KYLE TURNER insists that Partick Thistle still have to be considered Championship title contenders after a late penalty from Kevin Holt secured a 1-0 win for the Jags over Queen of the South on Tuesday night.

Both teams struggled to get going in a first half that was played in a torrential downpour at Firhill before the home side gained the upper hand after the break.

Holt’s late winner was the Thistle defender’s second in five days after the 28-year-old steered in the decisive goal against Inverness on Friday night and Turner admits that it was vital that the team found away to get over the line and cut the gap with league leaders Arboath to six points, having played one fewer game.

“That is two in a row where we have left it late but it was a massive win for us,” the playmaker said. “You can see how difficult it is with the pitch but I thought we deserved it with the second-half performance.

“At this point in the season you just want to be winning games and making sure we are staying within touching distance of the teams above us.

“In the changing room you set out your ambitions and we wanted to finish as high as possible. It is an old cliche about taking every game as it comes but you do know how difficult and tight this league can be. Everyone can beat one another.

“It will be hard for us to win every one of our games but that has to be the aim. But the next game is always the most important one.

“Arbroath and Kilmarnock seem to keep getting results so all we can do is concentrate on ourselves and see where that takes us.

“The spirit and mentality within the squad is good and I think we believe we always have chances and goals in us. It is maybe about taking them. We had a few good chances in the second half on Tuesday night so it is about trying to make sure we are taking them.

“But we feel positive and excited now for the games that are coming.”