STEVEN LAWLESS reckons Partick Thistle are better equipped to thrive - and not just survive - this season after learning the Premiership ropes.

Alan Archibald's side finished tenth on their return to the top flight last term as they impressed with a series of eye-catching performances.

But while they achieved their main aim of retaining their Premiership place, it was a season of what-ifs for the Jags as a deserved higher league finish narrowly evaded them.

Thistle have taken four points from their first two fixtures against Ross County and Dundee and head into their clash with Hamilton Accies today in high spirits.

Lawless is confident a more street-wise side won't make the same mistakes twice.

He said: "Last year we were naive. When we were playing well, we were still trying to do things. Aberdeen, for example, are a lot wiser.

"That is the main thing from last year, we weren't killing games and taking the sting out of it. Hopefully we can do that more this year and pick up more points. We threw away a lot last year.

"The manager was telling us to be more street-wise. We did do some stupid things last year.

"We should have taken the ball into the corner and we were having a shot and the opposition has broken and put us under pressure.

"We are a year older now, we know what to expect in this league and it is about trying to learn from our mistakes of last year. A lot of teams took advantage of it against us last year.

"I don't know if Hamilton will be the same but, if they are, hopefully we can take advantage of it and get the three points."

Despite losing key men Aaron Taylor-Sinclair and Lyle Taylor in the summer, Thistle have made a solid start to the campaign as Archibald's latest recruits - Ryan Stevenson, Abdul Osman and Daniel Seabourne - have all impressed.

The Jags boss remains on the lookout for some more ­reinforcements before the end of the transfer window.

But Lawless is confident Thistle can already set their sights on a lofty league placing.

He said: "If we turn up and play the way we have been we can beat everyone in this league and give them a good game.

"As long as we perform, that is the most important thing.

"We want to put on a show at home and get as many points as we can. We can take a lot of encouragement from last year.

"We were only 10 minutes away from finishing seventh. That is how tight it was.

"Hopefully we can sort out the problems from last year when we were throwing points away. We dominated most games.

"If we can turn that into points then I don't see why we can't be up there in the top six.

"It is about learning from the mistakes."