Dan’s a big fan of how Archibald has revived jaunty Jags

PARACHUTED into the Partick Thistle manager’s post following Jackie McNamara’s sudden defection to Dundee United three years ago, Alan Archibald’s pressing concerns were obvious.

As a man with more than 400 appearances bridging two spells with the club, the defender’s reputation as a player’s player was long established.

Morphing from that into the club’s most authoritative figure in the blink of an eye was never going to be easy.

Four weeks shy of his third anniversary in the job, though, it can be said with some certainty that however Archibald sought to play it, he called it right.

Ahead of today’s trip to Celtic Park, his side are very much in contention for a top-six place this season after going unbeaten since Halloween.

For defender Dan Seaborne, the secret of Archibald’s success has simply been the fact that at no stage has he attempted to make himself something he is quite obviously not.

‘Moving straight from playing into management could be a plus or a negative but the gaffer here has turned it into a plus,’ said the former Southampton man.

‘He has done really well. He had to take on the reins of management quickly, taking in lots of information. He has created a good vibe around the club.’

A player whose three years on the English south coast formed just a segment of his footballing odyssey, Seaborne is well placed to put the achievements of Archibald in some perspective alongside those managers he has also worked under.

‘In terms of success, the best was probably Nigel Adkins as he got us two promotions into the Premier League,’ added Seaborne (right).

‘Alan Pardew was a really good man-manager and is now being talked about for Real Madrid and the England job.

‘Every manager I have worked for has been a different character and had a different approach. The gaffer here is right up there with the job he’s doing. He relates to the players a lot more than I had probably seen before.

‘He is the polar opposite of Pardew. The gaffer here is very approachable, while Pardew was very much the manager. Training was similar; both well drilled with a lot of work on shape and tactics.

‘The gaffer will get among the lads, sit in the dressing room and just talk about the game as we did the day after the Aberdeen game. ‘He’ll sit with a coffee and chat about the game rather than using the video analysis, although we do that, too.’

Whether by accident or design, the right buttons are evidently being pressed. With an unbeaten run stretching to six games, the Jags travel across Glasgow today quietly confident that a first win at Celtic Park in 23 years can be achieved. As far as dress rehearsals go, a goalless draw at Pittodrie on Wednesday was pretty much the ideal preparation for what lies ahead.

‘It was another point in the right direction against a difficult side to play against and also in difficult conditions,’ added Seaborne. ‘It keeps our unbeaten run going. It’s also great for confidence — especially keeping another clean sheet. ‘Aberdeen probably could have nicked it in spells but we might have done the same. It’s an amazing contrast to earlier in the season to be unbeaten in November and December.

‘We have righted the wrongs, cut out the silliness and we have also had a little bit of luck.

‘There is a different atmosphere now and we feel we can get something from every game. There is confidence from the manager down.

‘But we know one defeat could set us back, so it’s about keeping the run going.’

For all the optimism that such a spell naturally generates, no one inside the club needs reminding as how quickly the tide can turn.

Prior to beating Dundee United at the start of October, Thistle had managed just three draws from their opening nine league games.

Given how congested the traffic below them in the table is now, staying clear of trouble — as opposed to gatecrashing the top six — remains the priority.

‘If you look at the league table, then second bottom is just a win and a draw away from seventh, which is where we are,’ admitted Seaborne.

‘So we need to increase that gap. Yes, we’re looking up to an extent but we have to also keep an eye on what is happening below us.

‘Our prime objective this year is to get a decent finish, stay in the league then try to get as high a place as we can.

‘But there’s still a real threat from the teams down there. I think Dundee United will come good as they are a good side — when we played against them it was a decent game.

‘Motherwell have also gone on a good run recently too. So it shows that any team in the league can put a decent run together.’