PARTICK THISTLE assistant Alan Archibald is hoping that the Jags can record their fourth league win in five outings when his side travel to Alloa Athletic this afternoon.

The former captain and manager has been impressed with the team’s recent form and believes Thistle are gaining momentum after securing a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Greenock Morton at Cappielow last weekend.

Archibald told the club’s website: “It was great to go into New Year’s with that win over Morton. The lads were outstanding and it was definitely one of our best performances this season, particularly in defence. We kept them at bay for most of the game and the only times they really threatened were set-pieces.

“It was great to see [Thistle on the front foot] and I think it’s because they’re on a good run. We were really disappointed to lose the game against Dundee but it was a tight game and we’ve won every other game in December so the boys have got that belief which so you saw from the start at Cappielow.”

A good crowd of Thistle supporters made the short journey to Greenock last weekend and Archibald is confident of a sizeable away contingent in Clackmannanshire this afternoon.

“We’ve had great backing over the festive period, especially on away days and it was great to win both the away games last month,” he added.

“In both games the players celebrated the winner with the fans and you could really see what it meant so hopefully we get more of that tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Dundee manager

James McPake insists he has no concerns over losing

playmaker Graham Dorrans this month.

The Dens Park side can draw level with Inverness in second this weekend if they beat John Robertson’s team at home.

But the Dark Blues faithful have been left concerned after seeing reports claiming MK Dons manager Russell Martin is tracking his former Rangers team-mate Dorrans.

However, McPake is confident the 32-year-old is going nowhere.

He said: “Everybody has got an option to leave, genuinely. Everybody has got a price in football.

“Every manager during this window will be worried their top performers are attracting attention from other clubs.

“But am I concerned? No, I have not had a conversation with Graham regarding it, I don’t need to.

“He’s been training very well again this week. He’s at a level where he wants to be, consistently playing 90 minutes.

“So I am not surprised [at the speculation]. I think over the coming month there will be a lot of talk in the press regarding Graham, as there will be other players in this league and this city in particular.

“Saturday is big. We need to be higher up the league to be more consistent with our

performances.”