Docherty glad to be back

Friday 26th March, 2021 at 2:58pm

After an injury during our 0-0 draw with Falkirk on Boxing Day threatened to see Ross Docherty miss a couple of months’ worth of games, the suspension of the league gave the midfielder some time to focus on his recovery without missing any action. Now, just two games into the restart, Docherty is back in training with the Jags squad and looking forward to getting back to playing. He spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of our trip to Airdrieonians this weekend:

“I’m delighted to be back of course. It’s been a long time now since I picked up that injury on Boxing Day so I’m really pleased to be back in with the boys. The timing of everything has been quite lucky for me because I was expecting to miss a big chunk of the season but in the end it’s only one league game and a cup game and we haven’t been training for most of the time I’ve been rehabbing either.”

Thistle followed up their 1-1 with Cove Rangers with a good 3-0 win over Cowdenbeath during the week and Ross is hopeful that the result can be the start of a good run for the team.

“It was great on Tuesday, we played some good football and created plenty of chances. A couple of the new boys, Scott Tiffoney and Ross MacIver, both looked really sharp and it was good to see Ryan Williamson back from injury as well. On top of that, Zak Rudden got his first goal and I was delighted for him. Hopefully that will just give the whole team a bit of a confidence boost that we can carry into the game at the weekend and beyond.”

In Docherty’s absence, Shea Gordon has got on the scoresheet and Stuart Bannigan has put in a couple of good displays which Ross says is a sign of a fuller squad.

“I think that competition is a great thing which is now there right across the team. Thinking back to the first half of the season it was almost the same 11 every week because of injuries and now the manager has added a few players who bring their own quality and everyone has to be playing well to stay in the side.”

Thistle’s busy schedule means it’s going to be an intense run-in but the number 23 says everyone is ready for it.

“Obviously everyone was itching to get back but we know that we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve worked very hard already to get ourselves ready as quickly as possible but that’s going to have to continue right through to the end of the season because the games are just one after another.”

The Jags currently sit in fifth place behind this weekend’s opponents on goal difference alone and Docherty says it’s vital to get the three points and start moving up the table.

“We need to start winning if we want to achieve our goals this season and particularly against the teams around us. We know we can’t control results elsewhere but at the same time we do know that we move up a place if we win this game so that’s the aim for this weekend.”

More exclusive preview interviews with Ryan Williamson and Alan Archibald will be available for JagZone subscribers to watch today – log in to view.

JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for our fixture against Airdrieonians – click here to tune in.

The home side are offering a PPV option, priced at £12, for Jags fans who wish to watch a livestream of the game – click here for more info.

We’ll have extended highlights and a full game replay of our trip to face Airdrieonians on JagZone.