Lee Bullen reckons the Championship title chasers are desperate to hand the crown to each OTHER.
Ayr fluffed their lines as managerless Partick put a week of strife behind them with victory at Somerset today.
And Bullen believes the result was almost par for the course in what has been a crazy league season thus far.
He said: "It feels like everyone is trying to hand the league to each other at the moment when you look at the results.
"We're 12 games from the finish now and we have to remind ourselves that we have an exciting run-in ahead of us.
"It's all there still to play for. We have to be more clinical and we know that - now we have to move on next week and take our opportunities.
"In this league more than any other, you are dealing with small margins and the first goal is so crucial.
"We lost a poor goal today not tracking runners and ultimately it has cost us dearly.
"The league is so competitive and all it takes is one mistake and you're punished.
"We left ourselves chasing the game and we've been in that movie before and come out the other side, but we just didn't test their keeper today as much as we maybe could have.
"They got their goal and it gave them something to hold on to. But ultimately we have to look ourselves in the mirror and show that greater intensity and composure that was maybe lacking today."
Thistle came into the game on the back of a dreadful run which saw their last away win registered in October.
And their luck didn't look like changing when striker Anton Dowds limped off after five minutes with a hamstring strain.
But it failed to put the Jags off their stride and they went on to be much the better side in the first half.
Their goal to take the lead was richly deserved when it arrived - full back Jack McMillan doing well to cross for sub Danny Mullen to head home.
Ayr were flat and could have been further behind when Scott Tiffoney teed up Kyle Turner who blasted over from point blank range.
Turner then fired wide another chance on the stroke of half time as Ayr threatened to crumble.
Bullen stuck with the same XI at the interval as he sought to get a reaction from the hosts.
But they almost found themselves two behind just after the restart when Tiffoney headed inches wide from a centre from Steven Lawless.
Ayr made a triple change midway through the second half in a bid to turn the tide, sending on Daire O'Connor, Reece McAlear and Mark McKenzie.
And they eventually started to look more of a threat as the clock wound down.
O'Connor sent a fizzing effort over the top from 30 yards before Paddy Reading finally stung the palms of Jamie Sneddon with a long range drive.
Ayr then ramped up the pace in the final 15 minutes and Dipo Akinyemi shot straight at Sneddon after doing the hard work to fashion the chance.
But despite throwing everything at a late rally, United couldn't find the equaliser as Thistle held firm.
