Partick Thistle pledge to battle on against Ross County
PARTICK Thistle midfielder Bryan Hodge insists the Jags are still a team with big ambitions — despite being condemned to a mid-table scrap for the rest of the season.
The Firhill side look well out of the First Division promotion race following Saturday's 1-0 reversal to leaders Dundee, which — miracles aside — brought down the competitive curtain on their season several months early.
With no cup interests and with relegation thankfully not on the cards, Ian McCall's men face a long run-in to a season which promised so much.
However, former Blackburn Rovers player Hodge says that his side will treat every game like it's a cup final, starting with their tussle with promotion challengers Ross County at Firhill on Saturday.
He insisted that last week's signing of ex-Scotland and Celtic star Jackie McNamara is a testament to the teams's ambitions.
He told Herald Sport: "Well, let's be honest, it's going to be tough. There's now 12 points between us and Dundee, and Ross County have all these games in hand.
"However, we'll keep plugging away, battling for every win. Winning is motivation enough. As players, we don't look at it as hopeless — we've got a job to do.
"We were unlucky against Dundee and maybe that's been the story of our season so far, but we can still have an impact on the title race — starting this Saturday against Ross County who will be wanting to keep winning to put the pressure on Dundee.
"In that respect it's a massive game, and it's our last home match till the end of March so we want to give the fans something to cheer about."
The biggest news at Firhill over the past week was the loan signing of 36-year-old McNamara, who joined from SPL side Falkirk and made his debut in Saturday's game against Dundee.
Hodge said: "He's a big name and a great signing. It's good for the fans and it shows the ambition of the manager. As well as having promising young lads he knows they need experience around them and Jackie provides that.
"However, it's all very well signing a big name, but that's no use if they can't play. But while Jackie may be coming to the end of his career, he's still a great player. He showed that when he came on against Dundee when I thought he was brilliant. I hope he'll have a big impact this season."
Meanwhile, the dates have been given for two rearranged matches. Thistle will travel to Somerset Park to play Ayr on Wednesday, March 10 with a 7.45pm kick-off.
And with Raith Rovers being involved in the Scottish Cup on March 13, the Jags scheduled home game against the Kirkcaldy side has been moved to Tuesday, March 30, with a 7.30pm start.
Winner of last week's competition for a pair of tickets for Saturday's Firhill match is Mrs Kathleen Brymer, Hunter Road, Milngavie.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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