Match Preview
It’s back to league action tomorrow when Ross County are the visitors to Firhill. Thistle will go into tomorrow’s fixture on a high following victory at Dundee in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup on Tuesday night but manager Ian McCall is under no illusions that tomorrow’s game will be anything other than a very difficult one.
“Tomorrow’s game is one that I am really looking forward too but it is also a game that worries me. The Thistle fans will probably expect us to win and maintain our excellent start to the season and that brings its own problems. Games aren’t won on the strength of current form or how previous encounters have gone. They are won by how you perform on the park on the day.”
“I managed to see Ross County at the start of the season and make no mistake they are a very good team. They, like us, like to try and play football and their manager Derek Adams has them very well organised. They have a number of players, Richie Hart being just one, who I feel are of SPL standard. Tomorrow’s game will be a very, very tough one and we will have to be at our best to get full points. We are at home though and you must aim to win your home games. A repeat of the sensational support we got against St Johnstone would be greatly appreciated.”
As ever Ian was able to give www.ptfc.co.uk the latest team news.
“I’m hopeful that I will be able to add both Stephen McKeown and David Rowson to the squad. If I can that gives me a selection headache but also the opportunity to freshen the team up again.”
“I’ve good news to report on Liam Buchanan as well. He was chapping at the bit to get back into full training on Thursday but we felt we should hold him back just a little. It could be that he is still a couple of weeks away from coming back but he is definitely getting there.”
Ross County, who haven’t played since conceding a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with Clyde a fortnight ago, will arrive at Firhill still looking to record their first league victory of the season, albeit they have played one game fewer than the majority of the division. Included in their team are four former Thistle players. The quartet of former Jags being Scott Boyd, Adam Strachan, Andy Dowie and Mark McCulloch. Thistle fans should recall the last named of the four with some affection as it was Mark that scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win against St Mirren in April 2002 as Thistle clinched the First Division title.
