Overview
- St Mirren won the second leg at the SMiSA Stadium to overturn the tie and keep their place in the Scottish Premiership after a 1-1 first leg left the final finely balanced.
- Marcus Fraser’s headed finish from a Mark O’Hara free kick broke the deadlock in the second half and proved decisive in a match defined by strong defending and key saves from Ross Sinclair.
- Partick Thistle carried momentum from a 12-game unbeaten run into the final but could not find a way past St Mirren’s defence and must extend their wait to return to the top flight.
- The result preserves the sporting and financial benefits of Premiership status for St Mirren and increases pressure on decisions about the club’s interim manager Craig McLeish and long-term strategy.
- Thistle’s defeat continues a recent pattern of play-off heartbreak for the club and highlights how promotion play-offs shape the futures of players, staff and club finances in Scottish football.