CHRIS Erskine wants to play Falkirk every week after resuming a remarkable scoring record to get the Jags off the mark in the Championship.
The last time Thistle were in the second tier, Erskine slammed seven goals in three seasons against Falkirk.
He bashed the Bairns again on Saturday with a terrific goal which was the highlight of an overall excellent performance and proved to be the winner.
Erskine said: “I have scored a few good goals against Falkirk in my time – especially in the season we won the league five years ago.
“So I guess they are one of these teams I usually score against.
“It’s that old one ‘can we play you every week?’
“It was a good a goal and I was just happy to get off the mark,
“The last couple of weeks have been disappointing – especially last week [2-0 defeat to Ayr United] as you always want to get off to a good start to your league campaign.
“So it was good to get our first win.”
Thistle were streets ahead in the first half as James Penrice’s deflected strike in 24 minutes gave them the lead.
Then Erskine produced his moment of magic in 29 minutes when he cut in from the right and smashed a left-foot strike into the right corner.
However, Thistle defended too deeply in the second half and Falkirk finished strongly but could only find a late counter through winger Rees Greenwood.
Erskine added: “We’ve probably got targets on our backs because we are one of the teams who have come down.
“It usually is the case when a team drops a division. They are one of the favourites and one of the teams to beat.
“It’s only one game and we know this is a tough league. You could probably make a promotion case for most teams in it.
“But if we can play as we did in the first half on Saturday then hopefully we will be there or thereabouts.”
The galling aspect for Paul Hartley and his players is that they will sit bottom for a couple of weeks as the Betfred Cup kicks in again next weekend.
They face Rangers under-21s tomorrow in the Irn Bru Cup and Greenwood is hoping they can use that game to improve their performance levels.
He said: “I know the ambition at Falkirk. The manager has brought in a lot of players.
“Training has been really good but we need to do better in the games.
“The frustrating thing is we don’t have a league game now for a couple of weeks.”
Greenwood, who came through the Sunderland academy, is just hoping for a regular run after a tough spell at National League Gateshead last season.
He said: “I think the goal on Saturday came too late for us. If we had scored earlier it would have given us a chance to come away with at least a point.
“I was pleased with my impact. If I’m called upon I want to go out there and do things for the team.
“It’s a physical league, from what I’ve seen, so I need to make sure I’m not pushed over by anyone and give as good as I get.
“I’m just hoping to get regular game time at this level and show what I can do.”
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