Partick Thistle host Dundee this evening with Jags boss Alan Archibald looking to consolidate their move away from the foot of the table.

The Jags ended a seven game winless run last Friday night with a 3-1 win in Dingwall, three points that lifted them off the foot of the table in time for Christmas. And Alan Archibald is determined that the Firhill side will continue their advancement up the table.

There are just three points between all six teams in the bottom half of the table, meaning that any small gain can be significant in terms of the positioning in the league.

“The whole first half of the season has just been like the race for the top six last year, towards the end of it,” said the Thistle manager. “It has been very similar. Going into the last few weeks it was so tight. A lot of teams could have made it and then the top six broke away and the bottom six were fighting it out and all it means is that there are very fine margins.

“There is not a lot in it and we know each other really well. I think it will be nip and tuck right through until the end of the season.

“It the game against your rivals that can be key. Dundee are just ahead of us so this gives us a chance to leapfrog them and these are games you need to take points from and it is something that we have struggled with this season, especially at home. Our home record has been poor apart from the opening game of the season which we won but other than that it hasn’t been a good return.”

Paul Hartley’s side head to Firhill just a point ahead of Thistle, but buoyed by a 3-2 win over Hearts, a result all the sweeter given that they came from two goals down to win it at the death.

And Archibald believes that they are arguably one of the in-form teams in the league at the minute, something he credits his own team with having a hand in.

“We probably helped turn Dundee’s season around,” he reflected. “We went up there and turned them over and then they went to Hamilton and changed their system and ever since then they have been fantastic – they have probably been one of the form teams in the league since then.

“They went to Hamilton with a back three and have stuck to that ever since and have had some really good performances and victories and they built on that the other night with a great comeback against Hearts. So we know how tough it is going to be. Paul has done fantastically well since losing key players at the start of the season.”

Callum Booth, meanwhile, would like to sign off before the three week winter break with a win – in order that the Thistle players can kick back and enjoy a belated festive party.

“There will be plenty time to enjoy ourselves when we get a break in January but this time of year we all need to be focused,” said Booth.

“All of the boys will be the same up and down the country where we need to watch what we are eating and drinking and stick to the water.

“We played Friday night and had a few days over Christmas where we could see our families.

“It’s a busy period but most players like it as training is shorter and the games come thick and fast where there are points to play for.

“It was three games in six days last week and this week is the same.

“It’s a massive incentive to move above Dundee, we have two home games and we haven’t been great at home this season but it’s always great to play under the floodlights.

“We’ve had a few night games recently and performed not too badly.

“We are about to reach the half way stage and it’s as though the league is starting again from scratch. We have all pretty much played the same teams once or twice so we are almost starting from scratch going into the January break.

“If we can get maximum points in these next two games it would give us a bit of a cushion but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”