ALAN ARCHIBALD believes his Partick Thistle side get no favours from linesmen whenever officials have to work in front of Rangers and Celtic fans at Firhill.

The Jags boss felt his players were hard done by in their 2-0 defeat, primarily because a Ryan Edwards goal, in his eyes, was wrongly flagged before Rangers had scored their first goal.

Archibald, and he’s hardly alone here, suspects the travelling support which occupies the Jackie Husband stand when either of the Old Firm are in Maryhill, have a huge effect on anyone who dares give a decision against their team.

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“The goal that gets chopped off isn’t offside,” said the frustrated Thistle manager. “It’s clearly onside I have been told.

"That’s disappointing. We don’t get often get those decisions when the linesman is on that side.”

When asked whether the linesman at that side of the pitch is influenced by the crowd directly behind him, as was the case last night, Archibald said: “Well, he (Edwards) is on-side and the header in the first-half, he’s a yard on-side for that one and he gave offside to that.

"Maybe it’s coincidental. I’m not sure. You would have to ask him.”

“When are we going to get VAR up here? I don’t think there’s enough money in the Scottish game as it is.

“It’s just frustrating from our point of view. The first goal in this league is massive against any team, not just the bigger ones.

"If we get that goal, then just maybe it’s a different game.”

Thistle had their moments, particularly in the first-half, but their failure to take their few opportunities, not surprisingly, came back to haunt them.

They were undone by two terrific goals, scored by Josh Windass and James Tavernier, but Archibald was left cursing his team’s inability to convert the good chances they created.

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He said: “I thought we started the game really brightly, especially the first 30 minutes. We were comfortable, had some chances, but we didn’t take them.

“Connor Sammon should have scored (before half-time) and in the form he is on you do expect the net to bulge.

“Look, Rangers scored two good goals. We could pick the bones out of the second, we could defend it better, and the defending the ball up to the striker should be better, but the boy does have a good finish.

“That knocked the stuffing out of us after all the effort we put into the second-half. The timing of their goals hurt us the most.

“We did have a good few opportunities, we were on top for a time, and we needed to take our chances then, and that is something we need to improve.

"We have to be more clinical.”