Partick Thistle striker Kris Doolan has insisted that Partick Thistle will not press the panic button as they find themselves anchored at the foot of the table.

Recalling a similar scenario this time last term, Doolan believes that the run of eight games between now and the New Year can elevate the Jags from the current precarious position.

Alan Archibald’s side are in danger of drifting away from the rest but with a game in hand over nearest rivals Ross County –who are currently four points better off – Doolan has insisted that sustaining the unity and togetherness within the squad will be vital.

“Last Christmas we found ourselves at the bottom of the table and then managed to finish the season in sixth place,” said the striker.

“So we know it can be done. What is vital is that we maintain that belief that we can get ourselves out of the position that we find ourselves in.

“We have been here before.

“Using the experience that got us out of last season will be vital for us.”

An own goal from Adam Barton at the weekend gave Hibs all three points but Doolan believes that there were still positive aspects to take from the performance – and that no-one was pointing the finger at Barton.

“It was a freak goal,” he said. “Sometimes that is what happens when you are a bit down on your luck.

“Really, if you look back at it we really had to be dealing better with the ball into the box.

“Adam was a bit sore about. But I actually felt that over the course of the game we played better stuff than we have been of late.

“We looked more like ourselves and it was just a really unfortunate goal. Adam is fine now. We are a team and a unit – we didn’t lose the game because of one specific incident but because of various aspects that took place all over the pitch.

“In any case, it is long gone. There is nothing we can do about it which is why it is so important that we focus on the game against Kilmarnock and look to get what we can.”

The game at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon is the proverbial six-pointer.

A win for Thistle would enable them to close the gap on Steven Clark’s side to just one point. Given that the Ayrshire side have also played a game more than Thistle, the opportunity would be there to catch them.

All very simple on paper.

“They have had a real lift with an experienced manager like Steve going in there and some of their results have been good lately too, so we know that it won’t be easy,” cautioned Doolan.

“But we need to be positive. Mentally we need to be strong and go out and try to play as well as we can.

“We have a run of eight games in December which is a bit strange because we played just two in November. But if we can get one or two big results in there, such as on Saturday, it can really give you a wee bit of momentum that can go a long way.

“We saw that last year.

“If you can piece together just a small sequence of results then it can really change the complexion of the picture.

“If we can finish this run over the course of the festive period being in amongst the rest of the pack then I think it will give us the platform to go and kick on in the New Year.

“But for now it is just about taking it one game at a time.

“As I said, we have been here before. How we react to it is vital and we need to just keep our focus and keep working at it.

“Having the games come thick and fast helps too because you are straight into another game right away.”