Thistle will focus on themselves and ignore other results
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald is much more concerned with points than permutations ahead of tonight’s game against Motherwell.
With two Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures remaining, the Maryhill men are in the relegation play-off spot, two points ahead of Ross County and three behind Hamilton. While Thistle host the William Hill Scottish Cup finalists, County are at home to Dundee and Hamilton welcome St Johnstone.
Results elsewhere on the night could help Thistle’s plight, but Archibald insists his side, unbeaten in three post-split games, have to first and foremost look after themselves.
He said: “All the questions about what happens here and there, they are based on us winning the game and we have to win our own game or you can’t look anywhere else.
“That is our full focus. Start the game well, be positive and try to get the three points and then we can look about and see if anything has gone for us. We are running out of games so we know how important it is. We take positives from three games unbeaten, especially the St Johnstone game where we got the draw and the other night as well against Ross County. But at this stage of the season we really need wins.
“Spirit-wise, it keeps the boys going, it keeps everything positive but we know how important three points could be.”
Motherwell rested defenders Richard Tait and Cedric Kipre for the home game against St Johnstone on Saturday and were hammered 5-1, with departing striker Steven Maclean helping himself to a hat-trick in his final game.
“Regardless of what they do, rest players or don’t, it is down to Partick Thistle,” said Archibald.
“We can only concentrate on ourselves and do what we can do to affect it.
“We need to try to win the game whether it is a Motherwell team with changes or whether it is a full-strength Motherwell team.
“You can only concentrate on your own team, make sure you have a positive attitude and start the game well.”
Tait and Kipre are likely to return for Motherwell who are locked in a battle with St Johnstone for seventh place.