The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Disappointed Thistle will be ‘dangerous’
Danny Devine wants the sweet taste of victory on his return to Firhill this afternoon after admitting his time at Partick Thistle ended on a “sour note”.
The Dunfermline defender was one of 14 players released by the Jags in the summer in the wake of relegation from the Premiership.
Devine made 34 appearances for Thistle last term.
However, he was dropped for the second-leg of the play-off final and looked on helplessly as Livingston won to take their place in the top flight.
The 26-year-old is surprised to see his old team propping up the Championship but reckons the burden of expectation is weighing heavily on the Maryhill outfit.
The former Inverness Caley Thistle stopper is determined to ensure the Pars up the pressure on Gary Caldwell’s side and boost their own campaign with a victory.
He said: “It will be strange going back to Firhill. Obviously I left there on a bit of a sour note, but it will be good to go back and see some old faces.
“But I’m totally focused on the job in hand and going there and picking up all three points.
“It’s definitely not where Thistle would expect to be in the league. As a club, as fans as well, they will be expecting, like ourselves, to be up around the top end of the table fighting for promotion back to the top flight.
“I know a couple of boys still there and I know they’re bitterly disappointed and hurting.
“But I think that makes them dangerous also, so we need to be on top form going there.
“In the summer there were a lot of changes to the team and a lot of new players came in, but I think it’s also about getting used to the league.
“A club like Thistle coming down into this league are expected to win and you’re maybe not expected to do as much in the top-flight. It’s a different kind of pressure.
“But we need to make sure we do our jobs and hopefully go there and turn them over.”
Dunfermline eased to just a second home win of the season against Morton last weekend to move to within four points of fourth, and Devine knows they need more of the same this afternoon if they are to get their campaign back on track.
He added: “It was a massive relief. It’s been a long time coming, especially at home.
“We know we haven’t hit top form but to get three goals and keep a clean sheet was very important. “Hopefully we can kick on now.
“It was definitely a happier camp this week. In many ways, it was the perfect Saturday last weekend, especially getting the clean sheet.”