Thistle stretched at the back

Posted Tuesday, March 30, 2010 by PA

Partick Thistle are short of defensive cover for the visit of Raith after club captain Alan Archibald became the latest player on the treatment table.

Martyn Corrigan and Jackie McNamara remain unavailable due to injury, while Greg Shields' short stay with the club is over following his return to American side Carolina Railhawks.

The Maryhill men have lost five of their last seven games and, whilst the title may be beyond them, manager Ian McCall is determined to finish the season on a high.

McCall said: "The Championship may have gone but I want us to finish in the top four at least."

Raith have no fresh injury worries but are again without a quartet of players.

Defensive duo Craig Wilson and Mark Campbell, along with forward duo Jonny Russell and Graham Weir, remain unavailable through injury.

Manager John McGlynn has praised his players for battling back to claim a 1-1 draw against Ayr at the weekend, but knows they must start better in Glasgow.

McGlynn said: "We are going through an incredibly busy time just now and the boys keep on coming up with the goods.

"There are a few players carrying bumps and knocks that are getting no time to heal but they are battling away to their great credit. We started a wee bit flatly against Ayr but we can not afford to do that against a Thistle."