yourself, it's unfortunate and it's not great to see,
05:28but that one I just felt, Dan O'Reilly, it was a little bit too far ahead,
05:31and I don't think there was a need to go and crash into it,
05:34but due to the fact that it was the first moment in the game, I think,
05:36just desperate to show that willingness, but just looked as if he was flinging himself into it.
05:44I think he should have perhaps just taken a step back.
05:48No, he's getting a thumbs up, although I'm not sure that the air medical team are 100% convinced he should be coming back on, but...
06:02On he comes at McAllister.
06:08Well, certainly we'll hope that there will be no after effects of that nearly head knock.
06:16It's just taking a sting out of the start of the game, understandably, but should have been back up and running to full pelt very shortly.
06:28The weather's obviously been very good down in the air.
06:32Scott seems like he's got a good bit of colour about him.
06:36I don't imagine he's been away on holiday at this moment of a busy season.
06:38I don't imagine he's been away on holiday at this moment of a busy season.
06:42Well, pretty much every single air fan in that picture would have certainly no memory of United being in the top flight.
06:54Well, pretty much every single air fan in that picture would have certainly no memory of United being in the top flight.
07:06Good two or three generations have gone by since the last graced top division in Scotland.
07:24Quite the accolades for Scott Brown if he were able to lead them back there.
07:32It's Jimmy Murphy.
07:34Bradley again sticking his head in.
07:36I mean, on that note, Al, it would be quite incredible for Scott Brown in his first full season to take Air United up to the top flight.
07:46I said just at the beginning of the programme there that they're probably ahead, I think it's fair to say, ahead of where he would have imagined them to be.
07:56And that's the beauty of the playoffs, it gives you that second chance, it gives you that opportunity to perhaps be able to force your way up into the top flight.
08:08And for Air United that would genuinely be transformational.
08:12It's Dempsey for McMahon, just giving it away, it's a poor ball.
08:24Straight to Lawless who checks inside, just overran it.
08:28Allows Lenny Aguirre to step in, get it forward to Murphy.
08:37Inside he comes.
08:40We are popping it about now.
08:42Free kick just outside the box.
08:46Mark McKenzie was clipped on a yellow card.
08:48Shown.
08:51Aidan Fitzpatrick.
08:54Well, he just gets caught the wrong side.
08:56I was wondering whether it was O'Reilly or Fitzpatrick.
09:00You can see there, it looked like he kicked out, but in the replay I'm not sure he does kick out.
09:04It just looks like he's caught the wrong side.
09:08Eventually, he stands on the back of McKenzie there.
09:12Definitely a free kick, dangerous area.
09:18The game's just bubbling along at the moment, it's not really burst to life yet.
09:21Certainly for Air United, if they were able to find the back of the net here.
09:27It would send that away crowd wild and the game would be well and truly alive.
09:35David Mitchell giving a close watch here as Jamie Murphy sends it straight into the walls.
09:41It's a poor effort from the experienced winger.
09:48The away crowd are not going wild, but imagine the away bench here at the moment.
09:52That was not a brilliant attempt from Jamie Murphy.
09:57He's got far better quality than that.
10:03Yeah, I'll be disappointed with the 35-year-old now.
10:08Some real heroics in the last couple of games from Partick Thistle to clinch that.
10:11Some real heroics in the last couple of games from Partick Thistle to clinch that.
10:13Fourth spot at Erndermiss, another crack.
10:14Some real heroics in the last couple of games from Partick Thistle to clinch that.
10:16Fourth spot at Erndermiss.
10:17Some real heroics in the last couple of games from Partick Thistle to clinch that.
10:22Some real heroics in the last couple of games from Partick Thistle to clinch that.
10:24Fourth spot at Erndermiss, another crack.
10:31Now, the referees stopped the game in the air, the medical team have come back.
10:43Didn't see anything particularly happening with Nick McCarster there, but someone has seen something that they're not happy with.
10:51Well, it's bizarre. I think obviously you can see the bench are making the decision for him.
11:00I didn't see anything else that happened, but clearly the doctor was right at the side.
11:05In fact, he was coming on to the part before Nick McCarster was even aware.
11:15Something that obviously rugby is far further forward than football in regards to taking no chances and having the head injury assessments.
11:28I've got to watch this put the bid back on again. It looked like he was about to come on for a second time in these opening minutes.
11:35I didn't see what happened in that phase of play, Al, to suggest that there was something that had moved along here.
11:43I mean, it looks understandable. Nick McCarster does not want to be coming off here.
11:48And he may well feel that he's okay, but unfortunately that is the problem with head injuries.
11:55You just can't take the risk. And even though he might be feeling all right, the officials have got to understandably step in here.
12:08Yeah, the player isn't always the one who's best placed to judge these things.
12:13And I think ultimately the right decision has been reached for the benefit of the player.
12:20It was a bit of a shuddering challenge as I was trying to say right at the get-go.
12:25There was a fair bit of force and pace in the challenge.
12:30So it's been a bit of a reshuffle as well as a result of that change with Watshuk going to right wing-back in Reading.
12:42Has come back in from left wing-back into the back three.
12:51With Mackenzie going from right to left wing-back, so a few alterations required within that one substitution.
13:00Here United will hope it doesn't overly affect their plans.
13:07Here's Dempsey, the United captain.
13:22Murphy coming deep, firing it long for Mackenzie.
13:27There was Mackenzie a couple of seasons ago who got the very late goal against Inverness, Cali Thistle.
13:34Murphy coming deep, firing it long for Mackenzie.
13:38It was Mackenzie a couple of seasons ago who got the very, very late goal against Inverness, Cali Thistle.
13:44To take them into the playoffs, ultimately finished second as a result of that last day.
13:56Very late goal from Mackenzie.
13:59Free kick is gone, Thistle's way.
14:04Lack of pattern really to the game thus far.
14:20Largely as a result of that early knock and the uncertainty.
14:25That looked like a free kick all day long as Crawford went down,
14:33but the referee saw nothing amiss.
14:36Yeah, I don't know whether he was blindsided and just thought that
14:40it was actually a winning of the ball from McMahon,
14:43but it didn't look like it from here, it looked like a free kick.
14:51He's gone down as a goal kick.
14:54He gets the touch on it and it just bounces off McMahon.
15:01He's pointing towards where the ball's gone, but I think that was a free kick personally.
15:08Nicholas Dump.
15:26Still on the United bench.
15:31on the United Bench.
15:55Two victories for Thistle here, over here this season, most recently.
16:01In March, a 2-0 win.
16:03Bannigan sends it forward, looking for Fitzpatrick, the man there ahead of him.
16:10Charles Clarke, more height than distance.
16:17They're going to take the decision, Rob Crawford penalised.
16:21That's been very stop-start so far.
16:31I think you just mentioned a couple of moments ago, not a great deal of flow at the game so far.
16:35Yeah, it's a free kick, but Conor McLaren should be bouncing up here.
16:41Nothing wrong with him.
16:42Here we go.
16:43Here we go.
16:44Here we go.
16:45Here we go.
16:51There's a good ball, just over Oakley, might come for Roos.
16:53Perfee puts it down there for Mackenzie, there's a good ball then, just over Oakley, might
17:08come for Roos, onto the left foot and straight at Mitchell, half a chance for United, well
17:18they were able to exploit some gaps in that back when you can see here they're running
17:21behind, loads of space for Mackenzie, there's a pretty good ball into the box there as well,
17:28just thought could Roos have had the strike initially, does pretty well to be able to
17:33shift it and get the strike away in the end but it was lacking any real force and power
17:39in that to trouble the goalkeeper David Mitchell.
17:44The way through for Fitzpatrick, long ball, Oakley's in behind but he'll do well to keep
17:50it in and he can't manage to do so.
18:00Oakley knew exactly what he was doing there, stopping the goal kick being taken quickly.
18:04followed by O'Reilly, one by Agber in the air.
18:34O'Reilly, one by Agber in the air.
18:35O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:36O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:37O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:38O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:39O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:40O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:41O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:42O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:43O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:44O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:45O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:46O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:47O'Reilly, two by Agber in the air.
18:48Thistle fans looking for a card there, but David Dickinson settles for the free kick.
19:03For me that's never a yellow card, Turner knows what he's doing, he does it well.
19:07That's a good ball, over the top from Pan again, O'Reilly couldn't really make much
19:14a goal of it and then he's fouled Agbair.
19:19Well you can hear the home crowd are getting frustrated just on the first one, I don't
19:23think it was a yellow card but Kyle Turner he managed it well, he just was able to get
19:27enough of his body across to win the free kick in and that one there, Agbair does go down
19:33pretty easily.
19:34You can understand Dan O'Reilly's frustration with that decision and the fans round about
19:41us.
19:42The thing is it just, it accentuates the whole issue with the game being stop-started,
19:47it's being punctuated by free kick, blowing the whistle non-stop, it's not allowed the
19:54game to get any real rhythm to it so far.
19:57Good job by Megwat, the man returns it, another one for Megwat to tussle with Jamie Murphy this
20:07time.
20:08Talk about content too easily, that was a beauty there from Jamie Murphy.
20:13The players have got to take a bit of responsibility here as well and just, you know, get on with
20:27the game.
20:28This is it here as it comes over to Jamie Murphy, he might well have actually been off-site to
20:34begin with, but yeah, just, oh yeah, what we've got.
20:39Go.
20:40Yeah, he wants to go.
20:53.
21:12United looking to try and build something down the right here,
21:15as Wattrick goes down under pressure from Banigam,
21:18the assistant was in a good position to judge that.
21:21The yellow card being shown there to George Oakley,
21:25presumably for his complaints,
21:28and not getting a free kick there.
21:33Well, it caught me unawares, I didn't see what had obviously happened,
21:36but clearly it's something that he said,
21:42he wasn't involved in the incident,
21:44but can the ref just have a quiet word unless he's obviously sworn up?
21:50In which case, understandable from David Dickinson.
21:59This will get the decision there.
22:02The referee is going to have to let some of these marginal calls just go,
22:10otherwise the game is never going to get started.
22:14Yeah, he's not quite reached.
22:16You know what I mean?
22:17In terms of those instances like that where you can understand potentially blowing the whistle,
22:22but he needs to allow the game to breathe here.
22:24And ones that are on the edge, he's got to let it go.
22:28He's got to allow the game to flow.
22:30There's one.
22:31Yeah, exactly that.
22:32I mean, for me, you know, obviously Crawford will get upset with it.
22:37And perhaps he has had his heels clipped there,
22:40but there needs to be a four, five, six minutes of just letting this game flow.
22:46Not letting people away with free kicks, but with fills.
22:50Look, there wasn't a great deal in that.
22:52I think that was better from the referee.
22:55Switch of play here for McKenzie.
22:58Not a great first touch though.
23:00Megua able to knock that out of play.
23:03Megua who helped Airdrie finish fourth last season and into the playoffs.
23:10I was impressed with him last season when he was at Airdrie.
23:12I've got to say, marauding down that right-hand side and defensively in these situations,
23:181v1, he was always determined, stuck to his task.
23:23I wonder if he'll be able to force his way into the Hibs squad for next season,
23:29or whether it'll be another wound potentially.
23:32But this season and last he's performed well at championship level.
23:38I'm going from Celtic, closing figure at the back.
23:50McMahon, Murphy.
23:54It's a clever looking ball.
23:57Cleaning just couldn't take it in his stride.
24:00Yeah, that was better from here though, just knocking it about there, getting a few passes in and then,
24:06Jamie Murphy just showing the quality that he's got, lovely first touch and able to find a little bit of an angle to try and drop that ball over the top and it was very, very close to coming off.
24:16I can't actually recall Brian Graham touching the ball in the game so far, a quarter of the way into it, he's looking to close McMahon down.
24:23Now Reading.
24:47Long diagonal this time.
24:52Bannigan's there, O'Reilly's claims comes off McLennan.
24:57Second time around he gets more on it.
25:02He and Brian Graham in tandem have certainly done their chances of getting the manager's job permanently, no harm in guiding them to the playoffs.
25:27I don't imagine they're...
25:32Yeah, what happens there? Terminant co-managers?
25:35It's not impossible if Brian Graham wants to play on for another season, which you would have to say he's got it in him.
25:40Yeah, well it obviously happened at Ross County as well, for a spell.
25:45Yeah, it's not inconceivable.
25:49Brian Graham's appetite for the game set hasn't diminished, here's another yellow card.
25:56This one's for Kyle Turner.
26:01Also for Descent, by the look of it.
26:05Frustration that he mis-controls it.
26:12Jamie Murphy buying the free kick, getting his body in and then going down.
26:18Kyle Turner just, I think he punched the ball onto the ground.
26:23He caught it straight away and he was trying to disguise it a little bit.
26:27You know, I just think that the referee, okay, showing a little bit of dissent, but just have a quiet word.
26:33Does he really need to be going flashing the yellow card for that?
26:36Good.
26:39He's looking for that.
26:44What do we have here?
26:45Banigan in the way, charges onto. Here is Brian Graham.
26:47Out to Lawless, it's a lovely first touch.
26:51It was just a little bit heavy in the end.
26:53McMahon able to cover, but the way he took it past Reading, it was impressive.
26:58See exactly what his intentions were, another foul to break up play in the middle of the
27:09park.
27:10Fascinating to find out what the foul count was, certainly feels like it's been substantial
27:19numbers.
27:20Fitzpatrick there, just swipes it out of play.
27:30It's 20.
27:31I'm going to be up.
27:32I'm going to be up.
27:39I'm going to be up.
27:45I'm going to be up.
27:50Rollis now penalised.
28:05Carus taking a sore one.
28:09I'm going to be up.
28:24It's a quick recovery.
28:30Clenning's done well to keep that alive for here.
28:39Dempsey sends it forward rather aimlessly.
28:42Hasn't hit the heights we were hoping for this far.
28:45Time yet.
28:46I'm sure Inter Barcelona's no better.
29:00Plenty of onlookers outside of a pack for Hill.
29:12There's some seats there in the away end.
29:17Just Fitzpatrick who was fabulous in the playoffs a couple of seasons back as Thistle just missed
29:28out.
29:29That sliding doors moment against Ross County.
29:32Which they'll have regretted for the last couple of seasons no doubt.
29:37Trying to make amends here.
29:39May go of Dix out the cross but too much on it.
29:44They wouldn't have to do it the hard way again Thistle having finished fourth.
29:48Stranger things have happened in the potential replay between those two sides.
29:49Partick Thistle getting through in Ross County.
29:50We're currently sitting in the.
29:51The.
29:52The.
29:53The.
29:54The.
29:55The.
29:56The.
29:57The.
29:58The.
29:59The.
30:00The.
30:03The.
30:08The freemenership.
30:21I'm not sure what a fouled is, but there was 11 of them.
30:41Thistle fans doing their best to try and gee things up here.
30:46That second leg just a few seasons ago in Dingwall, of course it was excruciating for Patrick Thistle but it's what the playoffs bring.
31:00So much drama, excitement and every season it just goes to show what a good idea it was to incorporate it into the Scottish football calendar.
31:15And the set-up, it's been a huge success.
31:19Yeah, indeed.
31:20Murphy forwards, Ashkoft read it well, Banigan.
31:25Closed down by Watch It but he'll get it back.
31:27Good goal from O'Reilly, Agbier up against Fitzpatrick again.
31:33Back with Banigan, Fitzpatrick once more, swings it in looking for his captain, Brighton Grey up, great save!
31:47From Josh Clarke to deny Brian Greer the opener.
31:53Well, Patrick Thistle trying to bring the game to life.
31:57The home crowd have got off their seats on that one.
32:01Just a little bit too close to Josh Clarke and at a good height as well for the goalkeeper.
32:10Brian Greer just towering over the defenders, looking as if he was going to be able to find the corner.
32:17As I said, just a little bit too close to the goalkeeper.
32:23Ball gets swung in, lovely ball in, he's up above.
32:26Reading here and he just angles it that little bit too close.
32:32You can see there, Josh Clarke, fully stretched, good save but had that been a couple of feet closer to the corner,
32:39there's no way the keeper's been able to get there.
32:44Agbier wants his keeper to come for that and now he's got himself into trouble and down goes Crawford!
32:49And he's pointing for the goal kick, well, well!
32:55Well Crawford get goal-sided, Agbier looked clumsy.
32:58I'll tell you what, if it was anywhere else in the park, David Dickinson would have been blowing his whistle on this opening 30 minutes.
33:07I'm not sure there is loads in it, he slips a wee bit as well.
33:11Agbier's a lucky, lucky boy.
33:14I think it's probably just about the right call but it's clumsy and it definitely poses the question for the referee.
33:21On this occasion, I actually think David Dickinson's called it correctly.
33:25A little bit of a slip, but that's what he needs to be doing elsewhere on the park as well.
33:32Because there's plenty of occasions where people are just trying to buy free kicks.
33:36That one I think it was more just the fact that Robbie Crawford had slipped initially as well.
33:40But credit to David Dickinson on that one, because I think he's got that one right and that's obviously a massive call.
33:50It certainly is and it's a difficult one to judge as well in real time but the referee, highly experienced of course at the top level.
34:02That's a couple of moments there for Patrick Thistle just to start to feel like they're coming into the ascendancy.
34:14Brian Graham's header on goal.
34:16Agbier a little bit, lapse of concentration and clumsy Robbie Crawford getting him behind and looking like causing them some problems.
34:28They need to keep their foot firmly on the pedal here, Patrick Thistle.
34:32Here's Murphy though, as Oakley prevented Ashcroft from making a challenge for the ball.
34:39That allows Murphy to continue his run, and now find McKenzie.
34:43Murphy again.
34:46as Crawford throws the header above up, but it's a good battle that one between those two.
34:53Dempsey now.
35:05McBear steps away from Crawford.
35:16United in the playoff for the second time in three years.
35:26Of course that previous one did come to a shuddering halt against Thistle.
35:318-0 aggregate defeat for Scott Brown's predecessor, Lee Bullen.
35:36Thank you Bullen.
35:37Thank you Bullen.
36:06The second leg of this, of course, is on Friday.
36:11In our usual slot, half past seven on the BBC Scotland channel.
36:18And there's an interview with Brian Graham at halftime.
36:25And this one.
36:36Theo Esteban.
36:57Theo Esteban.
37:01O'Reilly taking his time over this.
37:08Ashcroft takes it for him.
37:12As Patrick gives chase, he's there ahead of watch it,
37:17only to avoid it going behind for a goal kick.
37:26Thistle are unbeaten in ten here against Air United,
37:30six of those have been victories.
37:34Back in August of 2019,
37:36the last time Air United came here in one,
37:38three-two victory on that occasion.
37:43Fight the handoff for that result tonight.
37:46Take back down to Somerset on Friday.
37:51Ashcroft.
37:55The game is to chase his own knockdown.
38:03Sort of pretty untidy out there.
38:05Coming together there, that was allowed to go.
38:09Hopefully he was fouled.
38:11Air bench felt likewise.
38:13You can see the park is very lively.
38:17You know, the ball going into Dan O'Reilly there.
38:19It's just not the best it touches, but in large part,
38:23the park is certainly not helping.
38:25O'Reilly again with it.
38:26O'Reilly again with it, putting him in the head and there's more concern.
38:31That's far from ideal.
38:53O'Reilly again with it.
39:05I thought it was just Mark O'Reilly's boot rather than,
39:07I don't know what led him to hold his head.
39:15O'Reilly again with it.
39:19Thankfully both players are okay to immediately continue.
39:31This will get the free kick.
39:37Poked forward by Crawford, lawless, unable to make much of it.
39:58Turn that in the way of that clearance.
40:07There it is, pretty hear him, scare him in the middle of the park.
40:20Bannigan hoping to bring a touch of culture to it.
40:37I think he's enjoyed this first half as much as we have tonight.
41:06Just wondering whether he can add groundsman to one of his roles as well.
41:12That would be Brian Graham, surely would take that off.
41:56Here's Reading.
41:58We'll use it to Murphy.
42:05And now McKenzie.
42:08Can't think of Reading, though.
42:18Murphy in here, lawless.
42:20Ashtoff looking for options, turns it back to David Mitchell.
42:32Ashtoff looking for options, turns it back to David Mitchell.
42:44I think even that beacon of positivity, James McFadden would struggle to talk this one up.
43:00Talk this one up.
43:22Here's Reading.
43:23Here's Reading.
43:24It seems that to the post.
43:25Watch it's got up well.
43:27Plane and raising out.
43:30Is there an element of nerves playing a part in this, do you think, Michael?
43:38In terms of what's at stake?
43:41No, I don't think so.
43:42I think it's just the way that the game has evolved.
43:45It was, as we've already mentioned, it was a stop start, a lot of fouls.
43:51The game didn't have a great space to grow and breathe.
43:57Fitzpatrick through a couple of challenges, but Agbier back.
44:00Fitzpatrick's got it again.
44:01Now Graham.
44:03Crawford.
44:06Fitzpatrick again.
44:07Out to Bannigan.
44:12Little charge down.
44:20Kyle Turner now.
44:21May go out on this right flank.
44:28He's clicked there.
44:29Little got a free kick.
44:30It was the right idea firing the ball to the right back Megua there, but you see the pace.
44:42Just bouncing up at his head.
44:46It's difficult to get that ball under control.
44:49I don't know whether the balls are something up with them as well, or whether it's just the two, the combination, the ball and the part just being so hard and you can just see so many players at times they've struggled to get the ball under control quickly.
45:03Agbier on a couple of occasions has just been running the risk of putting his side in some real bother.
45:20Looks like his boot's been sliced right down the side there.
45:23Dempsey the captain.
45:25Something to do on old school.
45:27Wrap his laces right round his boot.
45:31Always get a lot of sympathy from the home fans while doing so.
45:36One of the players has conveniently stood right in front of the camera, that's what you couldn't see.
45:41Here's an opportunity.
45:46Is this a look to open the scoring?
45:48It's Turner who sends it in, it's a good looking ball.
45:51It's Brian Graham who meets it, but he couldn't direct it on target.
45:57It was a great ball, wasn't it?
45:59Yeah.
46:00Kyle Turner just putting it in behind the defence.
46:04I think the difficulty for Brian Graham was he was just probably past the near post here when he gets contact on it.
46:14Very difficult to then angle it on target.
46:19You've got to say, two teams, different systems, neither of them have been able to really impose on the other what they're trying to do.
46:37And the game's been very sporadic.
46:42Patrick Thistle the only ones that have managed to force the goalkeeper into doing something.
46:49Robbie Cropper's going into the boot for that challenge.
46:54Left one on.
46:59McMahon there.
47:03I've got to be honest, I don't think that's a yellow card.
47:14Yes, free kick of course, but he's running to close him down.
47:19He doesn't lift a boot.
47:20He doesn't do anything other than just collide with them.
47:26And I don't think it was, I don't think it was malicious.
47:31Personally, again, I think it's one of those moments, just have a look.
47:35Don't need to go and dishing out yellow cards for that personally.
47:38United have got a free kick in a good position.
47:42There are five minutes added on at the end of the half, so a fair bit of time still to go,
47:47but United will get a chance here to try and break the deadlock.
47:52Well, you can see Lawless was claiming that he had the ball,
47:57but I think he just had entangled the legs with Jamie Murphy to begin with.
48:02And it gives United a wonderful opportunity to try and load the box
48:08and start to put some pressure on David Mitchell,
48:11because he's had very little to do in this first half.
48:14And it comes from Murphy, it's a deep one.
48:16Dempsey will go and try and keep it alive, he does that.
48:19Fitzpatrick's first to it, though.
48:22It's out for a goal kick.
48:24And David Mitchell's goal still pretty much untroubled.
48:29Didn't have that one save.
48:31Quarter of an hour end when Marco Roos hit the ball, but straight at him.
48:35To be fair, Josh Clark's really only had the one save to make as well, isn't he?
48:47And it was a more taxing one, certainly.
48:51Well, he was looking for a clean sheet, he said, pre-match, so it's virtually halfway there.
49:02Apart thanks to another Celtic low knee.
49:07I think we'll get something on that, but Kenzie keeps it in.
49:19Murphy closely watched by Turner.
49:26He's got Nogdy there to bounce it off.
49:28McMahon, he does well in the end there.
49:30That's a good turn as well by Roos for Oakley.
49:33George Oakley with a chance.
49:35The angle got the better of him.
49:38Ashcroft doing enough to show him away from goal.
49:41Couldn't wrap the boot round it.
49:43Well, it all comes from McMahon, now he steps into the space.
49:46There was nobody there to offer help, so he did it himself.
49:49Oakley in the end, it's just a bit of a slap.
49:51The strike, he doesn't look comfortable.
49:53Lovely little taking turn from Roos here.
49:56Just looked like a bit of a slap when he hit that.
49:59Never looked overly confident that he was going to be able to get a good strike away on his left.
50:10The effort of a striker who hasn't scored in his last ten, perhaps,
50:14rather than one in a rich vein of form and high in confidence.
50:18Good play between Graham and Bannigan.
50:22Now it's O'Reilly.
50:25First Patrick.
50:26He's looked quite bright when he's got on the ball.
50:30He's out-muscled there.
50:33Now Roos picks up and finds Murphy.
50:40Bannigan getting the better of him and then Turner takes over and lawless to Crawford.
50:45Never a bad time to score, but just before half-time, there's always a decent one.
50:54Brian Graham has been booked for the hink of his boot there.
51:00Yeah.
51:01Can he book him for that?
51:03Come on.
51:04I mean, first thing I would say was, I don't think his boot was ridiculously high, but also...
51:10Well, I'll take that back.
51:13His boot is high.
51:14It is high.
51:15But...
51:16Come on.
51:17I mean, really...
51:19Booking him for that...
51:21Yes, his boot is a little bit high, but...
51:26I think there's been a number of yellow cards in this first half that...
51:30Had he not brandished them, I don't think anybody would have been complaining.
51:35Mackenzie.
51:36Reading.
51:37Sends it in for Oakley on the spin.
51:38Just didn't get the connection he was needing.
51:42Immediately fired up the park for...
51:43Pitch Parkes up to renew battle here with Agbier.
51:44Held up by the defender.
51:45Held up by the defender.
51:46Reading
51:51Sends it in for Oakley on the spin
51:55Just didn't get the connection he was needing
51:58Immediately fired up the park for
52:04Puts Parkside to renew battle here with Agbier
52:06Held up by the defender
52:10It's a good ball
52:17Final few seconds of the first half
52:20Deep ball
52:22Can't reach it
52:26And that's it for
52:31A first period which ends goalless
52:33And I think the boos sounding largely directed at the referee
52:38Brian Graham coming closest to a goal
52:42In that opening period
52:45Bringing out a good save
52:46From the United goalkeeper
52:51Brian Graham making a case for himself
52:56As he goes off at half time
52:59George Oakley had a good opening just before the interval
53:01But couldn't hit the target
53:03So neither striker
53:06Nor their teammates have been able to find a way
53:09To goal as yet
53:11So after a
53:15Fairly lacklustre first half
53:17It has to be said
53:18Hopefully more and better to come
53:19In the second half
53:21But at half time
53:22It's part of Thistle-Nil
53:23Here United-Nil
53:24Bar
53:34Come on
53:35Don't shout
53:36Go on
53:37We'll come on
53:38This time
53:39Not
53:40We'll come on
53:41Good
53:42When
53:43Before
53:43We'll come on