Ayr United 0
Partick Thistle 4
League (Championship)

Match Report

Brian Graham says his opening goal in Partick Thistle's emphatic Scottish Championship win over Ayr United kept a promise to his son after his mother in law passed away on Sunday.

The striker slotted the opener after only 73 seconds before two goals from Steven Lawless and another from former Ayr striker Tomi Adeloye put Thistle level on points at the top of the Scottish Championship.

"It's been a tough week in the Graham family household," an emotional Graham told BBC Scotland.

"We lost my mother in law in the early hours of Sunday morning and my young son, eight-year-old wee Daniel, said go score a goal for my granny tonight, so that's for wee Rose.

"I've just read a text message in the changing room and I believe he scored in his game tonight too. Those were his words to me - you score and I'll score daddy."

Graham thought he ought to have had a hat-trick as Thistle kept up their remarkable scoring streak against Ayr, who have now suffered five consecutive defeats.

The Glasgow side have now scored 11 goals in three straight wins over Ayr, although they had goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon to thank for making sure they have also done so without conceding.

After Graham's opener, Sneddon denied Mark McKenzie, Ahkeem Rose and Roy Syla before midfielder Lawless added two thumping long-rangers after the break and substitute Adeloye slotted the fourth.

A third consecutive win at Somerset Park means Thistle join Dundee United and Raith Rovers, who play on Saturday, at the top of the table.

Ayr remain second bottom and have now lost three in a row overall at home without scoring.

Ayr United head coach Lee Bullen: "I thought in the first half that we were well in the game. When we lose the second goal, we just had a mad 20/25 minutes where we just didn't do enough.

"We've just got to hold our hands up. We've got to do better defensively."

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "We had to defend for large parts of the first half, but we started brightly.

"Our goalkeeper was called upon and came up with some good saves. To come here and score four, this is a difficult place to come to, so we're absolutely delighted."

Match report written by BBC