Saturday 23rd August, 2014 at 6:46pm
Thistle manager, Alan Archibald, is in confident mood ahead of Saturday’s game against Hamilton but knows that it won’t be an easy game. He told ptfc.co.uk that he was determined not to let his players underestimate the threat the Premiership new boys bring.
“A lot of people are saying Hamilton will let us play but I certainly don’t see it like that. I don’t think they go out to let anybody play. It should be a good game though because they can get the ball down play some great stuff.
“When we played them in the first division they were one of the hardest teams to play against because they work ever so hard. I’ve seen a few of their games and they press in a very aggressive manner which is always hard to play against. They’ve also added quality since coming up so we certainly won’t be underestimating them because there is no doubt they can go and hurt teams.”
Hamilton manager Alex Neil finds himself in a similar position to that which Archie found himself in last season, a young new manager taking a team into the top flight for the first time. But Thistle’s boss had nothing but good things to say about the job his opposite number.
“It’s a fantastic job that Alex has done with Hamilton, to bring them up by beating a Premiership team like Hibs and then to play in the way they have done is certainly impressive. They have a similar set up to us, a lot of pace and a lot of younger players. It certainly seems like he encourages his team to go play where they can and they certainly aren’t afraid to get the ball down and play it when they can.
“The main difference I think is that a few of their players have a bit more game time than our boys. They have lads that have been around that team in the Championship for a good few years so they aren’t without experience.”
We then checked with the gaffer what his team news was for tomorrow.
“We’re still without Welsh who remains out long term, we lost McMillan at the weekend with a hamstring issue that could keep him out for a couple of weeks and obviously Scott Fox is suspended.”
