Partick Thistle 4-3 Queen's Park: Brian Graham's late strike gives hosts play-off first-leg win

Brian Graham scored seven minutes into stoppage time

Partick Thistle edged a seven-goal thriller in the first leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off quarter-final against Queen's Park thanks to Brian Graham's late strike.

Clinical drives from Kyle Turner and Jack McMillan put hosts Thistle ahead before Dom Thomas' clever reply.

Aidan Fitzpatrick restored the two-goal advantage before long-range efforts from Malachi Boateng and Thomas.

However, Graham's close-range finish won it in stoppage time.

• Reaction & as it happened

Who will face Ayr United in the play-off semi-final will be decided at Queen's Park's temporary home at Stenhousemuir's Ochilview Park on Friday.

Head coach Owen Coyle will certainly have to tighten up the home side's defence after a performance similar to last week, when they missed automatic promotion - and dropped to third in the Championship - with a 5-3 defeat at home to Dundee in their title decider.

Coyle looked to freshen up the visitors, making changes to his defence. It looked to be working as Grant Savoury shot just wide and Charlie Fox, who scored twice on Friday, had a close-range effort cleared off the line by goalkeeper David Mitchell and on to a post.

However, Turner had already fired over by the time the midfielder turned in the box and saw his shot deflect in off the unfortunate Fox.

Thistle soon extended their lead as Scott Tiffoney set up McMillan to fire into the roof of the net.

The game had turned in Thistle's favour, but Thomas twisted past a couple of opponents on the edge of the penalty box before firing past Mitchell.

Thistle were back in front after the break as substitute Fitzpatrick finished off Tiffoney's cutback. However, Boateng's deflected strike sent Mitchell the wrong way before the goalkeeper was foxed by Thomas' second of the night.

Veteran striker Graham, though, had the final say in the seventh minute of added time.

Queen's Park, who finished above Thistle for the first time since 1935, must now end their Glasgow rivals' seven-game unbeaten run to retain hopes of reaching the top flight for the first time in 65 years.

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "I was 36 when the game started - I feel a lot older now. What a game.

"We might've lost that game previously, there's still so much character in this team. We deserved the win, but we didn't half make it hard for ourselves. Brian Graham - that's why we leave him on the pitch."

Queen's Park head coach Owen Coyle: "It was a cruel end. That's what football can do. There were going to be questions asked of us tonight.

"We need to defend better, but there's a lot to be pleased about."