CHRIS ERSKINE insists there is no need to push the panic button as Partick Thistle battle for their Premiership place.

Alan Archibald's side are 11th in the top flight standings and embroiled in a four-way tussle to beat the drop alongside St Mirren, Ross County and Kilmarnock.

The Jags blew a chance to climb the table as they threw away all three points against Motherwell on Saturday, the Steelmen edging a seven-goal thriller at Fir Park as Thistle's barren run continued.

It was the latest in a long line of agonising results for Partick as they have seen a number of promising situations turn sour and suffered defeats when on course for much-needed victories.

Erskine was instrumental in helping the Jags into the top flight as they claimed the First Division crown last season and the forward is confident they can still retain their Premiership status.

He said: "It was always going to be like that. When you come up, nobody expects you to stay up and you are always the favourites to go back down again.

"The boys have done well this season but the results haven't been coming for us.

"The objective at the start of the season was to stay up and stay in the league and that hasn't changed. It is still possible.

"There is a lot of football still to be played and there is nothing for certain yet."

He went on: "It was hard to take losing two late goals on Saturday.

"We attack as a team and defend as a team, it is not the forwards' fault or the defenders' fault.

"We have scored goals recently but we need to stop conceding them and we will only do that by working together."

After seeing another three points slip through their grasp in Lanarkshire, things don't get any easier for Archibald's side as they gear up for the visit of Aberdeen this weekend.

The Dons have been in superb form in recent weeks and are favourites to finish best of the rest behind Celtic this term.

Thistle have already suffered three defeats at the hands of the Pittodrie side this season, shipping eight goals without reply as they have failed to gather any points and crashed out of the Scottish Cup.

But Erskine is determined to end Thistle's barren run against Derek McInnes' side as they look to get their survival bid back on track and finally end their home hoodoo.

He said: "They have been brilliant. You looked at their squad at the start of the season and you thought they would be really strong.

"That has proven to be the case. They have been the best team outwith Celtic.

"They have beaten us a couple of times already this season so hopefully we can change that.

"We are still looking for our first home win of the season as well unfortunately.

"We were great at Firhill last season but it hasn't happened for us so far this year."