Momentum, as almost any manager will tell you, is a key factor in football. When you lack it, self-doubt can creep in. The ball seems to hit the woodwork or whistle just wide instead of sneaking in off the post. Refereeing decisions go against you. And how many times have we heard the oft-repeated self-fulfilling prophecy, that ‘you don’t get the breaks when you’re down the bottom of the table’?

When Partick Thistle embarked upon this season’s Premiership campaign with a nine-game winless run, manager Alan Archibald experienced all of these things, and at times justifiably felt as if things were going against his side.

Now, with an apparent change in fortunes being signalled by two consecutive, and impressive, victories over Dundee United and St Johnstone, it is little wonder that he is desperate to build that sequence into something resembling a winning streak with a third win in-a-row over Hamilton on Saturday.

“There’s not a lot between the teams and it’s crucial to go on a run,” he said.

“We did that last year in the second half of last season and that’s all it takes.

“You can propel yourself up the league table if you can win three or four games and get out of that danger area.

“We were delighted with the win over St Johnstone. We got our breaks last week with two outstanding goals. On another day they might have hit the post the way things were going for us.

“We also got a bit of luck with Abdul Osman’s handball which looked as if it was inside the box, but over the first nine or ten games the breaks haven’t went for us.

“They say it irons itself out over the course of a season and hopefully that’s the case now.

“Training has been very good on the back of those wins. The boys were bright on Monday morning, and the mood is good as we look towards Hamilton.

“We’ve always just tried to play, we knew we were on a bad run and I think eventually the Monday and the Tuesday does become a bit of a grind when you’re losing every week and you’re bottom of that table.

“The wins have given us a massive lift and it motivates us now to stay off the bottom.

“We’ve only won two games, we’re still in that second-bottom spot and we want to try to get away from there as soon as we can.

“We’re at home and we’ve got a great opportunity to keep this run going, albeit against a tough Hamilton side.

“They are always competitive and they’ve got a few match-winners into the bargain as well, so we know it will be difficult.”

One man that Archibald is undoubtedly referring to here is Hamilton's playmaker Ali Crawford, who is struggling to make the match as he tries to shake off a groin injury.

Either way, Archibald knows that his side are in for a tough encounter against a side that have shocked many, but not him, with their impressive start to the season.

“I haven’t been surprised by how well they’ve done,” he said.

“They’ll be looking to prove people wrong just like we are because they were tipped to be bottom and we were tipped to be second-bottom.

“Most of their personnel is similar and Martin (Canning) has managed to turn the corner after a difficult start there.

“Most of their boys are still there and you can see they’re a tight-knit group with the way they play.

“It would be a bonus if Ali Crawford misses out just with the goals he brings to his team, but we’re planning for them with and without Ali and we’ll be looking at ourselves and how we can hurt Hamilton.

“We’re the home side, and we need to go out and try to win the game. If he’s playing, of course we’ll have to try to take care of him and keep him quiet.”