LARGS boss Stuart Davidson has called on his players to learn from last Saturday’s defeat at Glenafton, as Thistle face a real uphill challenge to stay in the Premier League.
However, despite a tough start to life in the Premiership, the Barrfields boss praised his players for making a big turnaround in the second half of the season, and a marked improvement to their play.
“The way the game started against Glenafton was a bit frustrating with a few decisions which went against us,” said Stuart: “And we lost our discipline, and focus.”
“When decisions go against you, it is important the way you react, and when you go to a place like Glens, you need to deal with these things. We have played a lot better, and just didn’t deal with the situation great.”
The Thistle boss stated after viewing the video highlights that the Glens penalty was soft and he didn’t know if there was any contact whatsoever.
Largs suffered a red card when assistant boss Kevin Struthers was dismissed for a second caution.
Stuart added: “Some of our players took the wrong decision with lay-offs, when maybe they should have taken the opportunity themselves.
“Over the piece, I don’t think we deserved anything.”
Thistle are second bottom in the league, with only three games left, and are up against it in terms of escaping relegation. Two team gets relegated, with third bottom securing a play-off spot.
Stuart commented: “After losing the opening eight league games, we have been in trouble all season, but the boys deserve credit for fighting back to be in with a slim chance of escaping relegation with three games left. It is going to take a bit of luck and a lot of effort, but no matter what happens, we are not giving up the fight, and we are not going to lie down, and miss an opportunity if it arose.
“We are still in two cup tournaments, and we will try and go and win one, as on our day we are capable of matching anybody.
“Sometimes you get results like Saturday’s at Glenafton in this league - we were losing a lot of matches like that earlier in the season, but it is the first time it has happened to us in a while.
“ I am sure other teams going to Glenafton will face similar problems, and we must take these things on board before we play Glenafton again.
“Most times recently we have given a good account of ourselves, but we will be looking to win all our remaining games, specially the home games.”
It is a sizeable task as Largs face Auchinleck and Glenafton at home, and Beith away, in the remaining three league fixtures. Thistle don’t have a game this Saturday, and have drawn Cumnock away in the Ayrshire Weekly Press 1st round tie on a date still to be established.
Thistle now face a barren fortnight with no fixtures listed so far, and are awaiting the draw for the third round of the West of Scotland Cup after victories over Wishaw and Beith. The only injury at the moment is Alan Gilbride, but defender Creag Little is suspended for the next two fixtures.
In the relegation dogfight, Kilwinning secured a 3-0 win over Troon on Saturday and have games in hand in which to catch Largs.
Kilbirnie have got drawn into the mix after a 1-0 defeat at home to Talbot, while big spending Hurlford United are also surprisingly in the mix.