Partick Thistle vs Livingston preview - Skipper boost for Thistle

Posted Saturday, March 23, 2013 by PA

Captain Paul Paton will return to the Partick squad for Livingston's visit to the Firhill Stadium.

Paton is fit again after being kept on the sidelines for the past four weeks by an ankle injury.

Stuart Bannigan is suspended and Hugh Murray will miss out with a foot problem.

Jags boss Alan Archibald is looking forward to the game, he said: "Livingston like to play the game in a similar style to ourselves in that they pass and move really well.

"The two of us will look to do that in this meeting but to be honest, at this stage of the season, if it is not a classic and we win 1-0 I will settle for it."

Partick, who have won 13 of the 14 home fixtures in the First Division this season, are two points behind league leaders Morton with two games in hand.

Jesus Garcia Tena remains suspended for Livingston.

The defender should have served his one-match ban last Saturday but two postponements this week have seen the suspension carried on to the trip to Firhill.

Ross Docherty (groin) is also out while Keaghan Jacobs remains sidelined following knee surgery.

Interim manager Richie Burke is looking for win number three to strengthen his claims for the job on a permanent basis.

He said: "Thistle are a good side who have a good group of players but we are going there to win.

"I am not going to send a side out to try and steal a point as we are better than that. We will look to attack Thistle and see where that takes us."