Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Archibald tells players to stand up and be counted
PARTICK Thistle manager Alan Archibald told his players there was no hiding place after they went bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership with a 4-0 defeat to relegation rivals Ross County.
Alex Schalk grabbed his first hat-trick for the Staggies as the home side moved level on points with Thistle and 11 goals better off.
The Dutchman also set up a Ross Draper header as County secured their first win at home in nine attempts.
Archibald said: “We knew the first goal was going to be crucial, it wasn’t a great game at the start.
“We knew there was going to be a lot of long balls. They got the first goal and kicked on and we didn’t get a reaction from it.
“The biggest concern was the defending in the second half. It was schoolboy stuff especially the third goal and a lack of desire for the fourth goal as well.”
Archibald, whose side host Kilmarnock on Saturday, added: “Yes, we are bottom of the table but we are still in touching distance so, as long as there’s a chance, we’ve got to get a result.
“We know where we are, we know the consequences of it, there’s livelihoods at stake.
“The only good thing to take from it is there’s another game Saturday and they can’t hide, they’ve got to stand up, it’s not a time to feel sorry for themselves.”
Ross County joint-manager Steven Ferguson was pleased at the result and performance.
He said: “It’s a massive boost, getting off the bottom of the table is huge, getting four goals is huge, keeping a clean sheet is huge, so all the factors were massive for us.”