SHARP JAGS
Welsh says Thistle side is strongest he has seen
SEAN WELSH reckons the Partick Thistle squad is the strongest he has known it in his time at Firhill as he looks forward to the new Premiership campaign.
The midfielder picked up the man of the match award as Alan Archibald’s side beat Stenhousemuir 4-1 on Tuesday night in the Betfred Cup.
The Jags are top of Group E heading into their clash with Queen’s Park on Saturday as they look to clinch a spot in the last 16 of the competition.
Archibald has been without the likes of Tomas Cerny, Abdul Osman and Christie Elliott so far this term but has seen his side also overcome Airdrieonians and Queen of the South.
The visit of Inverness is first up in the Premiership next month and skipper Welsh reckons Thistle are in good shape ahead of another crack at the top flight.
He said: “We have won these games without a few of our first team players. The squad is looking good and the challenge for positions this year is very intense.
“Everyone has got to be at it to make sure they stay in the team. It is going to be tough to get in the team. We have boys coming back and they are only going to strengthen us.
“Definitely, this is the strongest squad we have had. I feel we have always had a decent squad but we have added some depth this year and there is good competition for places.
“That is something that can only push you on and make you better.
“We were one goal away from the top six last year and it was tough to take that we missed out on that. It is going to be a hard season and there are some good teams in the league.
“First and foremost we want to get safe as quickly as we can and once we have got that we will try and build and push into the top six if possible.”
IT WAS a productive night at Ochilview as Thistle made it three wins from three games this term and stepped up their Premiership preparations.
Welsh doubled the Jags’ advantage from the spot after Mathias Pogba had opened the scoring, before late goals from David Amoo and Ade Azeez sealed a comfortable cup win.
Welsh said: “It was a great victory. We knew it would be tough against a club looking to take a scalp against a Premiership team so we had to do our job professionally.
“It was a great job in the first half. It wasn’t so great in the second half and we were a bit slack on the ball at times.
“They got the goal, which they probably merited on that part of the play, but then we went and killed the game.
“It is good to get the minutes. I have played every game and it is good for me to get the games under my belt.
“It is going to be a big season ahead and we will need everyone. The gaffer likes to get the boys as many minutes as he can in these games.
“We want to do well in the cups. A cup run is something that we have never really had.
“It is something we want to do for ourselves but also to give the fans something to cheer.
“It gives you confidence going into the season when you win games. It is good to get the wins under our belt.
“Hopefully we can get another one on Saturday and move into the season with four wins out of four.”