It is said that you sometimes have to hit rock bottom before you truly realise what you need to do to recover.

It may not have felt like it at the time, but the 5-1 humbling that Kilmarnock dished out to Partick Thistle in early December may have been the best thing that could have happened for the Jags’ season.

That’s according to Thistle defender Jordan Turnbull, who was part of a backline that day that was described as “comical” by manager Alan Archibald.

The 23-year-old admits that the aftermath of the game was one of the lowest points of his career, but he reckons that the heart-to-heart between the squad and their gaffer has set them on the right track to save their season.

And after climbing off the foot of the table with some fine wins of late, Turnbull thinks that the only way is up for the Firhill men in the second half of the season.

“The Kilmarnock match was a massive game for us, and it was unfortunate it ended the way it did,” said Turnbull.

“We had to have a sit-down after that and have a proper discussion about it and adjust a few things.

“It was such a disappointing result, but we changed a few things and we’ve picked up some points since.

“Immediately after the Kilmarnock game we were obviously really disappointed, but it gave us the kick up the a**e that we needed.

“We had to sit down as a group and a squad and have a talk about the areas where we needed to improve, and that has given us a real boost.”

Thistle have won five of their last six matches at home, and Turnbull says that making Firhill a hard place for visiting sides has been a major focus of late.

And after being involved in a relegation scrap with parent club Coventry City last season, he is keen to see the Jags climbing the table as quickly as possible after the winter break once reinforcements arrive, either from the treatment table or the transfer market.

“It’s been picking up for us, and our home form has been excellent,” he said. “We have to continue that and hopefully perform in away games too.

“It’s been a real focus for us to make Firhill a fortress. You have to start with your home form, and it’s been vital that we’ve managed to pick up points there. We need to continue to do that in the new year.

“We are getting stronger with the players we have coming back, and we will be looking to get a solid second half of the season and see where that takes us.

“After being involved in a relegation battle last season I was thinking ‘here we go again’, but I’m confident that with the squad we’ve got and the players we have we can get out of it.

“That has started recently, and we want to keep that going.”

Turnbull revealed that he is open to a permanent move to Thistle once his season-long loan is up in the summer, but that his future is currently an issue that is way down his priority list.

“I haven’t really thought about it in all honesty,” he said. “I’m just concentrating on playing and doing my best for the team.

“With all the games, I haven’t really had a second to stop and think, but of course, I am enjoying myself up here, so we’ll see what happens come the end of the season when I come to a decision.

“I just wanted to make sure I was playing regularly this season, and thankfully I’ve been able to get straight into the team and hold onto my position.

“I need to keep playing well and keep my performances to a high standard.

“Coming up here has been excellent for me and Glasgow is a beautiful place. I’ve been playing regular football and enjoying it, so I’m definitely open to anything.”