Match Preview
Thistle's promotion hopes took an undoubted dent at the weekend with defeat at the hands of Clyde. With St Johnstone only managing a draw with our opponents tonight at the weekend the gap between ourselves was increased and the top of the league was increased only to just four points, albeit St Johnstone have played one game fewer than we have, and we could yet face an extremely interesting conclusion to the season.
One thing that is clear though is that we must pick up as close to maximum points as possible from our next few games starting with this evening's fixture with Ross County.
The Thistle team bus is due to leave Firhill at around 1pm and earlier today manager Ian McCall provided www.ptfc.co.uk with an indication as to who would be travelling on the bus.
"John Robertson is back in the squad for tonight's game which is naturally good news. John though, similar to both Alan Archibald and Willie Kinniburgh, isn't quite 100% fit but has indicated a willingness to play. I think that approach speaks volumes for the kind of player that John, and Willie and Alan, are."
"On the down side Liam Buchanan, Simon Donnelly and Ian Maxwell will not feature in this game which will leave us a little short in terms of numbers. We really only have 15 fit recognised first team players and is with that in mind that I have added Ricky Little to the squad tonight. I might also take another couple of the younger boys north with us just in case of any other problems."
"Liam has bit of swelling round his injury but I'm keen to stress that there is nothing sinister surrounding his absence tonight. The truth of the matter is that because he has been making such a positive contribution that we have been asking too much of him too soon."
"I'm keen too that we don't ask too much of Kris Doolan. Kris is a young player not dissimilar in that respect to Damon Gray. At times when we didn't have other options I played Damon when he would have been better left out. I want to try and avoid a repeat of that situation with Kris. That said Kris Doolan and Lucas Akins, who did okay when he came on against Clyde, are the only real options we have tonight in terms of recognised strikers."
"Although we are short of players tonight I have faith in the players that I have at my disposal. Saturday's defeat was a sore one. I don't think any Thistle fan would need reminding of that but some positive results in the next few games and we could yet challenge this season."
Match Details
Partick Thistle v Ross County
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Tuesday March 10th 2008
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Prices
Adults: £15
Concessions: £7 (OAPs/Students/Under 18s/Job Seekers)*
Under 16s: £4
* proof of status required
Tonight's Other Fixtures
Clyde v St Johnstone
Dundee v Queen of the South
Livingston v Dunfermline Athletic
Morton v Airdrie United
Match Officials
Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referees: Jim Lyon & Kevin J Graham
