Largs are shaping up for a big home league game against Kilbirnie Ladeside at Barrfields on Saturday, as they chase their first Premier win in over six weeks, 1.45pm kick-off at Barrfields.

Thistle overcame their recent bad run of results to record an important Scottish Cup win at Darvel, and boss Stuart Davidson hopes the team can kick on from there for the visit of their Premier rivals.

Ladeside endured a 6-1 defeat at home to league leaders Hurlford but bounced back to take four off Irvine Meadow, and have a new manager in Liam McGuinness at the helm.

Thistle last recorded a league win against Cambuslang on 13 October, and manager Davidson believes that performances have been good, and Thistle need to take their chances when they create them.

He said: "We are delighted to have made it through to the last 16 so now we can concentrate on the league. It has been a wee sticky patch.

"If you told me at the start of the season that we would be sitting in sixth position in the league, and through to the last 16 in the Scottish Cup, just after getting promoted, I certainly would have taken that.

"I am delighted with the start we have had, and I know results haven't been great lately, but I also know we have the boys and the quality here that we have come through that and we will start to pick up wins in the league and move on from there."

"The game against Lesmahagow I thought we played alright up to a certain point but we didn't take our chances, then against Beith last week I thought we played well enough but I didn't think it was a 3-0 game

"We played well against Darvel and got through to the next round of the Scottish Cup but we can't blame parks for our results.

"And now you have to roll your sleeves up at this time of year and there are fixtures right throughout the Christmas period as well, so we need to be ready."

Both sides last met in the league in August when Largs recorded a 2-0 victory at Ladeside, and Thistle will hope to re-capture some of the form from earlier in their campaign when they recorded a 5-0 victory against Renfrew and 7-0 against Irvine Meadow at Barrfields.

And the Largs boss was delighted with Thistle's 2-1 victory at Darvel in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, and hopes that Thistle's battling qualities coupled with their high pressing style can yield some good results in December.

He said: "We expected a real battle in the Scottish Cup against a good side with an experienced manager.

"We knew it was going to be tough.

"A couple of people said to me when the draw was made it was a good draw, but we always knew it was going to be tough, and I think that showed in the match that Darvel were difficult to beat.

"Even down to ten men, it seems to become harder for some reason, but we obviously had the two goal cushion.

"Getting the two goals was a big help as Darvel came right at us with the ten men.

"On another day it could have ended up a draw and a replay but I thought we defended well.

"Joe Knowles goal was pretty special, and that is what you expect from Joe. Last week he had a couple of chances and it didn't quite happen for him, but you know that Joe is going to take a chances, and he showed his quality with a great goal.

"The second goal was a penalty; there was some great play by Mark Millar holding on to the ball and he beat his man before setting up Scott.

"It was a great run from Addy, and the boy takes him down. That is us we are going to win the game comfortably but it didn't quite happen like that.

"We were comfortable up until Darvel scored their goal. There was a bit of a stramash and the ball dropped and the boy hit a screamer straight into the far corner and I thought it unnerved us a little bit.

"I thought we had started the game pretty well, and we both had a few chances. We were patient and we got the goals."

Asked about who he would like to see Largs get in the next round, Davidson replied: "No preference in the Scottish Cup other than a home tie. I would fancy our chances at home against any of the teams left in the tournament."

Thistle will be glad to return to the green green astroturf grass of home on Saturday against Kilbirnie, after the last three games were on the road.

He said: "That is three in a row we have been on the grass - and we finished it with a good win against Darvel. It shouldn't be a big deal as the boys have grown up playing on grass and astro."

* The club have announced that they will have a minute's applause in memory of former president Douglas Bennie before the Kilbirnie game.