The Firhill club could have reclaimed the summit of the Irn-Bru First Division for the first time since Boxing Day with a win at Raith Rovers this evening only for the match to fall foul of the recent Arctic blast sweeping the country. It leaves them two points behind leaders Morton but with two games in hand.
Having been forced into playing catch-up since the turn of the year, Thistle have become accustomed to the fixtures piling up but, on the back of a win over Dumbarton on Saturday, another postponement brings with it a sense of frustration. A league title is there to be won but the elements seem determined to make Thistle do it the hard way.
"It's frustrating that the game is off as we would have gone back to the top of the table if we had won," Steven Lawless, scorer of two goals at the weekend, told Herald Sport. "We've got games in hand to play and it would have been nice to have got one out of the way but it wasn't to be. It's a bit of a pain but these things happen in Scotland; you can't really predict the weather."
Thistle, at least, still have it in their own hands. They were the most consistent team in the division until Christmas when a raft of call-offs and some sticky festive form, caused them to drop from top spot. They have gradually clawed back the gap on Morton and, with Dunfermline Athletic dropping out of the promotion picture, seem to be favourites again to go on and clinch the championship.
The departure of manager Jackie McNamara for Dundee United could have disrupted their pursuit but, under Alan Archibald, Thistle have simply carried on as before. Since a 2-2 draw with Morton at Cappielow, the interim manager has overseen four successive league victories and all without conceding a goal. Little wonder those in the dressing room hope he gets the job on a permanent basis.
"Archie's not really changed a lot," said Lawless. "He's tried to keep things just ticking over, which was probably the best way as things had been going well under Jackie. He's tightened up the defence and you can see the difference that has made right away as we've kept clean sheets in the last four games. All the boys love him so we'd be really happy if he got the job."
Lawless spent his formative years with Motherwell, reaching the fringes of the first team without making the breakthrough, and hopes to get a second chance at top-division football with Thistle next term. "When I spoke to Jackie at the start of the season, he thought we had a team that was good enough to win the league so that's something that has always been in our sights. A few of the boys, like myself, have come from teams in the SPL where they never really got a chance so we feel like we've got a bit to prove. I admit I didn't think the chance would happen this quickly . . . if we do it this year, that is."
Lawless was signed primarily by McNamara to create chances for others but has shown a willingness to chip in with a few goals himself. He now has a dozen, although his brace against Dumbarton were his first since December 15. "It was just nice to get back scoring again. I hadn't scored since before Christmas so it was a while coming. To get two was a big plus."
