MAYO & RELISH
Lewis eyes ‘ruthless’ return with Jags
LEWIS MAYO will relish running out at East End Park as a foe after missing so many chances to do so as a favourite.
And the defender, 21, insists sentiment will be parked against struggling Dunfermline as Partick Thistle look to start a hectic promotion push in “ruthless” style. Fifth-placed Thistle head to the Pars tonight with three games in hand over the trio immediately above them and two over table toppers Arbroath. For Mayo, it’s a return to his old stomping ground having spent the majority of the Covid-hit 2020-21 season in Fife. He won there 3-0 on day two of this campaign with the Jags and the Rangers loanee said: “It’s always good to see boys who you’ve played with before. “We’ll be looking to try to replicate what we did there at the start of the season, we had a really strong performance. “It’s been nice going back with fans as well because last year there were no fans at all. “That was probably the biggest thing missing from my development and experience of being on loan last year. “I’m enjoying that (playing in front of crowds) a lot this year.” Thistle haven’t conceded in their last three headto-heads with the Pars, winning one league game and drawing the other before sending them out of the Scottish Cup. Asked if he takes pride in that given he knows first-hand the talent in Pars’ team, Mayo added: “Absolutely.
“This season they’ve been struggling a wee bit. They’ll be low in confidence, I’d imagine.
“On the pitch you have to be ruthless and if there’s a chance there to take advantage then that’s what we’ll be looking to do.”
Thistle top the clean sheets chart in the Championship, with Mayo and Tunji Akinola, 23, showing their maturity in the centre of defence.
Experienced heads Kevin Holt and Richard Foster have been on either flank to set an example.
Mayo said: “It’s a great example for young players, even as defenders and goalies, that it’s a case of being fearless and going toe to toe with everyone in the league.” John Hughes says there is no point worrying about the Pars’ league predicament – it’s how they get out of trouble that matters. Hughes said: “You concentrate on the process and that’s your next opponents. We are where we are, we put ourselves there and only have ourselves to blame. But everyone is capable of beating each other, we just need to look after ourselves.”