KALLUM Higginbotham is confident time will cure Partick Thistle's problems this season.

Alan Archibald's side return from their two-week break with a tricky trip to high-flying Motherwell this afternoon as they look to kickstart their survival bid.

The Jags are embroiled in a four-way fight to avoid the relegation play-off spot this term, but could have found themselves further up the table as a number of points have slipped through their grasps.

Higginbotham knows the pressure to get points is increasing all the time as he gears up for his Fir Park return today.

He said: "We have just gone through training the way we would do any other week.

"It is becoming more important every week that we get points and catch the teams above us. Nothing is different and we look at more that we are missing playing rather than getting a break.

"With each game that goes by we are getting closer and closer to the end of the season.

"But I think we are in a position which we don't deserve to be in as we have played some really good stuff this season, but it is late goals and things like that which have prevented us from picking up points.

"A lot of our boys have never played in the top flight before and you look at clubs like Kilmarnock where they have guys like Kris Boyd.

"He gets them late goals or whatever, and unfortunately we have been on the end of some of those.

"When we played Hearts here we scored in the 86th minute and they equalised straight away - that shows that we need to see games out when we get into a good position.

"That is something we have not done, but hopefully that will change this weekend."

Boss Archibald has called for his players to be more "streetwise" in recent weeks as they look to pick up Premiership points.

Defender Lee Mair has added much-needed experience to the Jags rearguard since joining from relegation rivals St Mirren.

Higginbotham said: "The bunch of players we have are still young.

"We brought in Lee Mair and he has given us a bit more experience and you can see that as we've only conceded twice in the last three games. The experience helps and having Mair there has brought Conrad Balatoni on in those games.

"It's unfortunate that other defenders are now out of the team but if it is working then you can't really say anything.

"Hopefully it will help us start to pick up points."

Another two of Archibald's January signings - Lyle Taylor and George Moncur - have become Higginbotham's housemates since making their moves north.

The former Falkirk star said: "George has moved in with me and Lyle. He's a good lad, though I've not really seen him play.

"I think he played for the reserves the other night and scored a goal so he will be chomping at the bit to get into the first team.

"He looks like an Essex boy. He's got his earrings in and loves a sunbed, I think he is definitely bringing Essex to Scotland."