PARTICK Thistle are determined to bounce back after suffering a major setback at the hands of Dundee on Saturday.
Manager Ian McCall described their 2-0 home defeat as a 'sore one' and said they had no one to blame but themselves for not taking the chances created throughout the first half.
And to rub salt into the wounds, Firhill had one of the largest leagu
e crowds in over five years, 4,453, for what had been billed as the 'biggest game in Glasgow'.
McCall said: "The first half promised so much but, after a host of missed chances, Dundee struck very much against the run of play so we had everything to do in the second half."
But it was a double whammy, McCall added. He said: "They got their second three minutes after the restart and this proved to be the killer blow from which we never really recovered."
Thistle fans were were left scratching their heads as they watched Dundee score just before the break.
With the majority of possession and chances galore Partick looked dead cert to pull something out of the bag sooner or later. But it wasn't to be.
McCall maintained that this was a game his team lost, rather than Dundee winning.
He said: "We were the better team. I don't think anyone can argue with that, but we had deficiencies which we must sort out if we are to make progress in the league."
The Jags' next game is against bottom of the table Airdrie United.
The travelling fans will hope the Firhill outfit can pull something out of the bag and give them the boost they so desperately need in the run up to the festive break.
McCall said that there was one "hugely encouraging" thing to take from Saturday and that was the size of the crowd.
He said: "First of all I would like to say a big thank you to all the Thistle fans that came to Firhill on Saturday and especially to those who brought a friend with them.
"The increase in the crowd was something that was very apparent to me and, although the game didn't have the outcome that we would all have wanted, I think those there would have seen a group of players who are proud to wear a Partick Thistle jersey.
"I would try and urge the Thistle fans not to make the big crowd that saw the Dundee game a one off.
"I can't stress enough the difference it could make to this football club if we could get that kind of gate at every home game. It could make all the difference in keeping the likes of Liam Buchanan and Jonny Tuffey for years to come.
"We have two important away games coming up, but our next home game is against Queen of the South on Boxing Day. Can I ask as many Thistle fans as possible to make the effort to come to this match and keep bringing as many friends as possible."
