RYAN STEVENSON hopes Partick Thistle can close one gap and increase another when they face Motherwell tomorrow.

The Jags host Ian Baraclough's side aiming to continue their solid run of form and give themselves breathing space at the foot of the Premiership standings.

After going down 2-0 to Celtic at Parkhead on Wednesday night, Thistle are just a point above Ross County and four in front of the Steelmen, but victory at Firhill could take Alan Archibald's side up eighth.

Stevenson said: "We can take a lot from our recent performances, including [Wednesday] night, and we'll take that into tomorrow.

"Motherwell are obviously just off the back of a 5-0 win as well, so they'll certainly be flying high, but we know exactly what is at stake.

"A win can get us further away from the teams underneath, but it can also close the gap between us and Kilmarnock.

"We've got to take the positives and look to catch those above us rather than looking over our shoulder. One big push tomorrow can get us a big step towards that."

It was to prove a disappointing night at Parkhead as a Kris Commons' penalty and a Stefan Johansen strike condemned Thistle to defeat.

James Craigen saw red in the build-up to the Hoops' opener and Stevenson was frustrated as the Jags were beaten.

"Up until the red card we always knew we were in the game," he told ptfc.co.uk

"They had chances early doors, but we weathered the storm and I think we matched them throughout most of the half. To lose a man and the goal just before the half-time whistle was a killer and we never recovered.

"Leading up to the break the feeling on the pitch was that we were well in the game. Higgy (Kallum Higginbotham) had his chance and we believed we could get a goal if we could just create another opportunity.

"We had defended well, too, so for the last kick of the half to be them scoring their penalty was really hard to take."