This piece is an extract from yesterday's One Team in Glasgow newsletter, which is emailed out at 6pm every Wednesday.

Saturday saw the Championship’s two form sides lock horns at Firhill as Partick Thistle played host to Rhys McCabe’s ambitious Airdieonians with both sides requiring a solitary point to clinch their respective play-off berths.

The Jags had been plagued with injuries in recent weeks that many feared would jeopardise the club's promotion tilt; however, the Firhill faithful received a timely boost prior to kick-off when March player of the month Scott Robinson was named in the starting line-up whilst Dan O’Reilly and Stuart Bannigan each made their long-awaited returns to the match-day squad as they took their spot on the bench, providing Thistle with some much needed strength in depth.

Despite neither side being content to play for a point, the first half turned out to be a timid affair with clear-cut chances coming few and far between. Nevertheless, it took Thistle only five minutes of second half action to start flexing their muscle.

A stunning first-time through ball from Kerr McInroy sent Aidan Fitzpatrick clean through from half-way, the tenacious winger still had it all to do as he cut across his man before rounding the goalkeeper and smashing home the opener. The sheer pace and power of Fitzpatrick was on display for all to see as the wide-man made it 20 direct goal involvements for the season.

The Jags refused to take their foot off the gas as they went looking to add insult to injury to their promotion chasing rivals. A quick-fire Brian Graham double had Thistle in cruise control as the talismanic striker notched his 23rd and 24th goals of a stellar campaign that saw the Jags captain named in the PFA Championship team of the Year.

With the game all but over and Airdrie left licking their wounds, Jags boss Doolan took the opportunity to experiment with his side as he tinkered with the defence by switching to a back three that enabled January addition O’Reilly to come into the fray for his home debut. The Irishman has found game time in red and yellow hard to come by since he swapped Kirkcaldy for Maryhill at the turn of the year, but the central defender will be looking to play a key role during the run-if Thistle are to avenge last year's play-off heartache.

Thistle went on to put further distance between themselves and their nearest challengers when substitute Ricco Diack added a fourth goal for the hosts that just about emptied the away stand as the Diamonds support threw in the towel having watched their side’s goal difference take a beating at the hands of their bitter rivals.

As the Jags confirmed their play-off spot in style - results elsewhere meant that the Diamonds had also done enough to limp over the finish line to secure their post-season place regardless of the 4-0 drubbing in the Maryhill sunshine.

With four wins and two draws in their last six outings, somewhat similarly to last season, Partick Thistle appear to be heating up at just the right time as they saved their best performance of the campaign for the play-off dress rehearsal.

The three previous meetings with Airdrie had been close- fought battles; however, Saturday’s demolition must serve as a wake-up call for the Diamonds who will continue fighting to pip the Jags to third place in hopes of getting the second leg of the play-off quarter-final on their home turf, having tasted defeat on each of their last 10 visits to Firhill dating back to 2009.

The Jags - now full of confidence - head into their final two fixtures of the league campaign with a sense of flexibility and freedom around their game but Thistle boss Doolan has already assured supporters that his side won’t ease off in their quest for third spot as they aim to continue building positive momentum to carry into the Premiership promotion play-offs.