JANUARY hasn't quite gone to plan for Partick Thistle.

The first month of 2014 could have given the Jags the springboard to SPFL Premiership survival, but they remain embroiled in the battle to beat the drop after another handful of what-might-have-beens.

After an encouraging performance against Celtic at Parkhead and victory over doomed Hearts, the matches against Ross County, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and St Mirren were hugely significant for the Jags.

They rounded off the sequence in Paisley as they collected their third point in four games, but they remain 11th in the standings as February looms.

"It is even better that Ross County lost," defender Jordan McMillan said in the aftermath of their goalless Buddies battle.

"But we are doing it from a personal point of view. We are just trying to get performances and as many results as we can.

"We got another clean sheet and that is the most important thing for us.

"We got that on Saturday and it was away from home. Paisley is not an easy place to go to. Taking into consideration the park, it is a good point.

"We haven't picked up as we would have liked but there is always room for improvement. We are no different from anyone else and the teams around about us will be saying the same.

"It is about taking each day as it comes and each game as it comes. We are working hard in training every day trying to rectify things and get better.

"We are getting there slowly but surely and I think we will come good by the end of the season."

A point in Paisley is, of course, better than nothing for Archibald's side as they turned in another decent performance in horrendous conditions, but it was to come at a cost.

Thistle lost winger Kallum Higginbotham before the half hour after a Jason Naismith challenge left him requiring stitches on a knee wound.

And, with Chris Erskine unable to play against parent club Dundee United this weekend, McMillan hopes the former Falkirk forward is back in action sooner rather than later.

He said: "We didn't think Kallum's knock was bad at first when he got up. Then he saw it and looked at it and got a shock. He has had to get it stitched. It is a nasty gash. I am sure he will be okay for the next game.

"Kallum had the beating of the boy, he has skipped round and the lad has taken him out. He has gone for the ball but he has swiped at Kallum as well. He was lucky, to be honest.

"It will be a big blow if he is out for a few weeks. We have got players that can fill in in that position, though

"That is the beauty of having a big squad and we have got that just now.

"But Kallum is a big player for us so I hope it isn't as bad as it looks. They have stitched it up, so I don't think it will be, to be honest."

The Higginbotham incident was not the only flashpoint in an end-to-end clash, with McMillan picking up a booking for a first-half challenge on Saints skipper Jim Goodwin.

The pair threw themselves into a 50-50 battle with typical vigour, but the Jags star was aggrieved to fall foul of whistler John Beaton.

McMillan said: "I said to the ref both of us are committed and going for the ball. Jim screamed louder than me and he got the foul. I wish I had shouted a bit louder.

"To be fair, he got up and got on with it. He never moaned about it. I took the booking but I didn't think it was a booking.

"The two of us went for the ball committed and it was just a 50-50. You are taking that out the game a bit. The referees are there to make decisions."