Promotion bid is still alive despite defeat, says Partick Thistle stopper Maxy

Dec 9 2009

VETERAN defender Ian Maxwell insists Partick Thistle can get their promotion push back on track with a win over Airdrie United on Saturday.

Saturday's home defeat to Dundee leaves Thistle eight points behind the Dens Park men but Maxwell reckons they can bounce back.

Ex-St Mirren and St Johnstone stopper Maxwell is confident Jags boss Ian McCall has built a squad strong enough to compete with the big spending Taysiders.

The 34-year-old stopper said: "We have to take three points at Airdrie.

"Our defeat to Dundee was frustrating but eight points is not the end of the world and at this stage of the season there is still an awful long way to go.

"We have the quality and depth in the squad to come back at Dundee."

Meanwhile, McCall has urged the Firhill faithful to keep turning out in force and help the club keep holds of stars such as Jonny Tuffey and Liam Buchanan.

Thistle lost last year's player of the year Gary Harkins to league leaders Dundee after the Dens Parkers blew Thistle's offer to the player out the water.

And McCall is desperate to avoid a similar scenario when the transfer window opens next month.

Referring to the bumper 4500 crowd which attended Firhill on Saturday, McCall said: I can't stress enough the difference it could make to this football club if we could get that kind of gate at every home game.  

"It could make all the difference in keeping the next player like Gary Harkins at Firhill.

"It could make all the difference in keeping the likes of Liam Buchanan and Jonny Tuffey for years to come."