McNamara praises five star Thistle

Jackie McNamara: Manager was delighted with his side.© SNS Group

Partick Thistle manager Jackie McNamara has praised his team after a fantastic 5-0 win over Queen of the South in Dumfries at the weekend.

Two goals from Kris Doolan and strikes from Christie Elliot, Chris Erskine and Stephen O’Donnell sealed three points for Thistle and consolidated the club’s fourth position in the Scottish First Division.

McNamara told STV: “It was a big game for us. A tricky game, in the sense that Queens are down there fighting to get off the bottom.

“They had a good result last week against Raith. We were anticipating a big battle, but we handled it well. We passed well and looked very dangerous. We have struggled away from home this year, but we scored five goals and secured an away win.

“The week before at Falkirk, I thought we were excellent. We looked good, we looked dangerous. We played like a team, we defended as a team. We should have won that. Saturday though seemed to click for us.”

McNamara praised the contribution of all the players on show for the Maryhill team, in particular on-loan Hibs midfielder Sean Welsh.

He added: “It has been difficult for him. In his first game, he played against Livingston which wasn’t great for the whole team. He had a problem with his back as well. He did well last week and looked good, especially second half.”

The football world is currently in shock following the collapse of Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba during Saturday’s FA Cup game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The 23-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and remains in a critical condition in a London hospital.

The incident brought back horrible memories for sports fans following the death of Motherwell player Phil O’Donnell, a former Celtic teammate of McNamara’s, after he suffered from a cardiac arrest while on the pitch in 2007.

Speaking about the weekend’s incident, McNamara said: “For me, it took the joy out of the win on Saturday. I heard it on the radio as I was driving back home. It put me back down to earth. I was in a good mood given the way we have played and the result. For me, it was a sickener.

“We don’t know what the outcome is going to be for the lad, but you just hope there is not any bad damage and that he is going to pull through.

“In the Premiership, the footballers are all highly paid. They are exceptional, like movie stars, but at the end of the day they are human beings doing their job. I think anyone watching it will be touched by it.”

The manager’s attention now turns to next weekend, when Thistle will host league leaders Ross County. The last time the two sides met earlier this month, The Jags were on the end of a 3-0 defeat in Dingwall. McNamara does not believe Saturday’s great win will have any effect on the focus of the team this week in preparation for the tough tie.

The manager said: “I don’t think the boys will get carried away. They enjoy the moment. We had them back in this morning and it was good training session, a good atmosphere, which usually helps. When it gets nearer the weekend, we will gear up for that.

“They (Ross County) have only lost one game this year. They have been very strong, especially mentally. They are a good experienced team who are difficult to beat. They have had a very good season.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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