View from the dugout

PAUL HARTLEY

I will begin by welcoming the players, coaching staff and officials of Partick Thistle to Balmoral Stadium for tonight’s meeting in League One.

I’m sure it will prove as challenging as our previous two encounters this season. I would like to thank the players for ensuring we are where we are in the division at this late stage of the campaign. They have been absolutely terrific. The attitude they have shown to play football the right way in what we always knew would be a tough season has been impressive.

They underlined that down at Falkirk at the weekend. Thanks to their sheer effort and determination, we were able to control the bulk of that game.

It says a lot for the standards they have set for themselves that the players were sitting in the dressing room afterwards disappointed not to have won. The positive for us is it was a point on the road against full-time opponents and one that could prove to be invaluable when we are looking back at the end of the campaign.

PAUL HARTLEY

At the start of the season we were honest about what we hoped to achieve. Because we are new to this level, the target was to simply stay in the division and look to build from there.

We have now created the opportunity to perhaps finish in the top four, which would make it a great season for us. That’s far from certain because we face a tough finale, but at least we are still in there with a fighting chance. That’s down to the players and their hunger to do the very best they can for our club.

It’s going to be tough going with this the second of four games to play inside a week, on the back of what was already a very busy period. It has meant the players having to make a lot of sacrifices to fit their full-time jobs and family time around what is needed to ensure they are able to give their best in every match.

They have done that though, they have been absolutely amazing. We have hardly had time to train over the last few weeks, it’s been more a case of only meeting up from game to game. The players have taken all of that in their stride and done themselves and the club proud.

We have a brilliant group in our dressing room and I know they will be ready to go again when needed.

Stay safe and enjoy the game.

Paul Hartley

“We have a brilliant group in our dressing room and I know they will be ready to go again when needed.”