Alan Archibald today urged his Partick Thistle defenders to concentrate on the basics as the Firhill side try to steer their way out of danger.

The Jags have slumped to ninth in the Premiership table and are currently just seven points off the relegation mire.

A journey to Tannadice awaits tomorrow, and Archibald wants his side to maintain their concentration when it comes to trying to grind out results and get back on to an even keel.

"I keep saying to the defenders that we need to get back to defending rather than trying to play at the wrong times," he said.

"We are losing goals because of it. We had the best record in the bottom half of the league around Christmas and January because we were defending so well, but we have lost goals through playing in the wrong area.

"We have not played enough football. We haven't moved the ball quickly enough. Just from a defensive point of view, a lot of the goals we have lost have been of our own making."

It has been a long week for Thistle, who lost 3-1 at Firhill to Ross County last Saturday.

Archibald has admitted there has been an air of despondency about the club and he is well aware that Thistle can ill-afford to indulge in feeling sorry for themselves at such a crucial point in the campaign.

"It has been a long week," he said." It is not easy. It has been a sore couple of days, especially Monday. We watched the game again and went over it and had a look back to see what we did wrong and to see the little things we did right, but there wasn't many there.

"On Monday and Tuesday, yeah, we definitely did have to lift things. When you are on a bad run you have got to.

"But you always have another game in football, which is a good thing, albeit that it is at Tannadice."

And Archibald believes that being down at the dangerous end of the table could provide enough of a jolt to his team to take the threat of relegation seriously.

"I think they are well aware now," said Archibald. " Last week the performance, as well as Ross County beating us, just highlights that there are only seven points in it.

"They know that now, yes, and they are well aware of it. They get asked all the time about teams in the top six, but that is gone now and we just need to concentrate on winning the next game.

"You have got to use every experience you can and you know that one result can be round the corner which could turns things around.

"I think other teams in the bottom half have already gone on a run like this, but we haven't.

"This is our run. We have always had a couple and then won or drawn one.

"This is the first time this has happened to us, and we have to get ourselves out of it."

Jackie McNamara's United have failed to register a win in their last three outings, and Archibald added: "They are in a national final [against Celtic] so I wouldn't say they are struggling.

"I know they have lost a couple of games and they drew the other night against Inverness Caley, but they are a good side."

*Jags season ticket holders will benefit from a discounted gate price on Tayside as part of a reciprocal pricing agreement in place between Thistle and Dundee United.

Arabs fans gained cheaper entry to Firhill earlier in the season and away supporters can see the game for £15, with under-16s going free, if they show their season ticket card at the turnstiles.