Alan Archibald wants Partick Thistle to focus on top-six finish after cup exit

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald has urged his players to channel their William Hill Scottish Cup disappointment into their top-six push.

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald
Published 9th Mar 2017

Thistle bowed out at the quarter-final stage with a 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen but can ensure they stay in the top half of the Ladbrokes Premiership when they host bottom club Inverness on Saturday.

Archibald said: "We need to focus our disappointment and take it into the league. We have a real cause to fight for and we need to make sure we have a real appetite for Saturday's match.

"We are still disappointed and it left a bitter taste in terms of our performance against Aberdeen, but now all our focus goes towards Inverness."

Thistle have played seven matches since the start of February and Archibald admits his squad are feeling the effects.

"We've got a few doubts," he said. "The main concern is Danny Devine and Christie Elliott who picked up knocks in the Aberdeen game. One of them has trained, one of them not yet but we will give them every chance.

"We have got a few others that we are just managing as well. We have had a heavy schedule and it's starting to take its toll on the squad."