Sports Mole previews Thursday's Scottish Premiership Playoffs clash between Partick Thistle and Ross County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ross County make the trip to Firhill Stadium to face Partick Thistle in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership relegation playoff final on Thursday night.

While the hosts are seeking to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time in five years, the visitors are hoping to retain their Premiership status for a fourth successive season.

Match preview

After finishing fourth in the regular Championship season, Partick Thistle have since navigated their way to the Premiership playoff final courtesy of two emphatic triumphs over Queen's Park and Ayr United.

Kris Doolan's side have had plenty of joy in front of goal during the playoffs, as they followed up an 8-3 aggregate victory over Queen's Park in the quarter-finals with a thumping 8-0 aggregate win against Ayr in the semi-finals – the biggest two-legged winning margin in any SPFL playoff across all four divisions since they were introduced in 2006.

Partick recorded a dominant 5-0 second-leg win away against 10-man Ayr last Friday, with Scott Tiffoney (2), Jack McMillan, Steven Lawless and Kevin Holt all on the scoresheet to set up a two-legged showdown with Ross County.

The Jags have already bettered last season's efforts – losing in the playoff quarter-finals to Inverness Caledonian Thistle – and they enter Thursday's clash in buoyant mood having won their last three matches by an aggregate score of 12-0.

Partick are unbeaten in each of their last seven home games, while they came out on top in their last meeting with Ross County, securing a 3-2 extra-time win over the Staggies in the quarter-finals of the League Cup in September 2019.

Ross County manager Malky Mackay reacts on April 2, 2023 © Reuters

Twelve months on from securing a top-six finish in the Premiership, Ross County find themselves fighting to survive in the top flight after finishing the regular 2022-23 campaign in 11th place, subsequently entering the relegation playoffs.

The Staggies failed to win any of their final three fixtures, including a 3-1 final-day defeat at Kilmarnock last weekend, but the managed to avoid an immediate demotion to the second tier as basement club Dundee United lost 3-2 against Motherwell.

Ross County have been branded as underdogs throughout this season in the Premiership, but manager Malky Mackay is happy for his side to take that title again for their two-legged encounter with high-flying Partick.

The Dingwall-based outfit have had little to celebrate away from home this term, winning only four of their 19 league matches on the road and keeping just four clean sheets.

However, Ross County have won each of their last two league trips to Firhill Stadium, including a 4-2 Championship triumph in their most recent visit in February 2019.

Partick Thistle Scottish Premiership Playoffs form:

Partick Thistle form (all competitions):

Ross County form (all competitions):

Team News

Ross County's Alex Iacovitti gestures towards the referee on March 19, 2022 © Reuters

Partick Thistle midfielder Stuart Bannigan is fit to return to the squad on Thursday after recovering from a calf strain picked up in the first leg of their playoff semi-final.

Cammy Smith is also in contention to return after missing both legs of the contest with Ayr due to a groin issue, although the attacker is likely to begin as a substitute as Doolan looks set to continue with Lawless, Tiffoney and Aidan Fitzpatrick in behind central striker Brian Graham, who has scored 21 goals in 43 games this season.

As for Ross County, Eamonn Brophy, Ross Callachan, Gwion Edwards and Ben Paton all remain sidelined due to injury.

However, Alex Iacovitti returned from a spell on the sidelined to start and play for just over an hour last weekend, and the defender could retain his place in the back three alongside Jack Baldwin and Keith Watson.

Yan Dhanda converted from the penalty spot in the defeat at Kilmarnock last time out, and the playmaker is set to continue in the number 10 role behind strikers Jordan White and Alex Samuel.

Partick Thistle possible starting lineup:
Mitchell; McMillan, Muirhead, Brownlie, Holt; Bannigan, Docherty; Lawless, Tiffoney, Fitzpatrick; Graham

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Watson, Baldwin, Iacovitti; Randall, Kenneh, Tillson, Harmon; Dhanda; Samuel, White

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We say: Partick Thistle 3-1 Ross County

The two teams enter Thursday's clash in contrasting form, with Partick hoping to build on their impressive unbeaten run and take advantage of the first leg on home soil.

The Jags are scoring goals for fun at present and we can see them having more joy in the final third against a leaky Ross County backline.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

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