Match Preview
There was a huge sense of relief when Thistle got back to winning ways with success against Queen of the South last Saturday. With that game the first of three successive fixtures at Firhill it is to be hoped that the win over the former league leaders will provide the platform from which Thistle can start another positive run.
Clyde are the visitors to Firhill tomorrow and it is rare indeed for Thistle to get anything other than a very tough game when they face Clyde. Tomorrow's fixture is unlikely to be any different even though Clyde are on a poor run of form at present.
As always on a Friday manager Ian McCall was able to provide www.ptfc.co.uk with the latest team news.
“Simon Storey is free from suspension but Marc Twaddle is still out injured. We know what the problem is with Marc and we don't think that it is anything too serious. We may send him for a scan but we hope that with no game for a fortnight after tomorrow's game that Marc will be fit to return after that break.”
“It's a similar story with Mark Roberts. Mark is due to return to full training today but tomorrow's game might just be a touch too soon for him after just one day's training. Again, hopefully the break will help give Mark time to get back to full fitness.”
“While Alan Archibald is still injured he is very much on the way back. He has trained all week with the first team and we hope to give him a run with the reserves on Wednesday night even if it is just for 30 minutes or so.”
“I was delighted with the response I got from the players against a good Queen of the South side last week. The performance that the players gave me I thought demonstrated that they care about playing for this football club. We deserved our win last week and I'm sure that that win will have helped install confidence right through the team. We need to try and build upon last week's win especially as we are in a run of home games at the moment.”
Clyde meantime could be set to welcome back winger Willie McLaren back into their team. A summer signing from St Johnstone, McLaren has been missing since sustaining an ankle injury against Dundee back in August. Elsewhere defender Mark Brown has returned to training but on the negative side Paul Emslie looks set to miss out once more.
The previous meeting between the two teams this season ended in a 1-1 draw at Broadwood. An otherwise fairly uninspired fixture was lit up by a fantastic strike Scott Chaplain (pictured The Jags celebrating that goal) but it was a lead Thistle couldn't maintain. A second half Pat Clarke penalty securing a point for the home side.
