Michael Stewart
Former Scotland international on BBC Scotland

No. For me, that's not offside. Not at all.

It's terrible (defending) from Brad Holmes and he is lucky to get away with that.

Brian Graham has the ball in the back of the net for the home side, but it's chalked off!

Jack McMillan gets in behind the Pars defence to latch on to Lewis Neilson's delightful through ball, but he is ruled offside before the skipper has the chance to knock the ball in.

I think it's fair to say the right-back had some choice words for the linesman.

Luke McBeth is adjudged to have fouled Chris Kane from about 30-yards out and Lewis McCann does well to test Thistle debutant goalkeeper Ross Stewart from range.

The forward's swerving effort is punched wide, with nothing coming from the resulting corner.

Ewan Otoo and Chris Kane both have swipes at the ball there, but both attempts are blocked by brave Thistle blocks.

First glimpse of danger in the game just inside the five-minute mark.

Sure that won't be the first time we see the two skippers clash this evening.

Thistle forward Brian Graham with a light nudge on Pars defender Chris Hamilton allows for a wee joke between the two.

Not much else on the go thus far.

Michael Stewart
Former Scotland international on BBC Scotland

Partick Thistle will come into this game as favourites, but Dunfermline have got more than enough to win from this game. Psychologically at the moment, they just have a lot going on.

Here we go at Firhill...

The teams are out at a floodlit Firhill, let's get cracking.

A reminder that you can watch this one live on BBC Scotland or via the watch link at the top of this page.

Dunfermline boss James McPake tells BBC Scotland: "The performance last week was better in terms of creating a lot more chances and effective in our own box from set-pieces.

"We are getting players back, as you can see in the squad, that helps.

"To get that win it’ll be a tough night’s work, but we are more than capable of it."

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan tells BBC Scotland: "We want to aim as high as we possibly can. It's an exciting part of the season.

"If you don't have that belief then what is the point. You have to come into these games believing you can have a great season.

"A lot can change in the Championship. We want to be a team that looks up the way."

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Three draws on the bounce in the league would typically anger most fanbases, but Thistle appear to be loving life under the management of club legend Kris Doolan.

The Jags are unbeaten in the league this calendar year and continue to stretch ahead of those around them in the hunt for a promotion play-off spot.

Last weekend’s frantic 3-3 draw away to Caley Thistle is an indication of what to expect from Doolan’s men - they are the joint-highest scorers in the Championship, as well as the fourth-worst for conceding at the other end.

Fingers crossed for another cracker tonight…

It’s been a tough wee while for James McPake’s men.

Dunfermline are currently nine games without a league victory - a run stretching all the way back to 9 December.

There’s no denying the Pars are in the midst of a brutal injury crisis, but so are bottom-placed Arbroath, who took two points off the East End Park outfit last weekend in a 1-1 draw.

A big performance is needed here at Firhill from the visitors if they are to stop the rot, with some hanging their hopes on new arrival Chris Kane to fire in the goals necessary to do so.

Image source, SNS

Right, find that remote and get whatever is on promptly switched over to BBC Scotland.

Jonathan Sutherland is joined by Leanne Crichton and James McFadden as we take in some Friday night Championship football.

Image source, SNS

If you've somehow been able to take your eyes away from the Scottish Championship this season and are a little lost - perhaps still unable to comprehend Dunfermline's sudden descent down the league table - fear not, we've got you covered...

We have injury crises, new arrivals and unbeaten runs to soak in ahead of kick-off, so feel free to have a read of our preview of tonight's clash, courtesy of Amy Canavan.

Desperate to end a nine-game winless streak, James McPake has tinkered with the Dunfermline side that failed to best bottom-placed Arbroath last weekend.

Midfielders Matty Todd and Paul Allan come in for full-back Aaron Comrie and Celtic loanee Ben Summers.

Meanwhile, Brad Holmes replaces veteran winger Michael O'Halloran to join Lewis McCann and recent recruit Chris Kane in leading the line.

Image source, SNS

Jags boss Kris Doolan makes two changes from last weekend's enthralling 3-3 draw with Inverness CT.

January arrival Ross Stewart, a free transfer following his departure from Hearts, makes his debut in goal this evening as number one Jamie Sneddon misses out through injury.

The second change comes at right-back, with Jack McMillan replacing English defender Wasiri Williams - who drops to the bench.

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle: Stewart, McMillan, Muirhead, Neilson, Milne, McBeth, Bannigan, Lawless, McInroy, Fitzpatrick, Graham.

Substitutes: Mitchell, Williams, Ngwenya, Robinson, Alston, Stanway, MacKenzie, Diack, Adeloye.

Dunfermline Athletic: Mehmet, Hamilton, Fagan-Walcott, Benjamin, Edwards, Otoo, Todd, Allan, McCann, Holmes, Kane.

Substitutes: Little, Chalmers, Jakubiak, Summers, Moffat, Sutherland, Welch-Hayes.

Right, no messing about.

Let's see those teams...

It's almost time for some Friday night Scottish Championship football at Firhill...

Two teams in contrasting form are set to battle it out this evening, with promotion pushers Partick Thistle hosting James McPake's Dunfermline Athletic - who remain in dire need of a victory.

Follow along with me here for all the updates and be sure to tune in on BBC Scotland in a wee bit to watch all the action unfold.

Let's go!

Image source, SNS