LIAM LINDSAY says that it is a dream come true to be holding down a regular starting slot in the Partick Thistle first-team, after previously going out on loan to Alloa and Airdrieonians in search of competitive action.
The 19-year-old has been a fixture in Alan Archibald’s starting XI in this season’s Premiership, and he was part of an impressive rearguard action as his side repelled a St Johnstone fightback last weekend to record their second consecutive victory.
He said: “I feel much more part of the team and it’s a different feel to when you first come in.
“I still pinch myself sometimes because first team football is all I’ve ever wanted.
“I’ve played left, right and part of every centre-half pairing this season.
“Everyone has been a big help, especially Dan [Seaborne] and Frederic [Frans].
“The manager has been a massive help too and I feel confident anytime I play now. He’s the kind of man you can talk to, he’s always been there.
“Training has been good this week, there’s no doubt the two wins have brought the confidence back to the dressing room. Hopefully we can continue the run we’re on against Hamilton.
“I don’t think we’d been playing that badly but what we got at the weekend was the bit of luck we needed.
“We haven’t had that this season. It’s such a good feeling to get the wins.
“I don’t think we were ever worried. The team just needed to stick together and that’s what we did.
“We have confidence in each other and in the last few games that’s showed. We’ve really helped each other along the way.
“From my point of view it was great to stand up defensively. We were under real pressure in the second half, we were bombarded with long balls and last season we probably wouldn’t have got the win.
“It showed a different side to us. We like to play football, but the win last week showed we can dig out a result if we need to.”
One man who is also desperate to nail down an automatic starting slot for his side is in the opposing ranks to Lindsay today – Hamilton winger Louis Longridge.
With Ali Crawford struggling with a groin injury and Darian MacKinnon suspended, he knows that he may get a chance to stake his claim for a regular starting berth this afternoon.
"Obviously you don't want anything bad happening to your team-mates, but these things happen in football,” he said.
“When you're not in the team you have to be patient for opportunities and injuries and suspensions provide them.
"It's happened at the weekend – and it's now down to me to try and perform and keep my place in the team.
"We always seem to have good games with Partick Thistle, we find it hard against them.
"The fact they've also won their last two games means it's going to be especially tough at the weekend. They'll have plenty of confidence, they are scoring goals now from all angles.
"Throughout the years we've kind of struggled against them, maybe not got the results we would've wanted.
"So, there's a wee edge there for everyone – I think our supporters see this as one of the games they especially want us to win.
"It should be a good game. Hopefully this weekend sees us come out on top."
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