PARTICK Thistle’s stunning top six finish last season was enough to shock even the great John Lambie.

But as the final hurdle of a less glamorous campaign approaches, Jags manager Alan Archibald maintains that keeping his side in the top-flight would represent another impressive achievement for his side.

The Firhill outfit travel to Dundee tomorrow knowing that a win would be enough to avoid an automatic drop into the second tier, while failing to record three points could allow Ross County to perform a dramatic late leapfrog and send Thistle to the foot of the table.

Archibald accepts that his team have been brought back to ground during a stuttering season, but he underlined that maintaining their Premiership status should not be taken for granted.

He said: “Because we got into the top six last year it makes it a fall from grace.

“The late John Lambie said to me: ‘What the f*** are you doing son getting into the top six? You don’t do things like that!’

“We did and it was a big achievement. And it would be a big achievement to stay in the league.

“The aim from the outset was to stay in the league again this season. We knew how hard it was going to be.

“I think all the managers outside the top five teams will tell you there is only one other place in the top half up for grabs. Between the other seven there is not a lot in it.

He continued: “I said at the start of the season that it would be harder this time.

“That is not an excuse for where we are. We should still be doing better.

“Now is the time to focus on Saturday’s game. It comes down to one game and we need three points.”

Archibald knows how it feels to face the drop, having been present when Thistle came out second best in a relegation play-off against Dundee United in 1996.

The experience has ensured that the 40-year-old is aware of the ramifications of relegation, which go beyond the impact on players and coaching staff.

“I was on the ground staff as a young lad when Thistle went down after a play-off against Dundee United,” he said.

“It was horrible. There were cut-backs at every level and people lost their jobs.

“I think the players are aware of the magnitude of the situation. Nobody wants to be a part of a team who are relegated.”

The manager revealed that Andy McCarthy and Callum Booth are facing a race for fitness, while he will be without suspended defender Niall Keown for the trip to Dens Park.

The Dee ensured their top-flight status on Tuesday night with a win at Ross County, but Archibald insisted that his side cannot rely on their opponents downing tools now that they have secured safety.

“No, we can’t, and I don’t think that will be the case,” he said.

“Neil (McCann) said before the split that he wanted five wins and he’s not far away from that.

“It’s hard when you face a team who’s not been sucked into it because you don’t know what you’re going to get from them.”