Belief the Key for Thistle and Livi’s Promotion Aspirations – O’Reilly and Fraser
Partick Thistle centre half and Livingston left back Daniel O’Reilly and Robbie Fraser both have the belief that their sides have what it takes to be playing Premiership football next season. Livingston hold all the aces going into tonight’s second leg, as they host a Thistle side that they defeated at Firhill 2-0 in the first leg of the playoff semi-final, but Irish centre back O’Reilly believes the tie is far from over just yet. “We’ve just got to dig in, you know, we’ve got a really good group, and we’ve just got to stick together and keep fighting and like I said, we’re still obviously in the tie and this is where we want to be so we have just got to keep going. “We beat them [Livingston] there two weeks ago. Obviously it will be different now, we need to score two, We need to throw everything at them, we need to get that first goal and we will have a big backing from our fans as always which will obviously help. We just need to go for it then and hopefully we can get that goal and the the pressure is on them. “If you look at it,it’s like a game. It is halftime really. So there is 90 minutes, they have scored two today so there is no reason why we can’t [do the same]”. It is a different sort of challenge for Robbie Fraser and his Livingston teammates, who have the ominous challenge of defending a 2 goal advantage against a side who won at their ground on the final day of the league campaign, but Fraser spoke full of belief for his teammates as they bid for an immediate bounce back up to Scotland’s top flight, “We have good players, and we all believe in each other, and their the reasons we get results. You know we have been pretty consistent throughout and we showed tonight that we are all good performers. “I felt we should have had a couple more goals, but that is football. And even then, they [Thistle] could have a couple of goals as well so two goals, and a clean sheet is a nice one, trust me.” When asked if Livingston possess the quality to get promoted to the Premiership, Fraser said: “Absolutely. I believe in every single member in that changing room.The staff believe in us, which is important as well, so whoever is on the pitch, they can do a job and as shown where we finished in the table, we took it to the last day because we were really consistent.”
Celtic must learn how to win but Hibs should fear us – Noonan
Celtic striker Saoirse Noonan believes the inability to close out games this season has been the difference between themselves and title chasing Hibs, whose dreams she hopes to dash this evening. Ahead of the penultimate game of the season, summer signing Noonan believes her side must balance their attacking verve with knowing how to manage games. “For me it’s just learning how to win and I think it’s actually really upsetting because some of the good football that we have played at times has gone unnoticed because you don’t win games,” said Noonan, ” I can go back to the game against Glasgow I think that first half we were well on top we played really well but they know how to win and we don’t.” “I think that’s what’s been the difference this season. No one cares if you play badly, everyone thinks you’re brilliant if you win games. I think that’s the hardest part is that we have done some things right it’s just we haven’t got the results.” With 23 league goals since arriving from English side Durham, Noonan has made an immediate impact in Glasgow such that the forward earned her first Ireland cap since 2021. “I’m obviously delighted that I was able to contribute that this season but look, we’re realistic, we’re all looking at the bigger picture and we didn’t win anything this year,” she said before adding “so those goals don’t really mean anything unfortunately but it’s definitely given me a bit of self-belief and a bit of a platform to work on for next season for sure.” Despite a recent goal drought that has now extended to six games, Noonan was praised by her manager Elena Sadiku. “I told Saoirse that I’m very proud of her. I’m proud of how she’s developed as a leader in the team. Listen, I didn’t expect Saoirse to be our top goal scorer in the first season. I don’t think that she did either,” said Sadiku. “She brings a lot to the team now more than just scoring goals. I’m very proud of the journey she’s had at Celtic and I can’t wait to see more of her next season.” However before looking to next season, Noonan expressed both her and her teammates’ desire to make life difficult for Hibs tonight. “Part of the talk all week is that we can’t win it but we can still cause upsets and that’s so important in football you you want teams to fear you you want to leave your mark,” said Noonan. “If we’re going to look on to building for next season we need teams to fear us so we’re not going to roll over for anyone.”
Jaded Thistle downed by Livi double
Partick Thistle 0-2 Livingston: 13th May 2025 | Scottish Premiership Playoff 1st Leg Attendance: 5,470 Livingston took a huge step in re-securing their place in the Scottish Premiership next season as they defeated Partick Thistle 0-2 at Firhill Stadium. The Lions, who finished 2nd in the Championship in a title race that ended up going to the final day, have done their chances of a first time return to the top-flight following last year’s relegation no harm as they host the Jags at the Home of the Set Fare Arena this Friday in the return leg. Goals either side of half time from Scott Pittman and Danny Wilson gave the West Lothian side the victory on the night, but David Martindale will be under no illusions that the tie is over, as they face a Thistle side who overcame a home-leg deficit to get to this stage when they resigned Scott Brown’s Ayr United to another season of Championship football in the previous installment of the Premiership Play-offs. Livingston’s last game before tonight’s was actually a defeat on the final day at home to Partick Thistle, which secured playoff football for the Glaswegians, with the starting lineup from that game also starting tonight’s encounter. Thistle are currently led by co-interim managers Mark Wilson, and this evening’s captain, Brian Graham, who had a glaring opportunity to put the home side ahead on the 27th minute, when Robbie Crawford tackled a ball that was being escorted out of play for a goal kick to regain possession.Graham ran slightly early, and could only manage a backheel which flew wide of Jerome Prior’s left post. Graham had been honoured pre-match with a framed shirt to pay tribute to the striker’s achievement from last week, when he bagged his 100th goal for the club to win the aforementioned tie versus Ayr United, and he had the best chance he could have asked for to make it goal 101. Thistle maintained the pressure but it would be the visitors who would take the lead against the run of play, when in the 39th minute Scott Pitman hit the back of the net. Cristian Montana passed the ball through Luke McBeth’s legs to find Robbie Fraser down the left flank, and the Rangers loanee put it on a plate for Pittman to fire home. It could so nearly have been two before half time, if it wasn’t for Lee Ashcroft denying Stephen Kelly on the goal line just moments before the interval. The opener gave Livingston a newfound confidence to take to the second half, which proved dividends in the 52nd minute. Ryan McGowan leaped up to head a looping free kick downwards, and fellow centre back Danny Wilson, who had seen an overhead kick attempt hit the roof of the net just a couple minutes prior, connected with a half volley which crashed off the crossbar and over the goal line. Livi looked comfortable enough from here on in, up until a late flurry of attempts in the dying stages from Thistle. Lee Ashcroft drove from deep and hit the bar with a rocket from the edge of the box, but their biggest way back into the match came in added time when Brian Graham got onto the end of a ball across the box, but his effort went way over. Livingston now go into the second leg with a 2 goal advantage, as they host Partick Thistle this Friday night at home, looking to book their ticket to the Premiership Playoff Final against 11th place of the Premiership. What The Managers Said: Livingston boss David Martindale said: “I’m delighted with the result. We have played better, if I’m honest, but delighted with the result. Back to ours, they [Partick Thistle] look jaded, don’t they? Two hamstrings [injuries] so it catches up on you. “I think it’s a huge ask for third or fourth.I really do. I don’t think it’s so big for second.But the game’s not done. It’s only half-time. But I feel for Brian and Mark a wee bit because they’ve turned it around. (It’s been a fantastic run for them and their more influential players are getting injured, which is difficult for them. “Yeah, I mean, I’ve got to show them a lot of respect. I don’t think, I genuinely don’t think it’s done. Yeah, I think most hope for Patrick, they’re going to go down to Ayr United. It was kind of like a shoo-in. Ayr would go through, they’d get an early goal, and then they’d go and win the game.So, I’ll not be taking them lightly. I never took them lightly tonight. But we’ve kind of got to use their schedule against them, slightly. And kind of, we’ve had that wee bit of a break.” Partick Thistle interim co-manager Mark Wilson: “Obviously the results are sore one. Just the way we played, you know, pretty disappointing. We didn’t really start well again here, which is disappointing, although they took control of the game pretty quickly. “I thought they looked the more composed side, passed that bit in a bumpy pitch. I didn’t think we got to grips with that or probably took enough risk in possession. Having said that, we kind of got back in the game and created one or two wee openings, one or two chances, and then we’ll always have a goal that’s so poor defensively. “The full group since we came in 13 weeks ago have been great. Sometimes that can happen when a manager goes and everybody takes a bit of shared responsibility. So it’s certainly been terrific in that respect. They’ve dug deep time and time again in the 97th minute here at Falkirk, away at Livingston where we were up against it, particularly last week, where we sat in a similar position and we managed to go to Somerset and score two goals and keep a clean sheet. There’s no reason why we can’t do that again.” Line Ups: Partick Thistle:
Pressure is on Hibs this time – Celtic boss Sadiku
Celtic boss Elena Sadiku believes her side can test the credentials of title hopefuls Hibs on Wednesday night, almost a year on from the Edinburgh side coming close to denying the Hoops a first league victory on the final day. Speaking to the media ahead of the clash at Meadowbank, Sadiku said there was much to play for despite a top three finish being impossible, with opportunities for fringe players to stake a claim after a disappointing loss to Rangers on Sunday. “I think I’ve made it clear after the game that I’m going to give players chances because I think they have done well in training,” said Sadiku. Having struggled to retain their first title this season, the manager is hoping to lay the foundations to come back stronger for the next campaign. “Nothing comes for free. Maybe it was a little bit easier before when Hibs were not as good or Hearts were not as good, and you knew that there were a few games where we needed to be at the top. But for me, if you want to be a winning team, you need to be at the top even if you play Montrose, even if you play Partick Thistle or Motherwell.” “The performance against Rangers, was not good enough and I want a different attitude towards this game,” she said. “We’re not going to make it easy for them because they sure did not make it easy for us. If that is enough motivation for the players then I don’t think they’re at the right place.” Speaking on the signing of players to improve on the trophy-less campaign, albeit one which saw a first qualification for the Champions League, there was a sense a frustration at the lack of clarity concerning recruitment and the number of individuals involved in the process. “Right now it’s me and David Haley. That’s it,” said Sadiku, “I just need to know from the board exactly how it looks because, obviously, I can’t go out and promise this contract and that contract when I don’t know the answers.” Having come under pressure from fans, the manager remained confident in her ability to take the team forward. “I can deal with pressure. I can deal with fans not liking me. I’ve been through so much worse in my life so this is nothing for me.” “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I’ve done well with this club. Obviously, this season, domestically, has not been good enough and I know that, but the positive is I’ve learned so much and I know exactly what I need to bring in to make sure that we are so successful next season.”
Ferguson Finally Breaks Ibrox Duck as Rangers Hit Aberdeen for Four
Barry Ferguson has waited a long time for this. At the sixth time of asking, the Rangers interim boss finally delivered a home win – and in emphatic fashion – as his side dismantled Aberdeen 4-0 in the William Hill Premiership. After a tepid and, at times, tense opening 45 minutes, the match sparked into life in the second half. Vaclav Cerny fired Rangers in front ten minutes after the restart, finishing calmly after a smart through ball from Nicolas Raskin. Cyriel Dessers, who had endured a frustrating first half, doubled the lead shortly after, burying a cutback from Raskin to make it 2-0. From that point, Aberdeen crumbled. Hamza Igamane, introduced at the interval, made a real impact – and his 70th-minute strike was the pick of the bunch. Flicking the ball up and lashing home from distance, the Moroccan offered a moment of real quality on a day when Rangers badly needed a boost. Jefte’s late strike – a deflected effort from Cerny’s shot – added gloss in stoppage time and ensured Ferguson could finally celebrate three points at Ibrox. For Aberdeen, it was a damaging result in the race for third, and with just two games left, they remain three points adrift of Hibs. Having shown promise in the opening stages of the second half – with Topi Keskinen rattling the woodwork – their collapse was as alarming as it was sudden. Rangers, meanwhile, snapped a five-match winless streak at home stretching back to early February. Ferguson, brought in on a short-term deal to steady the ship, has endured a rough spell – and while this win doesn’t change the bigger picture of a trophyless season, it does ease some pressure. The takeover talk continues to dominate the narrative around the club, with the expected arrival of Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises looming large. For many fans, the fresh start can’t come soon enough. Key Moments: 55’ – Cerny opens the scoring after a fine pass from Raskin. 60’ – Dessers doubles the lead with a composed finish. 70’ – Igamane stuns Ibrox with a brilliant long-range effort. 90+2’ – Jefte rounds off the rout with a deflected fourth. It may be too little, too late for Rangers’ season ambitions, but for Barry Ferguson, it was a long-overdue homecoming worth savouring.
Rangers maintain title hunt with Celtic win
Rangers kept themselves in the hunt for SWPL title, edging past Celtic courtesy of Kirsty Howat’s early goal and maintaining their undefeated status against their rivals this season. A long range pass from Tessel Middag saw Howat dart into space with only Kelsey Daugherty to beat, the striker making no mistake in passing the keeper before slotting home the opener. Fife, was called into action after a quiet first-half as Saoirse Noonan fired a low driven shot in the second half, but the keeper was equal to it. It proved to be a difficult afternoon for the Irish striker, who fired another good chance clear over the bar. Howat almost grabbed herself a double, one on one with the keeper she was denied by a sprawling Daugherty as Celtic looked to find a way back into the game. Coming close to adding a second for Rangers, Kirsty MacLean’s rocket from outside the box was well saved by the American shot stopper. However there would be no opportunity more golden than one wasted by substitute Morgan Cross, whose diving header could only send a potential equaliser wide following Smith’s excellent cross. Holding for the three points, Rangers pipped Glasgow City to second thanks to their vastly superior goal and sit just three points behind Hibernian with two games left to play. Line-ups: Celtic: Daugherty, Barclais, Clark (Carstens 89), Lawton, Ashworth-Clifford (Cross 70), Nakao (Harrison 82), Gallacher (Cavanagh 82), Smith, McAneny, Noonan, Agnew (Loferski 71) Unused subs: Dawson, Bruna Lourenço, Rodgers Booked: Cavanagh Rangers: Fife, Docherty (c), Rafferty, Middag, McLeary, MacLean, Wilkinson (McAuley 83), Cornet, Hay (Lafaix 92), Howat (Berry 92), Hardy (Ross 88) Unused subs: Arnot, Cruft, Esson Goals: Howat (12) Booked: Cornet, Howat
Celtic hungry for first derby win – Sadiku
Celtic boss Elena Sadiku says getting the better of their Glasgow rivals for the first time in four attempts is a priority with the title gone and European qualification now all but impossible, something which the side are still coming to terms with. “The loss against Glasgow City was a horrible one when it comes to not performance maybe, but in terms of how we lost it. And also, when we lost it, we knew that the league is probably going to be out of reach now and it’s a tough one to swallow,” said Sadiku. “Obviously, even if we haven’t won silverware, we wrote history and we managed to do something incredible in the first part of the season. In the second part of the season, we’ve not been consistent, we’ve not been good enough to really compete for the league.” However, Sadiku believes her side have reset full focus on finishing the league campaign on a high, against a side they have been unable to beat in three attempts, with two draws and a loss to date. “We have still nine points to play for and that’s the biggest focus we have right now. Rangers on Sunday, they’re still obviously fighting for their place in the league,” she said. “Yes, they are five points behind Hibs. But it’s a Glasgow derby and we’re going to treat it as a Glasgow derby. We have struggled to get results in these derbies over the last few games.” With one eye on the weekend, Sadiku also has one cast on the summer and plans to strengthen the side. “Like I’ve said before, I think we need more leaders as well in terms of the situation that we’ve had this season. We have a part-time captain and a part-time vice-captain and that cannot be the case for next season. We need more consistency in the camp all the time.”
Sun, Shankland and suspicious Steelmen as Hearts take three points
Hearts 3 – 0 Motherwell A second Lawrence Shankland brace topped off with James Forrest finisher saw an improving Hearts dispatch a frustrated Motherwell side in the ‘best of the rest’ clash. Attempting to combat the heat, the referee called a stop to play to allow players to take a water break. However there would be no denying Shankland in front of goal, the striker profiting from a defensive howler from Stephen O’Donnell to give Hearts the lead. Having tasted the back of the net Shankland would come back for seconds after the break, meeting James Penrice’s delicate cross to almost put the game out of reach and in doing so scoring as many post-split as he had prior. Just two minutes later it was good night Vienna for Wimmer, as Forrest tapped home Aston Oxborough’s save after some excellent work from substitute Yan Dhanda to force the parry. Motherwell for their part did threaten prior to the collapse, Callum Slattery’s sizzling long range effort going just over the bar as the visitors probed for a hole in debutant Ryan Fulton’s goal. Slattery wheeled away in celebration after thundering home an equaliser, only to be denied after a lengthy VAR check ruled for offside as Dan Casey was judged to have obscructed in play. Fulton suffered his first real test, spilling Tom Sparrow’s low driven shot, fortunate not the have it collected by a Motherwell player. Three points for Hearts see them leapfrog Motherwell to go seventh and confirm survival for next season. Missing diamond but Shankland shines bright Quick to deny any criticism of his predecessor Critchley, interim boss Liam Fox did not need to say what he thought of the decision to drop Shankland deeper at the top of a midfield diamond. Instead he showed it by making the striker the sole man up top and it has paid dividends. Four goals in two games has gone some way in reminding the Tynecastle faithful just how good he is, but also what a player they will be losing should Shankland not re-sign. With Craig Gordon also more out than in as it stands, Fox, or whomever the board select as their next manager have a wealth of experience to replace. Either way, with Shankland in red hot form for the first time this season, fans may finally have something to smile about following a torrid year. Auditions but no x-factor In the build-up to this week, Wimmer called the three remaining games “an audition” for some members a bloated Motherwell squad. If that was the case, no prizes for guessing how many of the players earned the golden buzzer. Very much in the game even a goal down, the quickfire double sucked the life out any attempts to salvage something from the game. The manager denied he would make any decisions off the back of a single game. However, with a healthy expected for the signing of Lennon Miller and a cull of the fringes, fans can expect a stronger squad than the one that has flattered to deceive this year. What the managers said: Hearts interim boss Liam Fox: “I think I repeat what I said last week. If you put Lawrence Shankland in these types of positions and you do work on how you’re going to get the ball to him, Lawrence Shankland will score goals.” “This is not in any way, shape or form a criticism of the previous regime, I just felt it needed to get Shankland closer to the goal.” “At this moment in time, we’ve got a day off tomorrow and we’re back in on Monday and that until somebody tells me any different, that is where it’s at.” Motherwell boss Michael Wimmer: “It was a disappointed result. But this happens in football, I think, if you see the stats, it was four shots for Hearts or five shots and they scored three goals, and we had all of our shots and we didn’t score.” “It was not good enough, especially in both boxes, but to make decisions on players depending on one game. I don’t think it’s fair.” “My only thing is what I always say, but also in Germany, if the VAR says something and if the VAR says ‘come on, I have something to say’ then in my opinion it should be a clear mistake.” Line-ups: Hearts: Fulton, Penrice, Halkett, Kent, Forrester, Grant (Kartum 72), Baningime (Nieuwenhof 81), Devlin, Forrest (Kabangu 81), Shankland (c) (Wilson 72), Vargas (Dhanda 53) Unused subs: Clark, Kartum, Kingsley, McKay, Steinwender Goals: Shankland (30, 60), Forrest (62) Booked: Devlin, Halkett Motherwell: Oxborough, Seddon, Casey, O’Donnell (c), Sparrow, Miller, Halliday (Andrews 84), Thompson (Wilson 68), Slattery (Zdravkovski 80), Maswanhise (Dickson 68), Watt (Armstrong 68) Unused subs: Armstrong, Balcombe, Ebiye, Paton, Wilson, Jair Tavares Booked: Halliday, Miller
One hundred not out as Graham walks on Ayr to reach play-off semis
A Brian Graham double saw the striker reach the one hundred goal mark for Thistle and knock Scott Brown’s Ayr out of the Championship play-off quarter-finals. Having fallen a goal down in the first leg, the Somerset Park visitors drew level on aggregate as a sweetly struck corner from 17 year old Jamie Low on his debut, found the Thistle captain’s head to open the scoring just six minutes in. The crowning moment however, came in the dying moments of the game as Graham pounced on a bouncing ball off Alex Jakubiak to leather home the killer blow and a centinary for the club. Ayr will not doubt rue their profligacy in front of goal, failing to land a single shot on target from nine attempts. Victory means Mark Wilson and company will face Livingston on Wednesday for the right to take on a Premiership side.
Lawton balancing individual success with collective failure
Ahead of their clash with Rangers, Celtic’s Emma Lawton says this season has been a “huge disappointment” despite picking up the PFA Player of the Year award and a first international cap. “I don’t really care about myself, I only care about the team,” said Lawton before adding “we know we’ve not been good enough this season. Having the Champions League and the number of games we’ve played hasn’t helped, but we need to reflect as a squad and we haven’t been good enough.” After winning the league last season and competing in Europe, the side are now sat fourth and having failed to earn silverware from four competitions. After three fixtures this season, Celtic are yet to secure a win over their Glasgow rivals but the defender believes the derby can be a platform to end the season on a more positive note. “We’ve played them a lot this season. So we kind of know where their strengths are, but we also know where we can exploit them,” said Lawton. “A lot of it is just stuff that we can control ourselves, like moving the ball quicker and just trying to keep the ball more. I think that’s something that we’ve kind of lacked a bit throughout the season.” Despite the disappointment, Lawton spoke of her pride at being selected as the player of the year by her peers. “Getting the PFA award was really special because I think it’s players within the league voting for you. So to get that kind of recognition from the league is, yeah, I’m really proud about it,” she said before adding what it meant to her family. “They’ve just been really, really happy and really proud. I think I’ve got a really close family. So it’s just nice to share those moments with them.”
