IAN McCALL admits that the previous weekend’s last-gasp defeat at the hands of promotion rivals Raith Rovers was a ‘kick in the teeth’ but the Partick Thistle manager is certain his players will be up for the fight against Dunfermline tomorrow.

The Jags host John Hughes’ relegation-threatened side knowing that a victory coupled with Raith dropping points away to Hamilton would confirm a play-off spot with a game to spare and the Thistle boss is determined to see his side get over the line.

Matej Poplatnik’s stoppage-time strike sealed a 1-0 win for John McGlynn;s men last weekend and McCall admits he deserves to take his fair share of the blame. With the game goalless as it approached its final stages, he threw caution to the wind when a more pragmatic approach could have reaped rewards.

“Last Saturday was a disappointment and I would take a bit of the blame myself because I still had an eye on third place,” McCall admitted. “I was trying to push them on when maybe in the last five minutes we should have been sitting in, taking a 0-0.

“Most games at Firhill are 0-0 or 1-0. That'll change for the start of next season I can assure you.

“I really felt it at the time, but come Monday morning you come in, you get them lifted and now they are all really focused for the game.

“They have got to understand it's as big a game for Dunfermline as it is for us, arguably it's bigger.

“It's hard to play well at home just now, or certainly the way we want to play, but the performance didn't merit a defeat.

“It happens in football, it was a kick in the teeth, and you've just got to react to it.”

Meanwhile, Thistle yesterday announced the signing of Falkirk forward Anton Dowds on a pre-contract agreement.

The striker's deal at the League One club expires at the end of the season, when the 25-year-old will complete his move to Firhill after signing a two-year contract.

The Jags have been linked with a pre-contract move for Cove Rangers full-back Harry Milne and the statement announcing Dowds' arrival hinted that another new signing will follow.

“Manager Ian McCall continues to work hard to build his squad for next season and hopefully our next signing announcement won’t be left back for too long,” the statement concluded.