Partick Thistle assistant praying for home comforts against Dundee

Dec 4 2009 By Fraser Wilson

Firhill Stadium

GERRY BRITTON insists the rock solid foundation Partick Thistle have built at Firhill this season can help them topple league leaders Dundee in the SFL's game of the day.

The Jags have gone all-out to promote Saturday's clash under the banner of 'Glasgow's Big Game' and hope over 6000 home fans will fill the Jackie Husband Stand to roar on their side.

Assistant boss Britton knows the importance of a good result against Jocky Scott's men who went top of the table on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win at Ross County.

A win would take Thistle to within two points of the Dens Parkers. Defeat would see Scott's side build a commanding eight-point gap over their Glasgow rivals.

All of which has left Britton - a playing legend at both clubs - in no doubt as to what the Jags need to do.

He said: "We have a fantastic record at Firhill this season - we have lost only one game in the league and lost only three goals in the process.

"So that tells you one of our main strengths and we have got to keep working towards that in terms of our defensive record.

"We have to be strong and if we can stop teams playing especially at Firhill then we feel we have a chance because we have guys in the team who are capable of scoring goals - guys like Buchanan, Lovell, Donnelly and guys from deeper who can chip in with goals aswell."

Britton says the Jags players are bursting at the seams to get at Dundee and avenge October's 2-0 defeat on Tayside.

On that occasion only an inspired Tony Bullock stopped Thistle taking at least a point from a game they dominated.

He said: "Coming on the back of our result last Saturday against Inverness there's been a good feeling about the place this week.

"You can sense the urgency and anticipation in the boys that you always get in the build up to a game like this.

"There's no denying Dundee are a strong squad and are top of the table on merit. They have been consistent and have ground out results when they have had to.

"The guy who seems to be making them tick right now is Gary Harkins who we know very well. He is one we will have to watch closely on Saturday."

Thistle manager Ian McCall has almost a full squad at his disposal with only top scorer Liam Buchanan missing as he continues to recover from a hernia operation.

Steve Lovell is expected to keep his place up front after last week's matchwinning performance against Inverness.

To view the full interview with Gerry Britton, click here.