Ayr United have been left with a play-off mountain to climb after a bruising night in Glasgow saw them picked apart by Partick Thistle.
Two goals from Brian Graham and another from Jack McMillan were a fair reflection of the Jags' dominance in a first leg in which Ayr struggled to cope with the hosts' attacking play down both flanks.
A night which began with the news that top scorer Dipo Akinyemi had failed to make the starting line-up due to a back injury sustained in training proved to get tougher from then on for The Honest Men. Mark McKenzie, goal hero of the win at Inverness, got the nod to lead the line and Ayr did make a bright start with Chris Maguire drawing a brilliant fingertip save from David Mitchell.
Ayr's travelling support of more than 2,000 fans - who sold out the Colin Weir Stand - helped to ensure a cracking atmosphere inside Firhill as more than 7,000 turned out for this one.
On the pitch, Charlie Albinson had to be equally alert at the other end to deny Scott Tiffoney as both sides traded early chances but it was Thistle who then took a grip of the contest by hitting the front. Steven Lawless drove down Ayr's left hand side and was able to play in full back McMillan who strode on to Albinson before firing home a low finish.
Ayr could have been further behind shortly after as a mix-up involving Albinson and his defence allowed Graham an effort on goal which sailed just over. And the veteran striker had his head in his hands when scooping wide of an open net from just two yards after being teed up by Aidan Fitzpatrick.
United made it to the break with no further damage done but they were immediately back under pressure after the restart as Fitzpatrick thundered a shot off the bar from the edge of the box. The pressure kept coming in waves and it wasn't long before they had doubled their lead as Tiffoney got in behind the Ayr backline to cross for Graham to tap home.
Fitzpatrick then fired over as Thistle quickly tried to put serious daylight into the tie, which caused Lee Bullen to turn to his bench before the hour was up, introducing Jayden Mitchell-Lawson and Nick McAllister for Josh Mullin and Mikey Hewitt.
Ayr were desperate to gain some kind of relief but Thistle had long since taken control of the game down both wings and looked like scoring every time they came forward. After a brief period of respite for United, they were three behind when Fitzpatrick was afforded space to cross and Graham ghosted in to fire high into the net as Ayr ultimately chased shadows.
Thistle keeper Mitchell made a big stoppage time save to deny Ben Dempsey as Ayr tried in vain to breathe some fresh life into the tie before Paul Smith rattled the bar with a free kick in the dying seconds - and boss Bullen will now hope to harness the inspiration of his former side Sheffield Wednesday and mount an incredible play-off comeback at Somerset in seven days' time.
