Archie’s eyes on cup run for Jags

PARTICK Thistle manager Alan Archibald is hoping for an extended cup run after they sealed their place in the last 16 of the Betfred Cup.

Christie Elliot’s 87th-minute strike handed the Jags a 1-0 win over Stranraer to finish second in Group H and qualify as one of the four best runners-up.

Archibald’s men reached the same stage last year but were put out by Dundee United, while they also made the Scottish Cup quarterfinals before losing to eventual finalists Aberdeen.

There has been little to shout about for the Firhill fans in cups in recent years, but the Premiership side are desperate to go further in this year’s tournament after being drawn against St Johnstone in yesterday’s draw.

Archibald said: “It would be nice to get a run in the cup competitions. We got a wee taste of it last year and won a couple of games.

“We’re just glad to be in the next round and looking forward to the season starting.”

Thistle were far less convincing against Stranraer compared to the 5-0 thumping of St Mirren the week before, and Archibald warned they will sometimes have to win ugly to get results.

He said: “It’s not always going to click up front. The front three or four’s nice one-touch stuff will not always work and sometimes you need to be a bit uglier and put balls in the box and make teams defend.”