PARTICK THISTLE have enjoyed a remarkable run of form of late, recording seven consecutive clean sheets – a club record – as the gap with Championship table-toppers Kilmarnock has been cut to just two points. But none of their players will be getting ahead of themselves.
The prospect of back-to-back promotions is an alluring one for the Jags, and one that is not without precedent as legendary former manager John Lambie achieved the feat towards the end of the previous century.
The current crop at Firhill still have some way to go if they are to match those illustrious efforts after sealing the League One title last term, but striker Ross MacIver believes that so long as he and his team-mates follow the old cliché and take each game as it comes, they will continue their impressive surge up the standings with a victory away to Queen of the South tomorrow.
“The place has been buzzing for a few weeks now and hopefully we can keep the good run going,” said MacIver, launching the new 2021/22 SPFL Sticker Collection. “We are looking to go to Palmerston and get a result.
“I know it is a cliche but you have to just take it one game at a time.
“If you look too far ahead that’s when you can get caught out. You can’t say we are going to get three points here and there.
“Anything can happen in the game, you could get a red card in the first ten minutes and the game plan then goes out of the window. So we will take it one game at a time.
“We have worked so hard recently and everything is falling into place.
“You can see [goalkeeper Jamie] Sneddon is making saves and he got a clean sheet record recently. Every time I take a shot in training and it just seems to hit him but long may that continue.”
Thistle have lost only once in their last ten outings in all competitions and that defeat occurred at Palmerston when the Jags exited the SPFL Trust Trophy courtesy of a 2-0 win for the Dumfries side.
MacIver started on the bench that day – a common occurrence this season – and was brought in for the last ten minutes or so, missing a chance of his own to reduce the arrears and offer Ian McCall’s men a lifeline.
The 22-year-old, who joined on a permanent deal this summer after an initial loan from Motherwell last season, admits to having some wrongs to right tomorrow afternoon – adding that while he would like to have played more regularly under McCall, he understands why starting spots have been hard to come by.
“We are looking to get revenge for the cup defeat,” MacIver said. “I missed a few chances in that game so hopefully if I get one in this game I can put it away.
“It’s been a bit frustrating for me this season. I started a few games early on in the campaign but recently the other strikers have been scoring goals on this good run.
“When you look at the number of goals they have scored, it means I can’t really complain about not starting when they are doing the business.
“Now I have to bide my time but hopefully there might be a chance for me to get back in over the next few weeks.
“As a sub, when you get on you have to perform and try and have an impact on the game. You can’t just come on and try and float through it, you have to impress.”
Ross MacIver helped launch the new 2021/22 SPFL Sticker Collection – for more news and info follow @Topps_UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to Topps TV on YouTube.
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