IAN MAXWELL believes that Partick Thistle's Co-operative Insurance Cup victory over Dundee is concrete proof that the Jags must be considered serious First Division title challengers.

IAN MAXWELL believes that Partick Thistle's Co-operative Insurance Cup victory over Dundee is concrete proof that the Jags must be considered serious First Division title challengers.

The new Thistle skipper reckons that the Dens victory against the team leading the Irn-Bru First Division and home wins over fellow fancied sides Dunfermline and St Johnstone mean Thistle must now underscore their title ambitions.

And with the Jags having developed an impressive winning early season momentum that has seen them lose just once in eight outings, Maxy was in no mood to talk Thistle's superb form down.

He said: "Dundee were every bit as desperate as we were to make the next round and when the third third round draw is made on Monday, we're looking to draw a big name and with it the opportunity to make some decent money.

Maxwell also reckons the win shows Thistle have the guts top go on difficult away day missions and come back with vital wins.

He said: "In terms of the league I think it was also important. When you consider that Partick lost both their games at Dens Park last season pretty comfortably, we have put down a marker this time round that we have the quality to go to a place like Dens and do the business.

"I have to say that I thought we played the better football in any regard."

Maxwell has been a revelation on the left side of the Thistle central defence since his summer move from St Mirren. Repeatedly at Dens his expert reading of a Dee attack lead to a timely intervention with either head or boot.

On top of that, the big man's calm authority has allowed him to fill the void and take the vacant captain's band left by the long-term knee injury sidelining skipper Alan Archibald.

However, it has been Maxy's twin strikes in Jags last two games that have now begun to make him a firm favourite with the Firhill faithful.

And he admitted: "The goals have been a real bonus. The one against St Johnstone is without the best goal I have ever scored. I don't get many and that one was certainly worth the wait.

"As for the one at Dundee I have to hold my hands up and say that my first intention was to get a cross in and make big Rabd Douglas do some work.

I did try and place it in the general area but when I saw it fly over his head and into the net well let's just say that was a bonus!"

Next up for Jags is Saturday's visit of promoted Ross County and Maxy admits that this will provide a far different test for Ian McCall's increasingly impressive Jags.

The Thistle skipper said: "We have shown so far, with the exception of the blip at Queen of the South, that we are good enough to handle the promotion favourites now it is time to show we can maintain our standards against the less fancied sides.

"We have some real momentum going and it would be criminal to blow that at home against County so we must be on our mettle.

"But with the fans behind us at Firhill right now we fancy the job against anybody."