RYAN STEVENSON hopes he won't have to wait until his sweet 16th before he comes of age at Partick Thistle.

The striker has endured a frustrating start to the season following his summer switch from Hearts and has yet to find the target in 12 appearances.

Stevenson was the headline capture of the close season for boss Alan Archibald as he fought off competition from Premiership rivals to land the sought-after 30-year-old.

And the former Tynecastle star is determined to prove the doubters wrong sooner rather than later at Firhill.

Stevenson said: "It has been disappointing. It has not been the start that I wanted.

"But I am not worrying about it. People jumping on the bandwagon and criticising you is the nature of the beast.

"In my first stint at Hearts I think I was 16 games before I scored and then that was me, I was off and running.

"I was 16 games the second time I went to Hearts before I scored as well.

"Once I get the goal I will be off and running. It will come sooner rather than later.

"It is disappointing I haven't got off to the start that I wanted to but I will keep my head down and work hard.

"I have never shied away from working hard.

"I will turn the corner, there is no doubt about that."

Stevenson was not the only Jags star who endured a frustrating afternoon in front of goal as Archibald's side lost to Aberdeen on Sunday.

A couple of missed chances proved costly as they again failed to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time since their return to this level.

Stevenson said: "It was a game where there wasn't much in it and we didn't take our chances when we got them.

"It shows that if we want to climb the table and get to where we want to be in the league, most of the games are going to be like that, so we need to take our chances.

"We huffed and puffed at times and a lot of our attacks petered out unfortunately.

"It is something we need to learn from. When we have a bit of pressure we need to create chances and when we create them we need to take them.

"It is minor things in this league that make a big difference in each game and ultimately where you end up."

Thistle will take a break from their Premiership top six chase this weekend when they host Hamilton in the Scottish Cup fourth round.

And strike star Stevenson is eager to ensure the Accies clash is not the end of the Jags' Hampden dreams this season.

He said: "For us, it would be a good thing to go on a run.

"There is no reason why the squad of players we have got can't go on a good run.

"It is a big game for us on Saturday against a team that have had a really good start.

"We have had two tough games against Hamilton already this season and they will come here fancying their chances as much as we will.

"We will take the positives out of the Aberdeen game and hopefully start another run at the weekend."