The Jags returned to the top of the Irn-Bru First Division in style on Saturday, smashing seven goals past Airdrie United without reply to leapfrog Dunfermline and reclaim pole position in the title race.

Welsh has turned in a number of superb performances for Jackie McNamara's side so far this season and the midfielder knows he must keep raising his game if he is to play a part in the Jags' promotion push.

Welsh, who scored the fourth at Firhill on Saturday, said: "We have had a great start to the season and I am really enjoying my football.

"I think that is showing in my play. It was good to get on the scoresheet on Saturday, I am looking to do that more often.

"There is a great bunch of lads here and we have all bonded together well. It is a really good squad so everyone is enjoying their football.

"The gaffer has got great competition for every place on the park, he has two or three players for every position.

"You know that you have got to play at the top of your game every week or you are going to end up out of the team at some point.

"It is pressure, but it is a pressure you need to keep yourself driving forward.

"Dunfermline are going to be there all season, they want to go straight back up. But we feel we have got a really good squad here. We want to push for promotion and we will keep at it and see where it takes us."

The Diamonds proved no match for Thistle on Saturday as they were swept aside in clinical fashion.

The magnificent seven was Thistle's biggest win of the season so far and Welsh reckons the thrashing had been coming.

He said: "It was a big scoreline, but as a team we knew we could run over the top of someone. I think it has been coming for a while.

"We have not really clicked together this season as we would have liked.

"We have been picking up good wins, but we knew we were going to give someone a real hammering. Unfortunately for Airdrie it was them.

"You can't feel sorry for the other team because at the end of the day the league could come down to goal difference."