Killie crunch can start our revival

Alan Archibald last night warned jinxed Jags they risk being cut adrift at the bottom after losing more ground on drop rivals.

The Par t ick boss admits Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock is monumental because his team can’t afford more hard luck stories if they’re to stay up.

The basement boys are now four points adrift of three teams after Adam Barton’s own goal handed Hibs victory at Firhill.

Killie are second bottom and Archibald knows it’s a huge trip to Rugby Park for his stuttering side.

Archibald said: “The goal sums up our luck this season but we won’t feel sorry for ourselves.

“We g o into a mas s i v e game against Killie now so have to take the positives.

“It’s a vital g ame. We want to stay in touch with t he t eams round about us a nd i t ’ s so important we go and pick points up. It’s not really changed over the last few weeks we’ve been down there. But other teams are picking up points and if we can do that too we can hopefully drag some of them into it.” Despite the loss Archibald wasn’t down on his team’s performance with Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano pulling off point-blank saves from Chris Erskine and sub Kris Doolan. But they were undone as Barton headed beyond Tomas Cerny. Archibald said: “The goal was disappointing and Tomas would probably have got there if he didn’t slip. Adam doesn’t get a shout so he has to try to deal with it. “But it’s probably the b e s t we’v e p layed and thei r goal ie had two good saves whi le Tomas didn’t have too many to make.”