Chris Erskine wants to lead from the front and help Partick Thistle clamber up the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

The Jags head into tonight’s key encounter with Hamilton Accies in buoyant mood following a first league win of the season against Dundee at the weekend.

Despite Thistle’s toils, Erskine has managed five goals so far this season and is well on course to beat last year’s haul of nine in all competitions.

As one of the more experienced members of the Firhill side, Erskine, 30, is keen to play his part in the resurgence and drive his team-mates on.

He said: “Being one of the more experienced players I want to do my bit. That comes with the territory. You have to try to help the boys through it. I’ve been through a few bad runs and we’ve come out the other side. The manager always tells as to stick together. That’s what will get us out of this situation. We are not out of the woods yet and there’s lots of hard work to do. We didn’t play well on Saturday but working as one is the main thing.”

Thistle’s win on Saturday, which was clinched by a stoppage time goal from Miles Storey, was hardly a classic performance but at least in lightened Erskine’s mood both on and off the park.

He added: “I do take my work home with me and it happens to everybody. That’s the way football is. If you don’t win you’re in a bad mood for the whole weekend. You come in every week hoping to do well in training and sort it the following week. We just wanted to get the win. The Mrs is happier this week too.

"I had a bit of a nightmare on Saturday but apart from that I’ve been doing ok. I’ve got a few goals. But you want the team to be winning as opposed to just you scoring goals. We need to marry those together now.”