ARCHIBALD HOPING TO BUCK THE TREND
PARTICK THISTlE boss Alan Archibald admits he’s feeling the heat after watching Jackie McNamara and Ian Baraclough lose their jobs. And he knows the only way to ensure he isn’t next is to beat managerless visitors Dundee United tomorrow — and leapfrog them at the bottom of the Premiership. But Archibald (right) has every sympathy for axed United boss McNamara, the man he replaced at the Jags in January 2013, and claimed both he and his mentor have become victims of their own success. Archibald, whose team are two points adrift at the foot of the table, said: ‘We’ve had two (sackings) in a week and you always feel for them. You know what pressure they’ve been under because you’re under the same pressure. ‘Sticking my managerial hat on, I think it’s harsh. Jackie’s done a very good job. They’ve had a bad start to the season, like ourselves, and no doubt he thought he could turn it around with the squad he’s got. ‘Sometimes you can do too much too soon with a club, and Jackie sold his best players, got to two cup finals and was in the top six. He’s probably met most of his objectives. ‘It’s the same with ourselves, I’m under pressure now because in the last couple of seasons we’ve done fine, and now we’re under pressure because we’re on a bad run and we’ve not won a game. ‘We had a sticky spell the season before and the board stuck by me, and they have this season as well to this point, so it’s great to have that backing. ‘I’ve got a good relationship with them, they know the restraints we work under. ‘We’ve probably not had as much pressure because we’ve been unlucky at times and actually been playing quite well — we’ve not taken a battering, touch wood. ‘We’ve not been far away and anyone who has watched all of our games can see that. ‘We’ve had bad runs before, but this year it’s come at the start of the season which has made it a lot worse. It’s vital you don’t get detached and if we can beat United it will get us off the bottom and give everyone a morale boost.’
Thistle will hand out 2,000 specially commissioned footballs designed by graffiti artist Barry McGee at tomorrow’s game. The giveaway is the brainchild of Mike Wilkins, managing partner of the Jags’ sponsor, Kingsford Capital Management.