Scottish Championship top two set for battle – live on BBC

If you thought Heart of Midlothian against Celtic was good last Sunday, brace yourself for the latest instalment from the Scottish Championship title race.

St Johnstone against Partick Thistle on Friday evening has ‘potentially season-defining’ written all over it.

A few people scoffed when Sportsound presenter Kenny MacIntyre tipped Thistle for the title on the first Saturday of the season – especially when the Jags were then trounced 5-1 by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

But nobody is scoffing now.

A win for Thistle on Friday night would see them leapfrog Saints into top spot, albeit having played a game more.

Thistle were also 2-1 winners the last time these sides met, back in November at Firhill.

They have been the most consistent and impressive sides in the division, with only occasional faltering moments.

That’s what makes it an incredibly difficult call as to who will win this match – and indeed the Championship title outright.

So, to help predict what will happen at McDiarmid Park, let’s seek out the insight of a player who has played both sides this season – Arbroath midfielder Ryan Flynn.

“I will just go for strength in depth, I would say St Johnstone,” said Flynn on the Scottish Football Podcast.

“St Johnstone have scored the most goals, conceded the least, won the most games, lost the least.

And yet… Flynn can also make a convincing case for the Glasgow Jags.

“Really you have got to credit Partick Thistle, who are really pushing them. Partick Thistle have played some good football throughout this season.

“All the credit goes to Mark Wilson for how he has galvanised that squad and got them pushing and believing.

“I think that squad believes they can go on and win the league and when it comes to Friday night, they will be looking to win and go top of the league.”

One thing is for sure; Flynn and his Arbroath colleagues will be watching closely, with their own side hovering in third place, ready for a slip-up from either of the top two.

At one point on television this season I said St Johnstone were running away with the league. The perils of broadcasting.

Partick Thistle fans – including a certain Ian McCall – have not stopped reminding me of the comment.

In the early part of the season the Perth side were striding along confidently, racking up win after win.

The overall form is still good, but the home defeat to Dunfermline last weekend came at the wrong time and it has certainly added an extra dash of spice to the match against Thistle.

The Saints saw their chance to get it out of their system on Tuesday night against Ayr United in the Challenge Cup disappear because of a waterlogged pitch.