DRIVING AMBITION
Blair Spittal backs Stuart Bannigan at Jags
THE RE-DISCOVERY of Blair Spittal’s attacking threat proved decisive for Partick Thistle as they maintained their 100 per cent home record.
However, the goal hero feels the re-emergence of Stuart Bannigan will ultimately be the most significant aspect for Alan Archibald’s side as they attempt to return to the Ladbrokes Premiership at the first attempt.
Spittal scored twice and set up the other but the influence of Bannigan in the middle of the park was there for all to see and Spittal feels he can be the driving force for a Premiership place.
Bannigan has played just 15 matches in two and a half years having been rocked by wretched knee trouble so his first start of this campaign was most welcome.
Spittal said: “It’s great to see him back. Behind the scenes we have seen how hard he has worked.
“In pre-season he was absolutely flying and probably the fittest in the team.
“Then he had a breakdown and he was out for six weeks or so. It’s so important that he has come back in. You can see his composure on the ball.
“So it’s great to have him back now and hopefully he can show that form consistently.
“He can be a real influence for us in our attempt to get straight back up.
“We know how big a player he is for us.
“I never really got the chance to play with him much last season but having played against him I have seen the influence he has on the team. He is a real driving force.”
Spittal’s sensational winner – a 25-yarder into the top right corner – came four minutes before half-time after he had hauled Thistle back on two occasions, setting up Kris Doolan after Stephen Dobbie netted his 21st goal of the season then scoring from close range to cancel out Josh Todd’s strike.
He said: “It was great to get two goals and set up the other one but the result was the most important thing.
“I hadn’t scored for 11 games and now I’ve got three in two matches. Sometimes things just click into place and that’s what happened on Saturday.
“I was trying not to get too frustrated when the goals weren’t coming and I kept working hard in training and now it’s paid off.
“The third goal was nice. Maybe a couple of weeks ago I would have chosen to pass rather than shoot.
“We knew the fans might get on our back – especially after losing last week – so I felt we showed great character to come back the way we did.
“The disappointing aspect is that we seem to get deeper and deeper in the last 20 minutes when we’re at home.
“We have to show more confidence to move the game further up the pitch.”
Queens striker Lyndon Dykes reckons the Dumfries men were unlucky not to take a point while praising Dobbie for his remarkable goals return.
Dykes said: “It’s good to play with Stephen. He’s scoring so many goals, he’s a great character in the dressing room and he teaches me a lot.
“It’s a team game and everyone has to work hard, but he’s the one who has been getting the goals this season.”