Postponements, Play-Off Implications and More: Football Park's Scottish Championship Review

As It Happened: Full Detail Review Of Today's Scottish Championship Games

Another dramatic weekend in the Scottish Championship should have started on Friday night at the City Stadium, just right next door to Hampden Park, but the pitch was deemed unplayable and was called off just 15 minutes before kick-off and as soon as the BBC Scotland television coverage started.

🧊 ❄️ GAME OFF!

Just as we begin live coverage of Queen's Park v Ross County, the Highlander's trip down to Glasgow is in vain, with the game postponed minutes before kick-off.

With no undersoil heating, players had raised concerns about various parts of the pitch being frozen. pic.twitter.com/ojFh2x1zZ9

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) November 21, 2025

Still there was four games played across the country on Saturday, not the most high scoring of weekends but it provided us with a number of big talking points including a title race starting to open up!

Thistle start piling the pressure on the Saints

Partick Thistle 2-1 St. Johnstone

Goals: O'Reilly (6'), Watt (45+2'); McPake (71')

It was hyped up as the game of the weekend in the Championship and it didn't disappoint for the crowd of over 5,400 inside Firhill. Leaders St. Johnstone were six points ahead of Partick Thistle with Mark Wilson's side having a game in hand on Tuesday night against Dunfermline. Simo Valakari's side could have done with a win to extend that lead back up to keep the pressure up on Thistle.

It was Thistle who started off brightly, five minutes on the clock and they took the lead with a training ground routine which was finished off by Dan O'Reilly.

Straight off the training ground 😮‍💨🤌#PTFCvSJFC #WeAreThistle pic.twitter.com/PKoQk6QsnX

— Partick Thistle FC (@PartickThistle) November 22, 2025

Saints tried to get back to it, Adama Sidibeh found the side netting in what was the best chance of the first half. And it was looking like it was going to be 1-0 going to half-time but Thistle had other ideas thanks to a Tony Watt thunderbolt which doubled their lead which was the last piece of action before half-time.

Thistle produced the most of the early second half chances in particular an Alex Samuel effort which was denied by Saints' keeper Tony Steward and then a Tony Watt shot which could have secured the three points for Thistle.

Then a grandstand finish was set, Josh McPake took a shot which was deflected past Josh Clarke and it was 2-1 and game on at Firhill. Thistle though responded well, a Kyle Turner shot from 12 yards out was blocked as they looked to re-establish their two goal lead.

Saints tried and tried to get it back to level terms, Liam Smith's effort drifted just wide of the goal along with Josh McPake who fired over the crossbar but in the end of the day they couldn't get the goal they needed.

As a result, Thistle are now three points behind the Saints and could go level on points on Tuesday night as they welcome Dunfermline to Firhill.

Pars continuing playoff pursuit

Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 Greenock Morton

Goals: Gilmour (16')

Greenock Morton started off well at East End Park, Owen Moffat with the shot after only six minutes on the clock but it was gathered comfortably by Billy Terrell in the Pars goal. Jackson Longridge headed over from a corner kick and Dougie Imrie's side looked bright in the opening 10 minutes.

However the Pars were starting to click into gear; Andrew Tod, who signed a new contract during the week, fired over from just outside the box. But it wasn't too long until the hosts took the lead, Robbie Fraser crossed in from the left-hand side who found the head of Charlie Gilmour who put the Pars in front.

📸 It was @CharlieGilmour8 with his first #DAFC goal to secure all 3 points in today's 1-0 win over Greenock Morton 🏁 pic.twitter.com/S827fPPGBI

— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) November 22, 2025

The Pars looked like they were on the brink of extending their lead but former Dunfermline defender Aaron Comrie made a great last ditch challenge on Andrew Tod to clear out for a corner kick.

In the second half Dunfermline started off brightly, Aaron Comrie again providing some heroic defending as he cleared a Andrew Tod effort off the line. The second half was pretty much all Dunfermline and the closest they came to doubling their lead was a Chris Kane strike smashed off the post and Morton could breathe again.

One goal was all Morton needed and Tomi Adeloye could have got it but his header from a stoppage time corner went over the bar.

In the end, one goal was enough to win the game and go one point behind fourth placed Arbroath in the playoff race.

10 man honest men hang on

Airdrieonians 0-1 Ayr United

Goals: McKenzie (18')

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair was still in interim charge at the Diamonds and his audition for the full time job couldn't have gone any better with the 3-0 win over Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy last week. The Diamonds started off well, a Euan Henderson effort was just beyond the top corner.

Airdrie were the brighter team to start with, the Honest Men keeper Liam Russell just nipped the ball from the feet of Henderson who looked like he was going to tap home for the hosts.

It was Ayr who opened the scoring however, Ethan Walker cutting the ball back for Mark McKenzie who fired home for Scott Brown's side. They could have doubled their lead ten minutes later, Marco Rus' touched down a cross from Scott McCann but his effort was just fired over the top of the Diamonds crossbar.

19’| GOOOOOOALLLLLLLL

Walker nutmegs the defender, cutting the ball back for Mark McKenzie to fire home.

Airdrie [0 - 1] Ayr#WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/xexQTn3mxz

— Ayr United (@AyrUnitedFC) November 22, 2025

Ayr survived a scare after Russell tipped over a Henderson free back, from the resulting corner Leon King cleared off the line as the Diamonds tried to go goalward.

Airdrieonians then had a man advantage after half-time, Marco Rus was sent off after pulling Lewis Strapp's shirt and received a second yellow card. What resulted was a number of chances for the Diamonds; Lewis McGrattan's shot went wide of target, Cole McKinnon's shot also went wide, a Lewis McCann miskicked clearance couldn't be capitalised by the hosts.

The 10 man Honest Men held on for a narrow win and jump up to third place in the table. The Diamonds remain bottom, one point behind Ross County and two points behind Queen's Park. No advantage of the game between the Spiders and the Staggies being called off late could be taken.

Hanlon and co tightens up the Rovers back

Arbroath 0-0 Raith Rovers

Paul Hanlon was still in interim charge of Raith Rovers at Gayfield, hoping for better after their 3-0 home defeat to Airdrieonians.

Early chances for both sides; Arbroath's on loan Aberdeen midfielder Findlay Marshall's strike was denied Josh Rae in the Rovers goal, a minute Jack Hamilton headed just wide for the Rovers.

Raith could have went in half-time a goal in front; Jack Hamilton playing against his former club, looked like was about to open the scoring but a last ditch block from Brooklyn Kabongolo denied the striker.

The early parts of the second half was pretty much a non-event. Raith probably had the better chances, Dylan Easton shot from distance but it trailed wide of the post.

Rovers had Josh Rae to thanks to deny Findlay Marshall once again, Marshall's shot was deflected which looked like it was going to wrongfoot the Rovers' number one but his outstretched leg kept the ball out. Rae also denied Arbroath's on loan St. Johnstone striker Taylor Steven, his strike was turned around the post.

🗣️ Hear from Paul Hanlon following today's draw. pic.twitter.com/utfih6D2NN

— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) November 22, 2025

A better defensive display from the Rovers compared to their big defeat last week, however they remain winless the 25th of October. The Red Litchies drop down to fourth in the table but remain in the promotion playoff places.

What's next?

Partick Thistle host Dunfermline on Tuesday night, a game that could see Thistle go level on points with St. Johnstone but it could take the Pars into third place in the Championship table.

Championship action will be to put a side after midweek with the Third Round of the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup next weekend, with the sides entering the competition looking to go a step closer to Hampden Park and avoid being an upset.