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We caught up with The Jagscast ahead of Saturday’s visit of Rangers

| 25.11.2016

It’s not been the best of seasons for Partick Thistle thus far, with Alan Archibald’s men sitting in the relegation play-off spot as things stand. But on the flip side, the Ladbrokes Premiership table is that close, the Jags are just six points off the top five.

Up next for them is the visit of Rangers, who are also yet to get going this season.

That makes for an exciting clash, so we thought we’d catch up with Davy Mains of @TheJagscast ahead of Saturday’s game to talk all things Partick Thistle!

Here’s what he had to say…

Ladbrokes News: Thistle have endured a difficult start to the season. Are there any positives you can take from the way things have gone so far?

@TheJagscast: It’s not been as bad as the start we made to last season!

LN: Who do you think has been the club’s standout man since the campaign began?

TJ: There’s a few – particularly Adam Barton (signed from Portsmouth) – an elegant player who’s comfortable on the ball – very reminiscent of Alan Hansen/Scott Paterson (both Thistle legends).

Ryan Edwards deserves a mention too – a combative box-to-box midfielder with a great engine

LN: Rangers have been excellent at home but have won just one of their last five on the road. In which areas do you think Thistle can hurt them?

TJ: I honestly think they’ve got the same problems as us – slightly leaky at the back and struggling to score enough goals. I think their full-backs are too adventurous for a four-man defence

LN: You’d have to go back to 1993 to find the last time you tasted victory over the Gers. Is it a game you go into with any confidence?

TJ: We have confidence in our team against any recently promoted side, no matter what their budget.

We are lucky to have had a reasonably settled squad over the past three or four years but it does take time for new players to settle and it’s the same for both sides

LN: And would you take a point on Saturday?

TJ: Only if we’re losing by one goal going into the last minute!

It’s our home fixture, so I expect us to do everything we can to win the game.

LN: They’ve admittedly been fairly few and far between – but if you had to pick a positive memory from past meetings with Rangers, what would you go for?

TJ: Not sure that’s accurate, to be honest! We’ve had some very close cup games for example.

The last meeting we lost 2-0 – Rangers took their two chances, we missed ours, but we were very much in that game.

My favourite recent game was our 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final.

LN: It’s a game which will draw a big crowd to Firhill, and the first meeting with Rangers here since September 2008. Are you excited for the atmosphere and the occasion?

TJ: No, it’s not an atmosphere or occasion that home fans enjoy.

I’ll be happy if we win and we can move onto the next game.

LN: Finally – what are your predictions for the rest of the season. Are you confident of avoiding a relegation battle?

TJ: We might be 11th currently but we’re only two points off sixth-place We’ve been in this division for three years now and even though we’ve not had the best run recently, this is one of the strongest squads we’ve had in recent times.

We are stronger and better prepared than at least two or three other teams in this league.

I’m confident that we will be able to mount a challenge for a top six place this season – especially when we get the players who have been out with long-term injuries back into the squad early next year.

Thistle are 7/2 to take all three points at Firhill, while the visitors are 3/4 to make it back-to-back Ladbrokes Premiership victories.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Alex Apati

Alex has been with the Ladbrokes PR team since 2017 having previously worked for the news department. From sparring with Peter Fury to talking interviews on the Duke and Duchess' baby names, he's covered a range of sports and novelty events.

A frustrated West Brom fan who is no stranger to an oche, Alex is originally from Dudley, although he's worked hard to rid himself of the Black Country twang.