Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald is hoping his side can continue to display a calm, considered approach to their performances after admitting some of the decisions his players had been making bordered on insanity.

The Jags will look to build on their recent upturn in fortunes when they host St Johnstone on Ladbrokes Premiership duty at Firhill tomorrow.

Thistle had been stuck in a serious rut but hauled themselves out of it with a last-gasp win against Dundee last weekend which gave them a much-needed first league victory of the season.

The Maryhill men, who shared the spoils with Hamilton on Tuesday night, still remain at the foot of the table on goal difference but Archibald has been encouraged by the fact that his players are now keeping their heads instead of losing them.

He said: “That was a big satisfying thing for me, their decision making. Look, against Dundee I thought we looked desperate in our decision making and you could see we left ourselves wide open. It was a desperation to win the game and we forgot all about the organisation side of it. We got that against Hamilton the other night, we started well and when we attacked we looked organised. A lot of it comes down to confidence because when you are on a bad run it’s not good.

“The squad has always been strong. I think the injuries have obviously hindered that in terms of having a few leaders missing but when you are in a bad run like that it always affects somebody. It affects their decision making and sometimes they aren’t hiding but sometimes they’ll take it and do some crazy things. When you watch the Dundee game back some of the decision making was madness. We were lucky enough to go and win the game and I thought they showed great character and the same the other night again. Hopefully we can take that into Saturday.

“The club is a better place because of a win and a draw and the performance the other night was better. The performance against Hamilton, I know from a football point of view it wasn’t a classic but, from a manager’s point of view it was much better in terms of being organised and hard to beat. Against Dundee, on the other hand, I thought we were terrible at times in that game.”

St Johnstone will travel to Glasgow in the midst of a four game winless run while the Perth men have not scored in their last four matches.

Archibald would be happy to keep the misfiring Saints out again this weekend but the Jags gaffer is certainly not taking anything for granted.

He added: “We got out first clean sheet the other night I’m trying to enjoy that. I don’t think vulnerable is ever a word you’d use to describe St Johnstone. They are always organised and hard to beat. I watched their game against Hearts and part of the one the other night but they are always hard to beat and they’ve got good quality in their side. I’m just pleased with our clean sheet the other night so hopefully we can get another one on Saturday.

“For such a bad start we are still there or there about which is pleasing. We are still within the group of teams and everybody is fighting for points. We know everyone has got to play each other as well now so it was key that we took points from the Dundee game and the Hamilton game and with St Johnstone coming up, it’s important that we take points. We are at home so we need to build on the feel good factor of the last week.”