Saturday 7th February, 2015 at 9:45am
It was Scott Paterson who spoke to ptfc.co.uk this week, ahead of Thistle’s William Hill Scottish Cup clash with Inverness on Saturday.
“I played in the last game this club played at Hampden – which shows how long ago it was! If we could replicate that again this season I think it would really give everyone around the place, including the fans, a huge lift.
“We know it will be a tough game against Inverness, they’re a good team. I know they have lost Billy MacKay but even so they aren’t an easy side to play against. Although their squad is small it has a lot of quality to it and whoever comes in I’m sure will do a good job.”
It might have been a while since the Jags last made the later stages of one of Scottish football’s larger knock-out competitions, but Scott has every faith in his team’s ability.
“We know that, on our day, we can beat anybody, it’s just a case of getting the lads to play consistently. Inverness will have the same attitude too though. at the end of the day, with Spartans playing Berwick, and a lot of the Premiership teams out of the competition already, there is a real chance of a good draw. That’s no disrespect to the teams from the lower leagues though, we know any side we get in the next round will certainly not be lacking in motivation.
“At the end of the day, everybody has a chance – two more games after Saturday and you could be in the final. We just need to focus on ourselves and do everything we can to make sure our name is in the hat after Saturday.”
Thistle have a good record against Inverness this season and will be determined to make that count at the weekend, but Scott won’t be taking the tie for granted and neither will the players.
“Listen, we do have a good record against them this season but they are a strong side. You never know how teams are going to turn up on the day and we just need to make sure we play as well as we know we can. If we do that, I have every faith we can get the result.”
Sean Welsh will miss out on Saturday due to a continuing ankle injury. Ryan Stevenson has picked up a knock but the management team will give him every chance to make the tie.
