Lawless will sail to north like a Viking on prowl
STEVIE LAWLESS is relishing going into Friday night battle in Inverness – in no small part because it gives him a chance to catch up on TV series Vikings.
The 31-year-old will look to cap being crowned Partick Thistle’s player of the month twice in a row by sending them four points clear at the summit tonight.
With three kids in the house, he’s used to as much quiet time as Championship defences with the Jags having scored in every game.
So while a 340-mile round trip may not have excited him a decade ago, the winger’s cherishing the “perfect time to chill out” with a binge before hopefully bagging points.
He said: “It’s completely different – I’ve got three weans now so I look forward to that trip! I’ve got the movies looked out on Netflix already, which I am going to watch in peace and quiet.
“I did look forward to it when younger as well but it’s different now, you need to prepare better because you’re a bit older and stiffer.
“I’m probably the fittest I’ve been but you do need to watch what you’re doing.
“I do look forward to the three-and-a-half hours away up so I can watch films and relax. I’m watching Vikings just now as well, I’ve got a few of them put by.
“So I’m looking forward to the trip up, looking forward to the game and looking forward to the trip back!”
He’s been in no mood to relax once the whistle sounds, though, doing his utmost to stay where he is.
Stints at Burton and Motherwell, following his 2018 exit from Firhill for Livingston, saw him played out of his natural position.
He added: “Maybe when younger, games pass you by a little bit. I’m just going into every game trying to make sure I make a mark in it.
“That goes back to my Livingston days, I tried to do that every [time]. I had a season at Livingston where they played me right wingback for the full season and it really p **** d me off, to be honest. But I did my job, spoke to (Davie) Martindale at the end of the season and he said he was needing more numbers out me.
“I said, ‘Look, play me in my right position’. From that season on I’ve really taken it, ‘I need to do something every single game here to prove we keep that shape’.
“And I’ve tried to do that every single season.”
Meanwhile, Scott Allardice insists Caley Thistle’s points surge has come despite them not yet hitting their best form.
Billy Dodds’ men have collected nine points from nine in three successive away days against Raith Rovers, Dundee and Ayr to revitalise their challenge after a sticky end to August.
They now need a victory tonight to move level on points at the summit.
Allardice said: “We got another three points down at Ayr with the 1-0 win in bad weather and we were buzzing. But the overriding feeling was just frustration.
“There is more to come from myself, certainly. To get nine points in three away games is great and, in parts, we played well.
“But there are a few more gears we can go up.”