Partick Thistle boss 'embarrassed' by plaudits

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald was thrilled to be named manager of the month - but claimed St Johnstone's Tommy Wright should have picked up the award instead.

Archibald earned the Ladbrokes Premiership prize for an impressive unbeaten run in November that saw Thistle move out of the danger zone and up to ninth in the table.

The month was capped with a fine 5-2 victory at Kilmarnock but Archibald was still surprised to be rewarded.

He said: "I was delighted with the award but a wee bit embarrassed to be honest. I thought Tommy Wright would have got it as St Johnstone have been on a fantastic run.

"Credit to our lads though - they have been brilliant.

"We were in a bad place six or seven weeks ago and looking a bit detached at the bottom of the table. We've gone on a great run and got ourselves back in the pack.

"We've hit some form and had a bit of luck as well, whereas earlier in the season we weren't getting that luck.

"Hopefully things have turned and the boys are playing with a bit of confidence after scoring five goals last week.

"We've now got a tough game against Motherwell on Saturday and we would take a 1-0 win."

Victory at the weekend would allow Thistle to open up a five-point gap between themselves and the Steelmen.

But Archibald insists they are taking nothing for granted in the race for survival.

"We've got some big fixtures coming up - Motherwell this weekend and Dundee United next week," said Archibald, who collected his award at Pizza Express in Glasgow's Byres Road.

"It would be massive to get a result against Motherwell as we would be able to open up a gap. But we also know a defeat could put us right back down there.

"It's too early to say we have moved away from the danger zone but we have given ourselves a chance.

"It's great getting the awards but I'd swap them for safety in the league."