Thursday 13th February, 2020 at 6:35pm
Shea Gordon returned from injury last week and now the midfielder is hoping to fire Thistle into the final of the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup.
Thistle face Raith Rovers looking for a place in the final and Gordon is looking forward to a special night under the Firhill lights.
Speaking to ptfc.co.uk he said: “A cup final would be huge for us, we really feel a win on Friday night can really give everyone a boost – the players and the fans. It can be a real catalyst for the rest of the season, it could give us some momentum and a real confidence boost that we can take into the league.
“The Friday night games can sometimes have that different feeling to them, there’s a buzz about them and with it being such a big game we know the fans will be behind us. I just hope we can finally give them a reward for all their backing.”
Shea feels despite the current league position the game comes at just the right time and is the chance to put that out their mind for a week.
“It’s something away from the league. The league obviously hasn’t been going well for us recently and this is something which can kick start us on.
“We’ve been poor recently and we know that. We know it hasn’t been good enough. However, Friday gives us the chance to put that out our head and try and make a cup final.
“In the cup, the league form goes out the window, it’s a chance to forget that for a week, it’s a semi-final, so it’s a game we are all looking forward to. It’s a chance to get to a cup final and that would be a special day for the entire squad.
“It’s knockout, it’s win or lose, there is no points, you aren’t looking at other results, it’s a one off game and these games have a different feel to them. It could be the game that kicks off a run of form and can help us in the league.”
The Jags number 14 returned from injury, coming on as a half time sub, last weekend against Dundee and despite the result he was happy to be back on the field.
“It was great to be back playing. I know the result wasn’t what we wanted and when I came on at half time, we were behind but reflecting, after all the rehab and hours in the physio room that has went in to getting me back to this point after injury it was good to get back playing.
“When you are out injured for so long you almost become the forgotten man. I just want to work as hard as I possibly can, show exactly what I can do and hopefully try and help the team as much as I can between now before the end of the season.”
The midfielder admits the mood in the camp was low on Monday after the Dundee defeat but the management team have played their part in lifting the squad this week.
“After the weekend, it was really flat on Monday. As players we all know why it is flat, when you are down, it’s tough to not feel low, we all want to win, but the manager and all the staff have picked us up. Don’t get me wrong, we know we haven’t been good enough, but we also know we can’t do anything about previous games now, we have to look forward, we have a semi-final and a number of important league games coming up and we have to find confidence.”
Shea is expecting a tough game against a high flying Raith Rovers side
“Raith have been in good form this season, we know they are a good side. They are up the top of League One, so we certainly aren’t complacent. We’ll attack it the same way we would and hopefully get ourselves into a cup final.”
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