Archibald hoping Partick can maintain momentum

Partick manager Alan Archibald has urged his players to make up for lost time when they face Dundee United on Saturday.

Thistle's clash with Motherwell was one of the games that fell victim to the weather last weekend, while United's own game at Kilmarnock was one of the few to survive.

Rock-bottom United were able to pick up what could be a crucial point from that encounter.

But Archibald wants Partick to show they have not lost the momentum which saw them notch up a 5-2 win in their last outing.

He said: "It was very frustrating - we had prepared right up until the Saturday and we were looking forward to the game.

"It was a home game and a good chance to move a couple of places up the league.

"It was bitterly disappointing but it gave me the chance to go and watch a different Dundee United team to the one we faced earlier in the season.

"It will be a tough game. They're playing some good football but we are also on a good run.

"We scored five in our last outing and hopefully we can put on a similar type of performance.

"We are stressing to our players that this game has got to matter to us more than it does to Dundee United.

"I know they're fighting for their lives - but so are we."

Archibald is not sure what the solution is in terms of beating the Scottish weather and making sure games go ahead.

But he did welcome plans announced this week to revamp the League Cup competition, including an earlier start date.

He said: "The winter break thing is hard because this call-off happened at the start of December. Do you have it in January? Do you have it in December?

"It's good with the League Cup that we're going to try it in mid-July.

"If the crowds are up, maybe we will look at moving the league games forward or something like that.

"At least we are trying something and we can see if it works.

"At this club, we are always trying to get punters through the door. So, if it gets more bums on seats, why not try it?"