Lawrence Shankland's remarkable start to the season reached new heights at Firhill with a sensational winning goal to clinch Group E with maximum points which means Ayr will be seeded in today’s last-16 draw.

Shankland, who has scored two hat-tricks already this season, blasted over Cammy Bell from 40 yards in 66 minutes – after getting an earful from manager Ian McCall who had complained about a couple of missed chances.

It added to Michael Moffat’s sixth-minute close range strike that came as a result of Christie Elliott’s bizarre defending and leaves Partick relying on Hearts not beating Inverness today in order to qualify as one of the best runners-up.

McCall said: “I had a go at Lawrence because he missed a few chances – then he goes and does that. Lawrence is a special player.

“We played really well and I thought some of our football was excellent.

“I thought every time we had good possession of the ball and got it into forward areas, we looked a real threat.

“If we get the ball into the last third we’ve got players that can cut teams apart. It was a great victory.”

Shankland had cleared a Niall Keown header off the line in four minutes when Elliott took too long to clear and thumped the ball against Shankland. It dropped nicely for Moffat who scored from two yards.

Exasperated Thistle manager Alan Archibald said: “The manner in which we lost the first goal was quite ridiculous and it killed us really and it all went a bit flat after that.

“I think Christie was caught in about five minds. He took an eternity to clear the ball. He’s got a good left foot and he’s played left back before.

“It was a moment of madness and it just killed the momentum. We are now relying on a result at Tynecastle.”