Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald says that his players know the dire predicament they are now in as they battle for Premiership survival, but that all hope is not yet lost.

Thistle went bottom of the table on goal difference after a horrendous display allowed County to leapfrog the visitors in the standings.

But after the disappointment on the night in Dingwall, Archibald urged an instant reaction from his men..

“It is a tough run-in, but we have to concentrate and get a reaction, that’s for sure," Archibald said. "Yes, we’re bottom of the table but we’re in touching distance. As long as there’s chance, we’ve got to try and get results.

“I think the players have been aware of the predicament for a long time. That’s not changed.

“We got off the bottom just before Christmas, but we’ve never been far away from it.

“They know where we are, the consequences of it and know there are livelihoods at stake. I’m sure they know.”

Thistle failed to produce a reaction on the night after falling behind in the first half, eventually capitulating to a 4-0 defeat that could have been even heavier.

“We knew the first goal was going to be pivotal tonight," said Archibald. “They got the first goal and really kicked on. We didn’t get a reaction from it.

“We put a couple of subs on at half-time to get a reaction, forward-thinking players. But they didn’t get a chance to get into the game because our defending was so poor. It was schoolboy stuff. We had three warnings before the third goal and a lack of desire for the fourth as well.

“The fight died out towards the end. At 3-0 the game is over, but at 2-0 it isn’t. We looked for a reaction at half-time and didn’t get it."