Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers played out a goalless draw at Firhill, as the hosts maintained their seven-point cushion in the Scottish Championship promotion play-off race.
There was little to separate the two sides in a cagey affair under the floodlights, with clear-cut chances at a premium. While the intensity was there, the quality often was not, leaving both teams to settle for a point.
Brian Graham, juggling his duties as interim head coach, captain, and striker for Partick Thistle, saw his side start on the back foot as Lewis Budinaukas was called into action within the opening three minutes. The young goalkeeper, who arrived on loan from Rangers in February, produced a sharp early save to settle any nerves.
Graham then won a corner at the other end, flicking a near-post effort into the side netting. It was a lively start, with both sets of supporters in full voice. The home crowd paid tribute to Aidan Fitzpatrick, whose mother’s recent cancer diagnosis had been made public, chanting his name in a show of support.
Thistle entered the match on a four-game unbeaten run in the league since the sacking of club legend Kris Doolan in mid-February. They sat comfortably in fourth place, seven points ahead of Raith, who have endured an inconsistent run of form under Barry Robson since his appointment at the end of 2024.
Raith came closest to an early breakthrough when Finlay Pollock rose highest to meet a cross in the 19th minute, but his header drifted just over Budinaukas’ bar. As the first half progressed, the contest became scrappy, with misplaced passes and niggling fouls disrupting the flow.
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Referee Calum Scott kept his cards in his pocket until the 34th minute, when Stuart Bannigan saw yellow for a late challenge on Jordan Doherty - his 11th booking of the season. Some in the Raith camp argued it should have been red.
The visitors ended the first half with a spell of sustained pressure, as Josh Mullin looked to unlock Thistle’s defence. But the hosts were often the architects of their own problems, repeatedly conceding possession while attempting to play out from the back. By the time the half-time whistle sounded, neither side could have had many complaints about the stalemate.
There were no changes at the break, but Raith immediately appealed for a penalty when Paul Hanlon appeared to be bundled over inside the box. The protests were waved away, with the experienced defender choosing not to exaggerate the contact from Josh Reid.
At the other end, Thistle sparked into life. Graham forced Raith goalkeeper Josh Rae into a stunning save, before Robbie Crawford’s glancing header was also denied following excellent hold-up play by Graham.
As the game edged past the hour mark, Thistle applied the pressure. Fitzpatrick fizzed a dangerous low cross through the box, but no one in red and yellow could provide the finishing touch. The frustration among the Firhill faithful grew, with both sides searching for the decisive moment.
Sensing his side needed a foothold, Rae attempted to slow the tempo, taking his time over goal kicks in an effort to relieve the pressure. Yet, when Raith did win possession, they struggled to keep hold of it for more than a few passes.
Graham’s evening came to an end in the 69th minute as co-manager Mark Wilson turned to Alex Jakubiak to lead the line. The change injected fresh energy into Thistle’s attack, with Jakubiak quickly linking up with Logan Chalmers, whose curling effort was comfortably gathered by Rae.
With 15 minutes remaining, Robson finally turned to his bench, introducing Aaron Connolly for Pollock in a bid to add a different dimension to Raith’s frontline. But the game followed a familiar pattern: neat approach play without the cutting edge required to find a breakthrough.
Both managers made further changes in the dying stages, knowing a goal could significantly impact the play-off race. For Raith, three points would have reignited their top-four hopes, while a win for Thistle would have tightened their grip on the promotion play-off spots.
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In the end, the spoils were shared, leaving both sides with plenty to ponder as they approach the final stretch of the season. This result means Raith and Thistle have met four times this campaign, with the Fife side winning both encounters at Stark’s Park, while the two clashes in Glasgow have ended in draws.
For Thistle, the unbeaten run continues, but with crucial fixtures ahead, they will need to find more cutting edge if they are to make their play-off aspirations a reality. As for Raith, the draw could leave them with an uphill challenge in their quest for a crack at the top-flight, but the sense of urgency to turn performances into victories is growing.
