Partick striker James Grady gave the rest of the Bank of Scotland Premier League plenty to think about after netting his 14th goal of the season against Aberdeen.

Grady - out of contract in the summer and keen to remain in the top flight - grabbed the opener before setting up Jamie Mitchell 10 minutes from time.

Partick's defeat by Dundee last week confirmed they will end the season bottom of the table.

Their only hope now of avoiding relegation is for Inverness - who do not meet top-flight criteria - to pip Bell's First Division leaders Clyde to the title.

With their own future out of their hands, Thistle had the luxury of heading into the game with Aberdeen free of pressure.

The game was just nine minutes old when Partick surged into the lead thanks to Grady but the warning signs had been there, with former Aberdeen player David Rowson narrowly missing a chance early on.

Both Rowson and Grady are waiting to find out what division the Jags will be playing in next term before signing new two-year contracts and the diminutive striker gave his team-mate a lesson in putting himself in the shop window.

He met a Billy Gibson pass before spotting David Preece off his line and cheekily lobbed the Aberdeen goalkeeper from 25 yards to give their long-suffering fans something to cheer.

Seventeen-year old Adam Strachan came close to marking his first Partick start with a goal when he intercepted a Preece clearance only for Scott Morrison to block his shot at the near post.

Aberdeen's Paul Sheerin went down on the edge of the box under pressure from Adrian Madaschi before chasing referee Iain Brines across the pitch in a failed bid to earn a penalty.

Partick should have netted just seconds after the restart.

Jean Yves Anis released Rowson into the box and he only had the goalkeeper to beat from eight yards but managed to send his header past the post when it looked easier to score.

Strachan showed some lovely movement out on the left before setting up Grady for the shot but the striker was denied his second goal by a superb block from Preece before Jamie Mitchell sent the rebound just wide of the post.

The teenager then tried to set up Madaschi from a corner but the Australian defender bulleted his header wide and the Dons were able to clear.

That proved to be Strachan's last involvement and he left the pitch to a standing ovation before to be replaced by Andy Gibson.

With 10 minutes to go, Partick left Aberdeen with little hope of salvaging anything.

Grady played a great ball through to Mitchell who rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home.

Aberdeen had a few half-hearted chances afterwards but they lacked conviction and the Dons knew the points would be staying at Firhill.

Teams

Partick Arthur, Murray, Madaschi, Anis (Andy Ross 83), Billy Gibson, Rowson, Mitchell (Britton 87), Strachan (Andy Gibson 69), Fleming, Grady, Howie.

Subs Not Used: Pinkowski, Chiarini.

Goals: Grady 10, Mitchell 80.

Aberdeen Preece, Higgins, Buckley, Heikkinen, Rutkiewicz, Morrison, Muirhead, Foster (Stewart 69), Prunty, Sheerin, Zdrilic.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Tarditi, Considine, O'Leary.

Booked: Higgins.

Att: 2,839

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).