DAN SEABORNE reckons he and Frederic Frans can provide the base for Partick Thistle to power up the Premiership after their new-look defensive partnership shut out St Mirren.

After seeing his side ship nine goals in two games against Celtic and Hamilton, the Partick Thistle boss made a change at the heart of his defensive line at the weekend as Frans replaced Conrad Balatoni in the starting line-up.

A misfiring Saints strikeforce offered little attacking threat but the red and yellow rearguard looked solid in Paisley as they claimed a vital shut-out and victory.

Christie Elliott got the only goal of the game to take Thistle up to eighth in the Premiership standings as full-backs Stephen O'Donnell and Jordan McMillan also played their part.

Seaborne said: "1-0 and a clean sheet is a defender's dream. Sod, Jordan and Freddy were excellent for us. It was important to get a clean sheet and hopefully it is something we can build on.

"Freddy has been great. He and Conrad played really well together a few weeks ago and he was great alongside me.

"It was a good test for us, they played two up front and were physical and he stood up to it well.

"It was a bit of a dogged fight at centre-half but he stood up to it well and there are good things to come from him."

Victory in Paisley was Thistle's first since the 3-1 Firhill triumph over Motherwell a month ago as they claimed a deserved three points.

The Buddies clash came a week after the Jags were denied at the death by Accies but there was to be no late heartache this time around.

And Seaborne reckons they are on the right track as they look to hit a sustained run of form in the coming weeks.

He said: "We got the three points on Saturday so four from the last two games isn't a bad return.

"I know there is a lot of focus on us getting back-to-back wins and it should have been back-to-back wins so that is a bit disappointing.

"But it was important to go into the break on a high and then we have got the Aberdeen game.

"That is a big one for us, we didn't turn up against them the last time and were too easy to beat. So we owe them one and we have got to show what we can do."

Thistle head into the international break in high spirits and looking forward to their return to action when the Dons visit Firhill a week on Sunday.

The Jags are just five points adrift of sixth-placed Dundee in the standings as they look to continue their progression up the Premiership.

Seaborne said: "Personally, and as a club, getting into the top six is the aim.

"That is where we want to be, it is within our reach and, to be honest, we should have been there just now when you look at the points we have thrown away this season.

"It was a really positive weekend for us so we can enjoy the break and then work up to the Aberdeen game and look to put a run together."