Penrice: Time to start climbing the table

Friday 29th November, 2019 at 2:16pm

James Penrice is hoping to build on recent form by taking all three points at East End Park against Dunfermline.

A three-game winning run was halted by the draw midweek against Alloa but it’s another game unbeaten and Penrice feels there are positives to be taken into the game against the Pars.

Speaking to ptfc.co.uk he said: “It’s a big game that we are all looking forward to. The game on Tuesday dented the run we were on; we felt we should have won it but we didn’t lose and we’ve got the chance on Saturday to go get another three points. It’ll be a big three points if we can get them.

“I think we have to take a lot of positives from the other game, we were obviously disappointed with the result but I think we can take a lot from how we dominated the game and we felt we should have won it but just couldn’t grab that goal.”

James knows it’s important to start climbing the league and he’s confident the team can do that.

“It’s getting to that point where we need to pick up some more points, it’s crunch time and we have to put points on the board. We are on a good run just now, but we have to start getting ourselves up the league.

“It’s important that we start the game well, scoring the first goal could be huge, they’ll have a big support so getting them edgy would help us and we need to settle into the game as early as possible and pout out game on to them.”

Recent form away from home has been good and the Jags number 3 feels the team can continue that if they start taking their chances.

“We’ve been good away from home lately and that gives us confidence that we can go anywhere and pick up points, Ayr has been the only blip so we feel we can go and win.

“I think we have to score more goals; we maybe haven’t scored enough recently, we created a lot against Alloa but the ball just wasn’t falling for us, we have to start converting.”

The Thistle Weir Youth academy graduate made his 75th appearance in Jags colours on Tuesday night and he’s delighted with the experience he has already in his young career.

“I’m delighted at making my 75th appearance for Thistle. If you include loan games I think that is nearly 100 appearances and I’m only 20 so that’s not a bad start to my career and hopefully there is many more to come.

“Last season playing every minute gave me a good boost, it reassured me that I can play at this level and I’ll just continue to learn. I want to develop and play as much as I can and push myself to go as far as I possibly can.”

With the announcement that funding for the Thistle Weir Youth Academy being made last night, Penners is delighted that more graduates will hopefully follow in his path.

“The funding for the academy being re-started is brilliant. I owe the Thistle Weir Youth Academy an awful lot. If it wasn’t for all the hard work of the coaches, physios and all the staff within the Academy I wouldn’t be where I am now.

“There is a lot of good work being done in the Academy and it’s great to see that continue. Hopefully over the next few years there are more players like me who make the breakthrough from the Academy into the first team.”

Penrice feels the new manager has helped him a lot since arriving in September.

“Since the new manager has come in he’s been fantastic, I’ve seen a change in my form and I feel he has helped me a lot, he’s great with us and hopefully we can start climbing that league table.”

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