ALAN ARCHIBALD says Partick Thistle can't feel sorry for themselves as they look to end a frustrating run of form.

The Jags have taken just seven points from seven league outings this term and are ninth in the Premiership standings ahead of the visit of Motherwell tomorrow afternoon.

Archibald was disappointed with a shoddy showing from his side as they crashed 3-0 to Kilmarnock last weekend. And the Firhill boss is eager to see his team show more steel in the heat of battle.

He said: "You can either fight to get it back or you can feel sorry for yourselves. Unfortunately we went the latter way and I said that to them.

"You've got to take responsibility, especially when some guys go off - important players who make things happen like Kallum Higginbotham.

"It's down to someone else to then take responsibility.

"I don't think it was a lack of spirit. It went 3-0 and we just thought we weren't getting back in the game.

"That's when all the other things kick in, like an astroturf pitch and the extra-time in the previous game. Players always look for excuses. You never hear them when you are winning.

"That's what happens in football. But the performance isn't like them. Hopefully it's just a blip and we get back to normal this week."

Defeat to Killie last weekend was Thistle's fourth top flight loss of the campaign as they failed to build on the League Cup win over St Mirren.

A lack of consistency cost Archibald's side dear last season as they narrowly missed out on a seventh place finish.

And the Jags boss is determined to keep looking at the positives to spark a sustained run of good form this term.

Archibald said: "You have to get the spirits up. You can't dwell on it for too long, you've got to move on.

"You don't want to drag video analysis on for too long and keep bringing up how terrible they were as that will then be the first thing they think of when they cross the line.

"You want to be positive. It's not just the results that are inconsistent. We're only doing it for spells in games - 40 or 60 minutes at times. Last year we were dominating matches and we want to get back to that.

"To do that you need to be brave on the ball and if you do that the consistency and the results should follow."

Thistle will be without talisman Higginbotham for the Well clash as he gets set to go under the knife to fix a knee injury.

The forward was forced off at Rugby Park last weekend and Archie has challenged his squad stars to step up to the plate.

He said: "We don't know exactly how long he will be out but it looks like a few weeks.

"Someone else will have to step in and we'll juggle things about. There were games last year when Higgy didn't do so well but we still won games.

"It gives someone else a chance and hopefully he'll only be out for three or four weeks."