Ayr United beat Partick Thistle 1-0 in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership Play-offs Quarter-final to take the advantage into the home leg on Friday.

It was an early substitution for Ayr as Nick McAllister was forced off due to a head knock. He tried to continue but was eventually replaced by Dylan Watret, but Ayr didn’t let it affect their flow.

It was a very stop-start game as both sides tried to settle into it, with both teams trying their best to get some shots away.

But the best chance of the first half came the way of Partick Thistle. Aidan Fitzpatrick tried to break through but was held well by Lenny Agbaire. Fitzpatrick was forced to pass to one of his overlapping teammates, who then passed back to him. Fitzpatrick did well to find space and sent a lovely cross into the box that was met by a leaping Brian Graham, who forced Josh Clarke into a fantastic save to deny his header.

There was a penalty shout shortly after as Agbaire took down one of Thistle’s players, and although the referee wasn’t for it, the home crowd made their feelings known.

As the game approached half-time, both teams were eager to open the scoring. Patrick Reading tried a ball through to an Ayr attacker, who met it and had a shot at goal. The low strike was comfortably collected by the goalkeeper but up the other end, Kanayochukwu Megwa had it in a dangerous position.

Megwa sent in a cross aiming for any Thistle attackers, and although Fitzpatrick was lurking at the back post, he couldn’t get there in time and it would prove to be one of the last moves of the half.

It was more of the same in the second half as both teams tried optimistic moves to try and get a goal on the board. But one would come the way of the away side with 55 minutes on the clock.

Connor McLennan crossed the ball into the box and Jamie Murphy did well to move past the Thistle defenders. He nodded it past the goalkeeper, who was left to watch as the ball went into the back of the net. Murphy wheeled away in celebration past the Partick Thistle Ultras, who were there in their numbers, to the delight of the travelling support.

Ayr's Jamie Murphy celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 (By Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Thistle looked to get an immediate response with two quick attacks but they went nowhere, and the goal had given Ayr motivation to keep the tie in their favour.

Another good chance came for the away side as Murphy sent through McLennan, who found himself in enough space to shoot. Unfortunately for the winger, there was too much finesse on the ball and it curled wide.

Ayr were happy to slow the game down as well though as multiple players went down needing treatment. The home crowd were making their disdain known, with some chants directed at the referee, who was stopping the game for the Honest Men to receive treatment.

Scott Brown also seemed happy enough with how his side were handling things as he was giving claps of support from the dugout.

And that was the story of the second half as Thistle failed to pull one back before the halfway point of the tie.

Thistle’s Brian Graham during the match (By Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Speaking after the game, Thistle interim player-manager Graham said: “It’s still only half-time. I don’t think we particularly played well within the game but with that being said, they had one big chance in the second half and they scored it, we probably had the better chance in the first half, even though it was a good save.

“There wasn’t really a lot in the game. I thought their movements, their midfield was probably a bit better than us in the first half, connecting the play. Thought some of our play was a bit rushed.

“Going into Friday, we need to be better.

“I think some of our decisions on the ball [need to better in the second leg]. Our movement, I thought we were too slow at times in regards to moving up the pitch. I think we were taking too many touches. We need to move the ball quicker. We were too slow at times. We spoke about that but listen, we’ll address it. We’re back in tomorrow morning and we’ll be ready to go again.”

Ayr United manager, Scott Brown, said: “We enjoyed the challenge. They have a great front three. For us, it was really good. I thought our whole eleven that started were incredible as well, and the subs that came on.”

Speaking on the goal, he said: “If you watch it back, it’s a great anticipation between Connor and Murphy too. Connor’s gotten the ball, Ben’s headed into a great area as well. Murphy’s had a fantastic run and to be fair, the centre half’s were in a great position, Murphy’s just gotten in front of them and they’re standing still, just worse on acceleration and he’s managed to get his head across them.”

Speaking on Thistle’s squad and the return leg, he said: “They’ve got a really good squad, they’ve got a really good first eleven. I thought we competed really well today. I thought we won the battle in the middle of the park. Ben [Dempsey] anticipating the ball, but also the calm quality of when he did win it was exceptional. And the backline was really good defending. That’s what I’m really pleased with. Keeping the clean sheet, that’s two in a row, we need to keep that up as well.”

Jamie Murphy makes the difference as Ayr edge out Partick Thistle in tight first leg