Dundee Utd 0-2 Partick Thistle: Jags defence delights Archibald
Last updated on .From the section Football
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald paid tribute to his much-maligned defence after his side's 2-0 Premiership triumph at Dundee United.
Stephen O'Donnell's cracking curling effort and Jaroslaw Fojut's own goal helped ease the Jags' relegation fears.
But it was the back line who took the plaudits from Archibald.
"The defence have had a lot of stick," he said. "It was probably the strongest part of our game during the first half of the season. However, in the second half of the season we've lost a lot of goals.
"They've been silly goals too, by playing in the wrong areas. But here it was different as our defence was outstanding.
"I think it [the win] was badly needed because we had a couple of terrible results in recent months. So we're delighted with how the lads reacted.
"Overall we deserved the win. It was a great opening goal from Stephen O'Donnell."
United have now not won in four league games and manager Jackie McNamara admits they will need to improve hugely ahead of next week's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Celtic.
"We will have to play a lot better than we did here against Celtic," he said.
"It's all down to mentality and what better way to do it than in a cup quarter-final tie against Celtic.
"I thought we had one or two still feeling the effects of playing so long on Tuesday night against Inverness with just 10 men.
"We had a couple of chances to get back into it but all round it was quite a flat performance, like last Saturday against St Johnstone.
"It was disappointing because I had wanted the same energy and commitment as Tuesday night and didn't get that. But we have to move on and be positive."
