Thursday 24th December, 2020 at 5:05pm
Supporters are reminded that, due to floodlight issues at the Falkirk Stadium, Saturday’s fixture will kick off at 12 Noon.
The Jags are looking to bounce back from defeat against Peterhead as they travel to Falkirk on Boxing Day. Thistle missed the opportunity to close the gap on the league leaders last weekend but can come within three points of the Bairns with victory at the Falkirk Stadium this Saturday. Defender Richard Foster spoke to ptfc.co.uk ahead of the game:
“We’re looking forward to it because it’s a big opportunity to get to within three points of them. We got a bit lucky last week with them losing on Sunday after we lost to Peterhead on the Saturday so we look to ourselves to produce a better performance than last weekend so we can go and get the win in a big game.”
Foster told us there was a mix of relief and regret when the team saw Falkirk losing to Airdrieonians as the Bairns dropped points for the first time since they had last played Thistle.
“It was a mixed feeling. We were relieved because they could have gone nine points ahead and that would have made catching them a very difficult task but we were also kicking ourselves a bit because if we’d won then Boxing Day would have been a chance to go level on points with them. Relief is probably the overriding emotion though because, as I say, nine points would have been a mountain to climb.”
The Jags’ defeat by Peterhead was their first since October and Richard said they can’t afford to drop many more points in what is proving a very competitive division.
“We’ve already dropped too many points; we’ve not taken our chances at times and it’s come back to bite us with some of the results we’ve had. Falkirk are a good side with experienced players so we need to keep the pressure on them. Both teams will be desperate for these points on Saturday so it’s up to us to make sure we’re at our best to get them.”
In the previous meeting between the Jags and Falkirk it finished 2-2 with a late Charlie Telfer goal securing a point for the visitors and Foster said that Thistle should take the positive from that game into this weekend’s.
“I was on the bench for that game but watching for the stand it was a game we should have won. They got in front with a fortuitous goal but we battled back really well and got in front deservedly. We could have made it more but then we defend a bit too deep late on and they get their equaliser so it was fine margins really. We just have to take belief from the fact we were a few minutes away from beating them into this week’s match.
“The failings of this season were on show in that match; not scoring as many as we could have and losing sloppy goals. The last month or so the defending has improved so we now need to add that clinical edge at the other end to become a more consistent team.”
Despite dominating the ball for the vast majority of each game, Thistle haven’t score in their last two at Firhill and the Jags’ number 22 reiterated the importance of sticking chance away when they come.
“Every players knows it and every manager says it. When you’re on top you have to be scoring goals to put a team to bed. For example, we could have been four up at half-time in the Dumbarton game and even in the Peterhead game where I felt we were poor, there were still moments that we could have done a lot more with.”
The team are in training on Christmas Day ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Falkirk and Foster said that although it’s not ideal it’s not something he has a problem with.
“I’ve had it both ways in my career. Sometimes you’re in on Christmas, sometimes you get it off but I live quite close to the training ground so that’s helpful in that respect. It’s a huge game against Falkirk and we all want to be involved in big games so it is completely worth it to come and train on Christmas Day to make sure we’re fully prepared for the match.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Stuart Bannigan and Alan Archibald are now available for JagZone subscribers to watch – log in to view.
JagZone subscribers will be able to tune in to live audio commentary for this weekend’s game against the Bairns – click here to tune in.
We’ll also have extended highlights and a full game replay of our trip to Falkirk on JagZone this Saturday evening.
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