CONRAD BALATONI hopes victory over Motherwell can be the springboard to a sustained run of success for Partick Thistle this season.

Alan Archibald's side recorded their third Premiership win of the campaign with a 3-1 triumph over the Steelmen on Saturday to climb to seventh in the top-flight standings.

It has been a frustrating few weeks for the Jags as their form has faltered and they have failed to build on wins over Ross County, Inverness Caley Thistle and St Mirren.

A trip to Tannadice is next on the agenda when the domestic action resumes after the international break and Balatoni is pleased the Jags have something to build on a week on Saturday.

He said: "If you lose, you are always looking to rectify that as soon as possible and with us not having a game this weekend it would have been a long break for us.

"It is nice to get the three points, we needed them. It was a big game for us.

"We didn't play well against Kilmarnock and we knew Motherwell would be a bit low on confidence after their results recently.

"We are not consistent enough and we know that. We need to add that to our game and start putting performances and results together.

"Two or three wins on the bounce can put you right up the table and we are looking to do that.

"We have got tough games against Dundee United and St Johnstone coming up but we are going into them with a bit of confidence.

"We won the first game after the last international break so hopefully we can do it again. It will be a tough game against United but we know we can hurt teams.

"We are always building and working hard and we showed against Motherwell that our workrate is as good as our play."

It was to prove a satisfying afternoon all round for Thistle on Saturday as they turned in an impressive performance and claimed a deserved three points.

Goals from Stuart Bannigan and Kris Doolan had the Jags in control at Firhill before Lionel Ainsworth's spectacular effort gave Stuart McCall's side hope.

But there was no late collapse this time from Archibald's side as Thistle extended their lead through Stephen O'Donnell to ease over the line.

Balatoni said: "When they score, you know they have halved the deficit and they just need one more to deny you the win. But we held firm and defended well as a team.

"We picked them off on the counter-attack and it was a great finish from Sod [O'Donnell]. It shows the energy he has, he got up and down the wing all day and was still doing it in the last few minutes."

VICTORY over the out-of-sorts Steelmen continued Thistle's solid Firhill form this season as they recorded their fourth win on home soil.

That is in stark contract to last term when it took Archibald's side until February to clinch their first three points and Balatoni hopes there is plenty more to come.

He said: "Last year it just didn't happen for us at home. We were putting in the performances but not killing teams off and getting the points.

"We have got that killer edge, we have a bit of bite in midfield and we are stronger in defence. We know how to see games out.

"We have brought in some experienced players and that is helping the team, who have a year's experience at this level now. So that does bode well for the future hopefully."