Thursday 30th January, 2020 at 5:09pm
Brian Graham is one of seven new faces who have signed during the January transfer window and he admits there is no time to gel, they must find ways to win games and climb the league.
The striker came in for his debut on Saturday but despite scoring Thistle found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 result. Ayr United come to visit on Friday night and Graham knows a reaction is required
Speaking to ptfc.co.uk he said: “There is no time for people to gel, we’re bottom of the league. It’s about knuckling down and working hard and finding ways to win football matches. It doesn’t matter how we do it we have to get ourselves up the table and pick up as many points as we can. We’ve got to have a response after the result at the weekend”
Looking back to the game on Saturday the new Thistle number 9 admits conditions didn’t help but admits the team didn’t perform.
“I think the game on Saturday was a poor one, the conditions in the first half was horrific, I think the ref was contemplating calling it off at one point because it was so bad, then sods law it died down in the second half, but we can’t use that as an excuse, we weren’t good enough on the day, it was a bad result and we’ve got to put it right on Friday.”
Ayr come to The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill, it’s a team Brian has played recently and he knows it will be a tough game but one we should be looking to win.
“You go into every game believing you can win, that is the minimum you should expect. I played against Ayr a few weeks ago in the Scottish Cup for Ross County and I was impressed, they had some good players and it’ll be tough but we know we have a good squad and we have to go and impose ourselves on the game, work hard and play our football.
“It’s good I’ve played against them recently and seen them in the flesh but no two games are the same and no game goes exactly how you expect so it’s a different challenge but one we’ll relish”
The striker knows the league position isn’t good enough but it’s one he believes the squad can get out of, starting with a win on Friday.
“There’s a lot of football to be played, you look and we’re bottom of the league but there is a lot of new faces in the changing room and we still believe in ourselves. We’ve worked hard in training this week and we go into the game on Friday looking to get three points.
“We know it will be a battle, games in this league always are but we have to make sure we battle hard, work for everything and try and take our chances when they come.”
Graham grabbed his first goal on Saturday against Arbroath, an injury time consolation but he was happy to get off the mark in Thistle colours and feels he has settled in well.
“It doesn’t matter how it comes or if it was a consolation it’s good to get your first goal so early on. I had an overhead kick too that almost went in so hopefully I can build on that and get another on Friday night
“The boys have been great so far, there’s been a few changes so I’m not the only new one but the boys already there have welcomed me in and I’m now looking forward to trying to help the team as much as possible and get the team up the league.”
The match is his first at home as a Jags player and it’s a game he is looking forward to
“It’s my first game at Firhill, I’m really looking forward to that and playing in front of the home fans for the first time. My family are just 5 minutes up the road now so I’m looking forward to them coming and watching. Hopefully I can mark it with a win and send the fans home happy.”
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