ALAN ARCHIBALD has challenged his players to prove they have what it takes to earn Partick Thistle a top six berth this season.

The Jags' ambitions of finishing in the top half of the Premiership table suffered another blow on Saturday as they went down 2-0 to St Johnstone in Perth.

Thistle are ninth in the standings but now eleven points adrift of the Saints as they missed a chance to gain ground on Dundee and Kilmarnock in the mid-table battle.

With a seven point gap to St Mirren in eleventh, there is no need to push the panic button just yet and worry about the prospect of another fight against relegation this term.

But Archibald knows his side must start showing some consistency and picking up points as they get set for quick-fire crunch clashes against Hamilton Accies, Killie and the Buddies.

He said: "We are still looking up the table, but it is difficult with St Johnstone - I think that is them out of our sight now.

"This was a chance to claw it back while we had a couple of games in hand [on some of the sides above]. Now there are a couple of teams coming behind us who will be looking up and trying to grab our coat-tails.

"We need to put a run together. That is something we have not done.

"We have thrown the gauntlet down to the players and think they can, but they have to show the belief to go and do that.

"We played St Johnstone six or seven games ago and they were happy with a draw. They have since put a run together and are now in the top six - that is the difference between us and them.

"It is a big month for us and we need to get everyone fit. We are down to the bare bones at the moment, with suspensions and injuries."

It was to prove another frustrating day at the office for Archibald and his players as goals early in either half from defenders Dave McKay and Steven Anderson gave Saints the win.

Thistle suffered another injury blow as sought-after right back Stephen O'Donnell was forced off midway through the second period.

And Archibald admits the Jags shot themselves in the foot as they handed St Johnstone the points at McDiarmid Park.

He said: "The first goal we had a chance to clear it, we didn't and then they obviously got the deflection which helped it go in.

"But after those first 10 minutes I thought we were the better team in the first half. Ryan Stevenson was unlucky hitting the bar and that was the difference I think.

"In the second half we started well enough and then switched off at a corner - you can't do that against a good side like St Johnstone.

"St Johnstone are a hard enough team to play against without giving them a goal head-start. "I think there is plenty to be optimistic about but we lost goals to a deflection and a set-play."