Festive cheer is our big aim
The Christmas period is about nothing if not tradition, but Partick Thistle midfielder Ryan edwards reckons that some of it is overrated.
More specifically, the recent custom whereby his team prop up the Premiership is one he would prefer not to observe this year.
Thistle slumped to the foot of the table without even playing last weekend but edwards is aiming to help get them away from the drop zone before Christmas Day, starting with a home win over hibs this afternoon.
‘We can take encouragement that we were near the bottom at this time of year before kicking on and finishing in the top six,’ said the 24-year-old Australian.
‘Some of the clubs around us have picked up results against some big teams — like Dundee against Rangers — and that shows the league is getting stronger. Our rivals have strengthened their squads and all credit to them.
‘So we need to step up even more and I think this month will determine how our season goes. Whether we are playing catch up after January or we are in amongst it. Right now, we aren’t far away from the teams above us.
‘It’s not nice to be at the bottom and having to rely on fighting our way out of it. But we need to be more consistent so that we don’t find ourselves in this position every year.’
It’s either feast or famine at Firhill at the moment. Thistle had just two games in November but face eight fixtures in just 28 days this month.
‘I can’t wait because playing just twice in six weeks was strange and frustrating,’ claimed edwards. ‘everyone involved with the club is looking forward to these games in December.
‘They come thick and fast, so training will be lighter because we will be recovering and focusing on the next game.
‘We also have a lot of players coming back from injury, which makes training more competitive and lifted everyone’s game.
‘That will be good for us going forward because it’s almost half a new team coming back.’
Manager Alan Archibald is certainly relieved to see his treatment room emptying in time for the demanding schedule.
‘We’ll need a big squad,’ he said. ‘Suspensions start to kick in at this time, with your defenders on three or four bookings.
‘They all add up, so no doubt we will lose a couple of them as well, which is why we’ll need everybody available.
‘(Club captain) Abdul Osman isn’t back with the group yet. We just need to wait until he has the full strength back in his shoulder.
‘The good thing is that he is out running so, hopefully, it’s just a matter of a week or two once he gets the all-clear from the surgeon to join in with full contact.
‘We want to play in a certain way and we’ve not been able to do that this year as our full-backs, Mustapha Dumbuya and Callum Booth, have been injured.
‘We’ve had midfielders Blair Spittal and Stevie Lawless filling those positions and that has taken away a bit of our possession play.’
hibs also see this month as a key part of their season and full-back Steven Whittaker has challenged his side to come through a tough fixture period and remain in contention for second place.
The easter Road side are currently fourth, just four points off second-place Aberdeen.
But after today’s trip to Firhill, Neil Lennon’s side host Celtic, then Rangers before heading to Pittodrie.
Also lurking amongst the club’s festive fixtures is an edinburgh derby against hearts at Tynecastle on December 27.
But Whittaker warned his side not to underestimate Thistle ahead of the matches against the league’s bigger clubs.
he said: ‘We have a tough month coming up but, hopefully, we can maintain our position.
‘At the start of the season, we wanted to be at the top end of the table and that’s where we are at the moment.
‘We could have had more points than we have but it’s still been a fairly successful start and we want to maintain it.
‘every game is crucial. People make more of a derby or of games against Rangers and Celtic, but all of them are worth three points if you win, no matter who you are playing against.
‘So we need to approach the match with Partick Thistle in the right manner.’