It is indicative of the luck Partick Thistle have been getting this season that the timing of their visit to Edinburgh coincides with Hearts’ big Tynecastle homecoming this weekend.
On their last visit to the capital, Thistle took on Hibs on the opening day, their first match back in the top flight after a three year absence.
But Chris Erskine has no concerns over his team’s ability to handle the big occasion, and he is drawing on past positive memories of playing at the venue for the Jags to give him hope ahead of Sunday’s fixture.
Erskine was involved in the 4-2 win for Thistle at Tynecastle in May 2014 that secured their top-flight status in their first season back in the division, and he hopes to be partying with the travelling supporters once again after pooping the Jambos’ party.
“Maybe it would have been better if we could have played them at Murrayfield because they would have been away from home too, but it’s just one of those things,” Erskine said.
“It will gee us up for the game as well with there being a big crowd there, and hopefully we can take advantage of that.
“Their form hasn’t been great and they have a few injuries the same as us. When you are away from home and it’s a big crowd you want to do well early on and turn the fans against their team, and that’s something we’ll really be looking to do.
“I remember the game when we stayed up, that was a great night. We’ve always seemed to do ok there, even when we haven’t got a result we’ve usually managed to play some good stuff there.
“My one big memory was Gary Fraser’s goal, it was an absolute topper. We always have a wee laugh about it now, but I remember saying to him before the game that he was due a goal.
“He was firing them in during the warm-up, and then he did the exact same in the game.
“It was a massive night. It was a tough first season back up in the top division for the club, and to keep our place in the league was a huge deal for us. It was a night to remember.
“You look forward to playing at the best places, and Tynecastle is one of the best venues to play at in terms of the atmosphere.
“I’m sure all the boys are looking forward to it as much as I am, and because we have done well in the past there, we are confident we can go there and do it again.”
Erskine says it is great to have one of the heroes of that night in Fraser back in the Thistle squad after an 18-month absence through injury, making his comeback in their last match in the defeat against Rangers.
And he has backed his teammate to pull off another moment of magic if he gets onto the field on Sunday.
“It’s brilliant to have him back,” he said. “He’s a great character and he’s well liked around the club.
“I said to him after the game how great it was to see him back on the pitch, so hopefully he can get back to his best now.
“I’m sure we’d all take a wee goal like that if he could pull one out of the bag again. I’ll say to him in the warm-up again just in case.”
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