Largs Thistle boss Stuart Davidson believes the club must stay focused for the remainder of the season as they concentrate on getting as many league points as possible.

Thistle are away to league leaders Clydebank in their last match of 2023 on Saturday December 30, then open the new year by welcoming Gartcairn to Barrfields Park on January 6.

Davidson said: "Clydebank are pushing on well and they are looking to get promotion.

"From our point of view, it doesn't get much tougher after our recent 4-3 defeat to Troon.

"We can't be soft and be conceding goals in that manner or we will be punished. We have got to put on a good performance from the off, and make it happen."

Gartcairn had two players cup-tied for their Junior Cup game against Largs in November - which Thistle won 3-2 before bowing out in the next round against Lochee United.

"I am expecting a very tough match," Davidson said of the Gartcairn game.

"We also had a draw at Gartcairn in the first league game of the season, so we need to be well prepared and give everything."

Reflecting on the season so far. Davidson said: "We have a great bunch of boys here, and we have got great talent, but I think in the past year we should have been doing better.

"It is not as if we are at the best we can be. Hopefully this year we can sort ourselves out as I believe the players are very capable.

"We need to go out and work harder, and I need to find way to get the best out of the players.

"I think we have been unlucky with the cups as the games all came at the one time while we have had key injuries at a time when the games were coming back to back, we could still have done a bit better to get through it but this was certainly an important factor on how things panned out.

"Lewis Davidson was very close to getting a winner for us in the last minute against Lochee, which could have changed everything, but it wasn't to be. It shows you the fine lines in cup football.

"I was delighted with the performance [against Lochee] and the goals we scored in the first half. We were looking for more of the same in the second.

"We knew a third goal would probably have put the game to bed. At the start of the second half, Lochee brought on a physical striker who was streetwise enough to draw fouls.

"We gave away soft fouls around the box and Lochee capitalised by scoring from two of them.

"They were cheap goals for us to concede in that we didn't deal with the crosses as well as we should have.

"To hit the bar with the last kick of the game and then to lose on penalties was very disappointing.

"The trip to Glenafton was quite similar in that we played well in the first half and we created four good opportunities to score. Unfortunately we didn't deal with a cross once again and conceded a soft goal.

"Once we went behind we were always chasing the game and that resulted in us offering too much space at the back.

"Glenafton got a second against the run of play, and that left us with a mountain to climb. Darryl managed to get one back and there was still time to get another, but as we pushed, we left too much space at the back and once more they scored with a breakaway.

"I feel like we've not had the best of luck in recent weeks. Losing Joe, Cory Hughes and Scott Adam to injury at a crucial time hasn't helped. They are three of our most experienced players and used to playing the big games, and help to guide the younger players.

"Now we must work hard at training and start to get that feel good factor back by winning football games.

"First we must ensure that we get clear of the bottom of the table, and then we can try to finish as high as possible."