The teams are struggling to escape the lower reaches of the league table and with only one point of separation this meeting is viewed by both camps as an important test. Thistle’s drastic record at Fir Park, no wins since January 1996, suggests the home side will come out on top but Mark McGhee knows that his side will have to play well to win.
Our manager has had a fortnight to come to terms with the ‘goal that never was’ at Dens Park. The error’s effect on the outcome of that game is uncertain but it is to be hoped that the injustice can be used to spur the men in claret and amber to raise their game this weekend.
News that Carl McHugh has resumed light training is welcome but it seems that Lee Lucas’ knee injury will keep him out. The likelihood will be for the Motherwell side to be the same as started against Dundee.
Thistle are on a decent run that has one defeat in their last five outings. In October they had wins at McDiarmid and Dens. They have a few midfielders on the injury list: Fraser, Lawless and Bannigan.
If supporters can fight their way through the traffic disruption due to the M74 closure a close battle is likely but if the officials deign to award us the correct decision for forcing the ball over the line we may enjoy a 1-0 victory.
Remember the last visit of Partick Thistle?