Partick Thistle ‘will leave previous play-off in past’ with focus on now

Kris Doolan insists Partick Thistle have long since consigned last season’s Dingwall devastation to the past as they prepare for another tilt at the Premiership through the play-offs.

With around 20 minutes of the second leg of the play-off final away to Ross County remaining, the Jags were leading 3-0 on aggregate and heading for promotion.

However, in a remarkable finale, County fought back to salvage a 3-3 draw and retain their top-flight status with a penalty shootout win, to leave the Maryhill side distraught.

Doolan’s side finished third in this campaign – behind champions Dundee United and Raith Rovers – and will travel to face Airdrieonians in the Premiership play-off quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night, with the return game on Friday.

“There was a hangover for a week or so afterwards, everybody feels bad, it is a natural thing but in football if you dwell on things you end up going backwards or you stand still,” said the Thistle boss.

“We went back up to Ross County in the Scottish Cup and battered them.

“This club will not stand still on anything. We deal with it, we moved on.

“We brought players in who are fresh, who weren’t involved in that game and when we went back in the Scottish Cup, we got rid of all that.

“The team is a different team now so we are in a better position mentally for that reason.

“It is an exciting time if you get to the play-offs. We are looking forward to it.

“We are in really good form, the boys are confident and playing well.”

Doolan sidestepped an inquiry about reports claiming Robbie Crawford would be rejoining the Jags from Morton next season, saying: “We have not done anything yet, we have not moved anywhere on anything yet, we are focusing on this play-off.”

The Partick boss admitted his side would take “lots” from the 4-0 win over Airdrieonians last month but would assume nothing.

The former Jags striker said: “It will be a different game in terms of we won’t assume that because we won 4-0 in the last game it is automatic that it is going to happen again.

“I don’t think that you ever do that – especially in the play-offs.

“It is a clean slate for us but I am pretty sure if you ask anyone, if you have just beaten the team 4-0 in the last couple of weeks, it is a sore one.

“But you would expect a reaction then, so our players are well aware of that.

“No one will take anything for granted, we won’t take our eye off the ball.

“We will give them all the respect that they deserve because they have had a good season but we are coming in confident and looking after what we do.”

Airdrieonians midfielder Murray Aiken returned to action in the 2-0 defeat to Queen’s Park at Hampden Park last Friday to make his first appearance since fracturing his ankle in last Halloween’s defeat to Dundee United.

The Hibernian loanee is ready to help The Diamonds’ play-off bid and he told DTV: “It has definitely been a long way back with a few bumps along the way but I came through unscathed and I am happy with that.

“The boys have played well all season but I got some minutes in the legs and hopefully I will play some part in the play-offs. The boys are really up for it.”