St Johnstone and Partick Thistle Gear Up for Crucial Championship Clash

The Scottish Championship’s leading teams are gearing up for a significant confrontation.

Following the thrilling encounter between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic last Sunday, anticipation builds for the upcoming clash in the Scottish Championship title race.

St Johnstone will host Partick Thistle on Friday evening, a match that holds ‘potentially season-defining’ implications.

Initially, some dismissed Sportsound presenter Kenny MacIntyre’s prediction of Thistle securing the title at the beginning of the season, especially after their heavy 5-1 defeat to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. However, the narrative has shifted dramatically.

A victory for Thistle on Friday would propel them past St Johnstone into first place, although they would have played one additional match.

In their previous encounter last November at Firhill, Thistle emerged victorious with a 2-1 win.

Both teams have displayed remarkable consistency and impressive performances throughout the season, making it difficult to predict the outcome of this match—and the Championship title race.

To gain further insight into the match, we turn to Arbroath midfielder Ryan Flynn, who has experience playing against both teams this season.

“I would lean towards St Johnstone due to their strength in depth,” Flynn stated on the Scottish Football Podcast.

“They have scored the most goals, conceded the least, and have the highest number of wins with minimal losses. They undoubtedly are the top team. However, the pressure is on St Johnstone, and Simo Valakari needs to keep them composed to secure victory.”

**Scottish Championship**
**St Johnstone vs. Partick Thistle**
**Friday, 30 January at 19:45 GMT**
**Coverage begins at 19:30 on BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website.**

Nonetheless, Flynn also acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by Partick Thistle.

“Partick Thistle deserves recognition for their performance this season. They have played some excellent football, and Mark Wilson deserves credit for uniting the squad and fostering a belief in their potential to win the league. They will be eager to seize the opportunity to go top this Friday night.”

One certainty is that Flynn and his Arbroath teammates will be closely monitoring the match, as they sit in third place, poised to capitalize on any potential missteps from the top two teams.

Earlier in the season, I remarked on television that St Johnstone appeared to be running away with the league—a comment that continues to resonate, especially with Partick Thistle supporters, including Ian McCall, who frequently remind me of it.

In the season’s early weeks, St Johnstone showcased a strong performance, accumulating wins with confidence. While their overall form remains solid, last weekend’s home defeat to Dunfermline was untimely and has undoubtedly heightened the stakes for their upcoming match against Thistle.

The Saints’ opportunity to regain momentum in the Challenge Cup against Ayr United on Tuesday was thwarted by a waterlogged pitch. Perhaps this delay will prove beneficial, granting the team time to rest and refocus on what is sure to be a critical clash in the race for the Championship crown.