SAS CAN ANSWER THIS FIRHILL SOS
Sammon: My double act with Storey will fire Thistle up the table
CONOR SAMMON insists he and Miles Storey are the SAS crack team to fire Partick Thistle to Premiership safety.
The Irish striker, on loan at Firhill from Hearts, scored his first goal of the season in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Motherwell at home.
Jags boss Alan Archibald rolled the dice and started with Sammon and Storey in attack as Kris Doolan, Chris Erskine and Steven Lawless dropped to the bench following last weekend’s 5-1 thrashing at Kilmarnock.
The Thistle gaffer’s decision was vindicated as his side recorded only their third league win of the season to move to within a point of 11th-placed Dundee ahead of tomorrow’s festive cracker at Dens Park.
Sammon netted Partick’s third and teamed up well with former Aberdeen star Storey, who set up two goals and caused problems with his pace and delivery.
Sammon believes that performance can be a sign of things to come as the pair set their sights on shooting down the Dark Blues and climbing off the bottom of the table.
The 31-year-old said: “It was a good reaction after the Kilmarnock game. Miles and I want to use our pace and make it difficult for defences.
“He is a very unselfish player who has raw pace and power. Even balls that he isn’t favourite to get to, he will manage it and suddenly he’s creating chances. “We have Dools as well so we are all fighting to link up and help each other score. “After Saturday we were just looking for the next chance to go out there, impose ourselves and make an impact. “We need to do that again tomorrow. Dundee are a good side so we have to be on song.” Motivation will not be a problem for Sammon and his team-mates as they plot their escape to safety. Scrapping it out in the basement is no fun and Sammon appreciates the significance of this weekend’s clash but he feels the Jags have shown they are up for the fight. He added: “It will get us off the bottom if we win and that’s a big incentive. It’s not a nice position to be in. Players get frustrated when results are not going well but you have to stick together and show character.” Sammon was relieved to finally hit the goal trail this season and admits his strike couldn’t have come at a better time. The former Killie and Derby County forward said: “It’s massive to get off the mark.
“When you move to a new team you want to score as soon as possible so I hope that goal is the first of many.”
Jags took a 3-0 half-time lead through Blair Spittal, Ryan Edwards and Sammon but were made to sweat as the Steelmen netted twice after the break and threatened a stunning comeback.
But Sammon feels his side can take confidence from the way they held on as Well pushed.
He said: “It was an enjoyable first 45 minutes but a long second half. Motherwell are a good side. They have done well this season and put as under a lot of pressure near the end.
“But we stood up to it and held on which is the most important thing at the end of the day.”