Partick Thistle vs Falkirk preview - Jackie`s back for Thistle

Posted Saturday, February 19, 2011 by PA

Partick Thistle have added defender Jackie McNamara and winger Shaun Fraser to their squad to face Falkirk

The pair return to the squad after they recovered from the flu bug that has swept Firhill recently, but centre-back Willie Kinniburgh remains laid low and has been ruled out.

The Jags assistant Ian Maxwell is predicting a tight encounter saying: "We have played each other four times already this season and the games between us have been incredibly tight. There have been three 1-0 wins and a draw. That shows how little there is between the sides.

"We are hoping that someone in our side can come up with something a little bit special to tip things our way in the same manner as the last two games against Falkirk have been."

Falkirk welcome back midfielder Mark Millar from suspension for their fourth visit of the season to Firhill.

Millar is back from a ban and striker Tam McManus is also included in the travelling party with Bairns boss Steven Pressley advising that a couple of players are expected to shake off knocks from the midweek game at Dunfermline to play.

Pressley said: "Our game at Dunfermline in midweek saw two very open teams go out and attack each other.

"I do not think this game will be like that as Thistle like to close opponents down really quickly.

"We have played each other a lot this season and there is not much between us but if we play like we did at Dunfermline we will do well."