Partick Thistle 4-0 Airdrieonians: Hosts tighten grip on third place with big win

Ricco Diack makes it four for Thistle against Airdrieonians

Partick Thistle cemented their grip on third place in the Scottish Championship by hammering Airdrieonians as both sides secured play-off spots.

Aidan Fitzpatrick made the breakthrough early in the second half and Brian Graham netted a double before Ricco Diack completed the rout.

Despite the heavy defeat, results elsehwere mean Airdrie are also guaranteed a top-four finish.

The Jags went close early on as Harry Milne was foiled by Robbie Hemfrey.

Airdrie responded just after the half-hour mark, with Lewis McGregor sent clean through on Thistle goalkeeper David Mitchell, who blocked to keep the score 0-0.

It only just a few minutes into the second half for Fitzpatrick to give Thistle the lead. Racing down the left hand side after Kerr McInroy's through pass, he kept his composure and rounded Hemfrey to open the scoring.

The hosts then doubled their lead on 61 minutes, Graham capitalising on a parried effort before the veteran forward grabbed his second moments later, curling into the top corner from close range as Thistle moved three points above the visitors.

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "Second half we were brilliant. I thought first half we were good, we just weren't as clinical as we normally are. Airdrie played well, they had a couple of chances, Mitch makes a couple of good saves but second half we took control of the game."

Airdrie manager Rhys McCabe: "You've got to take the emotion out of it, you've got to the play-offs over a 36-game season. The boys have been excellent, but as I said to them in there, that's something I won't stand for. Especially in the second half they let themselves down."