Three league games in and already we're at the must win stage. Even by our standards that's pretty impressive going, however after managing just one point in the league and a cup exit at the hands of a lower league side nothing less than a victory will do tomorrow against Thistle. It's fair to say a lot of fans are unhappy with what they're seeing at the moment and there could be a rather uncomfortable atmosphere, especially if we go a goal down. Regardless of your thoughts on the players and management, if you're going tomorrow then please get behind the team. The only way we're going to get through this is if we work together and pull in one direction.
Our form in Paisley is even worse than our form this season. We haven't managed a home win in the league since the end of February and we haven't won in Paisley on a Saturday in the top flight since the end of November! Both runs need put to an end and we could do with the three points to go into the international break on a high. It will not be easy, especially as Thistle have started the campaign pretty well, although they – like us – had to play an extra half hour during the week.
This will be Thistle's first visit to our new ground and their first competitive trip to Paisley since 2006, a friendly between the sides coming at Love Street that summer. Incredibly, it's more than 30 years since we played them in the top flight - back when it was called the premier division. I'm quite happy to see them back as it's good to have another local away game and there's a decent bit of rivalry between the sides. They have a few ex Saints, while our manager is a bit of a Thistle legend, having been club captain during John Lambie's time in charge in the early 2000s.
The big question is whether or not new signing Stephane Bahoken will start. Esmael Goncalves started a few days after he arrived on loan and that went OK, but he had at least trained with the squad once before that glorious afternoon. Bahoken only arrived in the country this morning and probably doesn't know his new team-mates that well. In my view we're struggling so much up front at the moment that putting an extra body in there can only be a good thing. Of course, the decision could be taken out of Danny Lennon's hands as the relevant paperwork might not have come through in time!
Many fans would also like to see changes at the back, with either Darren McGregor or Lee Mair starting. It's more likely we'll see the former, with Mair seeming to be completely out of the picture at the moment. Getting Paul McGowan back in the team is a definite and the only bonus of Tuesday is that he shouldn't be too tired as he didn't start. Whether or not we'll be seeing Jake Caprice from the start remains to be seen, although a role as an impact sub seems more likely at the moment. David Barron is the only man missing through injury.
Thistle seem to be enjoying life back in the top flight and got off to a great start, beating Ross County and being unlucky not to defeat Dundee United and Hearts at home before losing at Motherwell on Saturday. Alan Archibald has done a fine job since replacing Jackie McNamara at the start of the year, guiding the Jags to promotion and a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Ramsdens Cup Final. They already look like they'll avoid relegation this season, especially with Hearts' points penalty, proving Archibald's status as one of the country's top up and coming managers. Maybe in management he can fulfil his potential, his playing career having failed to reflect the promise it showed in Championship Manager in the early 2000s.
I'll be honest, I don't know a great deal about a fair number of Partick Thistle's title winning squad from last season, although that's a situation that will probably change if they continue to produce results. I'll come on to them later but for now I'll focus on the players that may be a bit more familiar. Sadly, that does not include Hugh Murray. Many Saints fans were probably looking forward to a chance to see the club legend in action, but our record appearance holder was loaned out to Dumbarton the other week so won't be playing. Instead we'll have to make do with John Baird, the striker probably more likely to inflict the curse of the former club than Shuggy anyway! Goalie Paul Gallacher will probably only be on the bench so we shouldn't need to worry about him.
Despite Shuggy's departure and their unfamiliar squad they do still have some players with SPL experience. Mark Kerr was brought in over the summer after leaving Dundee, but a couple of Archibald's summer signings were rather more impressive. Aberdeen released Isaac Osbourne so he could return to England so they must have been surprised to see him end up in Glasgow, the midfielder a player a few Saints fans would have liked to see come a bit further south to Paisley. Getting Kallum Higgingbotham signed up was also a good bit of business as he was pretty highly rated when Falkirk sold him to Huddersfield a few years back and did well during a loan spell at Motherwell last season.
That wasn't the end of Archibald's summer recruitment drive, although his other signings are probably less well known. He has managed to sign up a former Barcelona midfielder, but thankfully it's not Xavi or Iniesta, instead Simon Colina Dominguez recruited from the under-19s. Striker Henoc Mukendi and midfielder Gary Fraser have been borrowed from Liverpool and Bolton respectively, while Mexican defender Gabriel Piccolo looks like he should be a decent recruit.
OK, I've put it off long enough, it's time to look at the Thistle players I don't know much about. Defender Aaron Muirhead I remember as he used to play for Dalbeattie Star and amusingly got sent off in last year's Ramsdens Cup final, while striker Kris Doolan has occasionally been linked with a move to Saints after doing well since he came in from the juniors. Defender Stephen O'Donnell should not be confused with our former player of the same name and goalie Scott Fox is pretty handy, having started off at Celtic. James Craigen, Steven Lawless, Sean Welsh and Conrad Balatoni also started life with bigger clubs and had to go elsewhere for games, while Aaron Taylor-Sinclair proves there is talent in the lower leagues. Midfielder Stuart Bannigan is a product of Partick's youth system, rather than someone elses, and has adapted with ease to life in the top flight.
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