Paul McGinn looking for favours as Partick aim to beat drop
Paul McGinn has no qualms about admitting he keeps a regular check on Partick Thistle's Ladbrokes Premiership relegation rivals.
Ahead of the visit of third-placed Aberdeen on Saturday and with 10 fixtures remaining, the Jags are sitting just three points ahead of bottom side Ross County.
And with Alan Archibald's side having lost their last four matches - three in the league - the Thistle full-back will be looking out for all the relevant results when he comes off the pitch against the Dons.
The 27-year-old said: “You definitely do check the results. It is natural to look.
“I would be lying if I said you just concentrate on your own result.
“You hope that the teams around you don't pick up points and you are able to push away from them.
“There was a spell in the season when Rangers were dropping points to the teams around us and we weren't too happy with that.
“You come in after a game you are checking other results straight away.
“If anyone is telling you they don't look at them they are lying.”
Notwithstanding a sixth-place finish last season, it has been a constant survival battle for the Maryhill men since they came into the top flight in 2013.
However, McGinn, who signed from Chesterfield last August, believes that experience will stand Thistle in good stead.
The former Dumbarton and Dundee player said: “I have found there is no talk about any panic or worry. It is a bit strange.
“When I first came up (to the top league) with Dundee, if there was a blip or whatever, you were always worried you would get sucked into it.
“It never came to that, we were good enough, but here at Thistle it is as if, 'we will get out again'.
“I am sure the manager would rather we didn't have to do that again.
“But it is detrimental if you do anything else, if you start worrying and make panic decisions, that doesn't help.
“It is the best attitude to have and it's maybe why they have pushed away year after year.
“A lot of the games in the league are tight.
“I don't think Aberdeen will be completely confident of coming to Firhill and I would like to think we can get the better of them even though they are sitting high in the table”.