Partick vs Dundee preview - Archibald banned for Dundee visit

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 by PA

Partick will be without captain Alan Archibald when they host Dundee.

The central defender starts his two-game ban for violent conduct in last Friday night's game with Hamilton.

Archibald's absence could see Willie Kinniburgh return after five months out a following a hip operation.

Manager Jackie McNamara will also be without midfielder Iain Flannigan through a back injury with the Thistle chief looking for his men to bounce back from two late disappointments.

McNamara said: "We have lost our last two games 1-0 in the last minute.

"There has been nothing in the games but we have come away with nothing from either one and that is quite sore. A win over Dundee would be the perfect tonic."

Dundee's only absentee is winger Nicky Riley, who remains absent due to an ankle injury.

The Dark Blues will need to put the disappointment of losing to Kilmarnock in their Scottish Cup replay on Tuesday night behind them to keep their title challenge going.

Manager Barry Smith said: "We were pretty low after going out but the players deserve great credit for competing so well against Kilmarnock so there should be no hangover or anything like that.

"Thistle will also be disappointed after losing their last two games and they will be out to rectify that.

The fact that a win would take them to within four points of us with a game in hand shows you that they will be very dangerous opponents."