JAGS BOSS DOOLAN FIRES A WARNING

KRIS DOOLAN has warned that his Partick Thistle side will take some stopping in the Premiership play-offs after firing eight goals in two games past Queen’s Park. The Firhill club have lost just once in their last 15 matches and battered the Spiders 8-3 on aggregate in the quarter-final. After beating Queen’s 4-0 at Ochilview last Friday night, an emotional Doolan praised his players for providing a fitting tribute to his dad, Lawrence, who had died the day before. Describing his team as ‘flying,’ he believes his family’s loss and the subsequent reaction has given Thistle an even greater sense of togetherness. ‘I can tell when I speak to the players that they’re just desperate to get back out and play — and that positivity is a hard thing to stop,’ said Doolan ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final first leg at home to Ayr United. ‘I’ve been on the flip side of that, where I have been the Premiership team coming into the play-offs and you’ve had a season where you’ve been beaten a lot and losing becomes a habit. ‘Winning is a habit as well and we come into the play-offs with that habit. ‘Regardless of whether you are technically or tactically a better side, it’s so difficult to break the spirit of a team that is flying and is so together — and, right now, that is what I see us being. ‘I thanked the players on Friday and I want to thank the fans and staff, too, because my family have been overwhelmed by their support. ‘It was just through the roof and my family definitely feel the benefit of that.’ While Thistle are full of confidence, they must nullify Ayr United danger man Dipo Akinyemi. ‘He’s a huge threat,’ said Doolan. ‘He is a fantastic player but there are other threats in the team which we know about. I’ve got a lot of respect for Lee Bullen. He’s a good manager and I know Ayr United have good players.’