Celtic loanee Lenny Agbaire was caught up in a controversial penalty incident as Scott Brown's Ayr United took on Partick Thistle in the first leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off on Tuesday evening.
Brown's men made the trip up the M77 and eventually emerged 1-0 winners thanks to Jamie Murphy's second-half header.
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Things weren't all plain sailing for Ayr. Indeed, in the opening 45, centre-half Agbaire appeared to bring down Robbie Crawford inside his own box.
Nothing was given, however, and play continued.
Should Partick Thistle have had a penalty for this challenge? 📺 Watch the Scottish Premiership play-off quarter final first leg between Partick Thistle and Ayr United on the BBC Scotland channel.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/a1FZ4QvwnZ
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) May 6, 2025
Live on commentary, pundit Michael Stewart thinks the Celtic loanee was fortunate to get away with it: "Well, I'll tell you what, if it's anywhere else on the park, David Dickinson would've been blowing his whistle for this," he said.
"I'm not sure there is loads in it, and he slips a wee bit as well. Agbaire is a lucky, lucky boy.
"I think it's probably just about the right call, but it's clumsy, and it certainly poses the question for the referee. On this occasion, I actually think David Dickinson has called it correctly."
Ayr return to Somerset Park for the second leg of the tie, a goal in front.
Should they get through Thistle, they will then face Livingston in the play-off semis. The winner of that tie then takes on the team who finishes second-bottom of the Premiership for a place in next campaign's top flight.
There remains a way to go yet if Brown is to guide his team back to the promised land.
