Ayr United 0-4 Partick Thistle: Ian McCall's in-form side move fourth

Two-goal Brian Graham powered Partick Thistle to victory

Partick Thistle made it seven Scottish Championship matches without defeat as they thrashed Ayr United to go fourth.

The visitors took control on the half hour, scoring twice in two minutes thanks to Ross Docherty's deflected free-kick and a Brian Graham volley.

Patrick Reading almost pulled one back with a header that crept over, but Graham nooded in his ninth of the season 10 minutes from time.

Substitute Shea Gordon wrapped up the rout in stoppage time.

Thistle - who have won back-to-back games and gone five without conceding - are within two points of second place and five adrift of leaders Kilmarnock.

Sixth-place Ayr are five matches without victory and only three points above the bottom in a congested lower half of the table.

Ayr manager Jim Duffy: "We started well but it was shocking defending for their first goal. The wall turns and the ball goes right through it. We then lost a quick second and after that Thistle controlled the game.

"At times this season we have looked miles off it and that concerns me. We have to be stronger mentally."

Partick Thistle midfielder Stuart Bannigan: "It was comfortable in the last 15-20 minutes but we had to earn it. Maybe 4-0 flattered us a a bit.

"We're a good team when we hit the front. We're not conceding many and a good team is built from the back."