If they can do it, why can’t we?
Jags boss wants his own Cup fairytale
INFERIORITY complexes are there to be overcome. Just because Partick Thistle’s flirtations with the Scottish Cup have been fleeting, infrequent and — let’s be honest — not all that serious, doesn’t mean they should not harbour genuine hopes of doing something spectacular this year.
Watching St Johnstone and then Inverness Caledonian Thistle lift the trophy in successive seasons has definitely sparked some hope in the heart of Partick manager Alan Archibald, whose logical argument can be summed up as simply: ‘If they can do it, why not us?’
So often in the shadow of certain other Glasgow clubs, the Maryhill Magyars — who begin their campaign away to Championship strugglers St Mirren tomorrow night — have no reason to feel inferior.
One loss in their last seven matches, which came at the home of champions Celtic, smacks of a top-flight team capable of mixing with the very best. And, notwithstanding a club honours board showing just a single Scottish Cup glory day a full 95 years ago, one who are looking for something tangible to show for their efforts.
With a nod to the famous triumphs of both St Johnstone and Caley Thistle, Archibald said: ‘I think we all look at those examples and believe we can do the same. We’ve got to take inspiration from it.
‘We played Inverness last year, they knocked us out and went on to win the trophy. So I think you look back, when the Cup Final comes round, and you look at who they beat in the run-up. They beat us.
‘That could have been us. And I think every player and manager looks at it that way.
‘A cup run would be massive to the club, because we’ve not had a lot of luck in the draws in recent years. Last year, we got two Premier League teams (Hamilton and Inverness).
‘This year, we’ve got a team from the division below — and we have to take advantage of that. Without putting them down in any way, we’ll give them the greatest of respect, but we have to capitalise and get a good cup run. Because, financially, it’s massive for us.
‘It has been a long, long time since we had a good Scottish Cup run here. I think it was when I played in the semi-final (a 3-0 loss to Rangers back in 2002).
‘But you have to earn it, you have to get past whoever is put in front of you. We have to do that on Friday night — and it will be a tough, tough test.
‘St Mirren have a new manager now, they have won two of their last three, so they’re looking to impress him.’
Alex Rae’s arrival in Paisley may have produced a prompt turnaround in performances from St Mirren but, should Partick maintain their recent form — and even the performance levels that saw them suffer an unlucky late loss to Celtic last Saturday — they will surely go through.
Thistle had won four on the bounce and drawn away at title challengers Aberdeen before that defeat, an upswing in fortunes that has pleased the manager. Just not enough to make him rethink his need to strengthen in January.
‘No,’ he said, when asked if he might shy away from the transfer market because of improved performances. ‘They’ve just shown that we have a right good group.
‘But we still need to strengthen. That actually spurs the lads on because they want to see an extra body coming into the dressing room.
‘We’ve let a couple go, so we have to strengthen just because of that. You don’t know what’s coming around the corner, you don’t know if somebody is going to get injured.
‘We would like to get two. Obviously, we’ve lost Robbie Muirhead back to Dundee United and Ryan Stevenson has gone on loan, as well. Ryan Edwards is away to Australia for what could be a month, so we’re potentially three players short just coming into this Cup game.
‘There’s nothing imminent. We thought we had one signed up last week but it got quashed. The lad decided to go somewhere else.
‘I probably over-criticised the boys after the Celtic game, because I was so disappointed with the result. But, when I watched it back again, I realised how much the boys had put into the game.
‘We played some good stuff and, against a weaker team, we would probably have won comfortably.
‘But definitely, the first thing we touched on after the game was that the momentum is still there, despite the result. We now need to carry that into the Cup game.
‘Being favourites is different for us — and I think it’s probably good for St Mirren.
‘They’ve struggled with their home form this season because they’ve always been favourites, which brings its own burden.
‘Now they’ve nothing to lose, while we have to take the game to them because we are the Premiership team.
‘But we’re well aware of their qualities. They have some good young players.’