Crawford insists Thistle are still in tie ahead of trip to Highlands
ROBBIE CRAWFORD insists that it is all still to play for as Partick Thistle head to the Highlands for the return leg of their Premiership play-off quarter-final against Inverness this evening.
The Glasgow club took the lead in the first leg in Maryhill on Tuesday night thanks to Crawford’s fine finish shortly after half-time but the Jags were unable to hold out as first Shane Sutherland and then Austin Samuels turned the tie in Caley Thistle’s favour and gave Billy Dodds’ men a 2-1 lead to defend at home.
Crawford admits the midweek result was disappointing but he insists he saw plenty to believe that he and his team-mates are in with a shout of setting up a semi-final with Arbroath next week. It was a tight game, he reasons, and an early goal tonight would relieve some of the pressure.
“I thought it was a game of small margins in the first leg, to be honest,” Crawford told the Thistle website. “There weren’t many chances and it was probably an even game overall.
“There was a spell in the first half when we had them sort of pinned and then we started the second half well. For me, it was really pleasing to get on the scoresheet – we get the ball up to Brian [Graham], I make the run off him and he does well to find me then thankfully I was able to finish it off.
“Obviously, [the result] was really frustrating. When you take a lead in a play-off game, knowing that there are two legs, you want to hold that lead and put yourself in the best possible position going away from home but it wasn’t to be and now we have to go up there and look to win.”
The loss might have sapped morale in the home stands at Firhill but a defiant Crawford bullishly insisted that the mood amongst the players remains high.
“No one in that changing room thinks this is over whatsoever,” he added.
“The prize at the end of these play-offs is far too big to give up on so everyone will be ready to give it everything on Friday and hopefully we can get the result we need.”
Dodds, meanwhile, could hardly be more positive about Caley Thistle’s play-off prospects – but fears injuries undermining progress.
The Inverness manager revealed he had almost certainly lost the services of Roddy MacGregor for the remainder of the season with serious doubts over Tom Walsh’s play-off involvement as well.
“I wouldn’t like too many more injuries,” said Dodds.
“Tom went off at Firhill and will be assessed, which is bad enough, but Roddy picked up a knock to his jaw and missed out at Firhill.
“Roddy, after coming back from a long spell out, got a hairline fracture in his jaw against Hamilton which is a blow. He was magnificent in the games he played for us but that looks like being him for the season.
“Tom went for a scan on Thursday morning and we are waiting for the results before we can say anything, but it doesn’t look good.
“We can’t afford too many more.”