ALAN ARCHIBALD reckons Partick Thistle felt sorry for themselves after a shocking start handed Celtic all three points at Firhill.

Goals from Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Stefan Johansen clinched a comfortable 3-0 win for the champions.

The Jags went into the derby clash determined to bounce back from Saturday's Scottish Cup exit to Inverness Caley Thistle, and Archibald made a raft of changes as Scott Fox, Conrad Balatoni, Callum Booth, Declan McDaid and Lyle Taylor came into the starting line-up.

Their hopes of a shock win were all but over before they had barely started, however, as they again shot themselves in the foot with poor defending.

The Firhill defence failed to clear their lines as Mackay-Steven netted after just 39 seconds and, when fellow new Parkhead arrival Armstrong got in on the act on the half hour mark, the writing was on the wall for Thistle.

Archibald said: "Our start made it so difficult for us. It was out centre and we gave them the ball with a poor centre. They had a corner after 20 seconds and got a bit of luck, but I think our lads felt a bit sorry for ourselves for 25 minutes and let Celtic knock the ball about.

"We got a reaction in the latter part of the first half and in the second period as well. It is vital when you play Celtic that you don't give them goals, you have to make them work for them at least.

"We gave them a couple of goals last night and a few lads looked like they felt sorry for themselves. We got a bit of reaction.

"I told them to believe in themselves and make a game of it and be competitive all over the pitch. For 25 minutes in the first half, we stood and let them play and admired Celtic."

Like they did against Caley at the weekend, the Jags did improve after the break, but this time they never looked like mounting a comeback, with a sweet strike from Johansen clinching the points after 66 minutes.

Despite upping their game, clear chances were still hard to come by for Thistle, but they did pose more of an attacking threat, with sub Gary Fraser trying his luck from distance on a couple of occasions.

The Jags saw a shout for handball against Emilio Izaguirre waved away when Stuart Bannigan found himself in space inside the area.

Archibald said: "It was handball. I have had two or three given against us this year. You are not expecting to get them. We have had one penalty this year and I wasn't expecting to get another one against Celtic.

"It is hard for the referees. I wish they would take the grey area away and just make it handball, penalty or not, because it is as frustrating for them as much as it is for us.

"We had a bit of momentum and had a couple of chances, Lyle Taylor had a header in the first half and a couple of great balls whipped in, but you have got to take advantage of those chances against Celtic."

Archibald's side remain ninth in the Premiership, but attentions will now turn to the trip to Dundee at the weekend as they enter a crucial run of fixtures in their bid to climb the top-flight table.

And the Firhill boss was pleased with the performances of the five players who came into the side, despite ending the night on the wrong end of the scoreline.

Archibald said: "We had to freshen things up and we knew we would need some fresh legs out there. The boys came in and did really well."