AN image flickers on a makeshift screen, steam from mugs of tea rises from a clutch of tables and an animated figure explains why and how Partick Thistle are going to beat Motherwell in a match that will start in two hours on a clump of beaten grass just below the conference room.

Scott Allison is driven, energetic but his faith owes little to the vagaries of sentiment, emotion or even gut feeling. Allison, head of coaching at Thistle, has seen the light, or at least the shining flaws in today's opponents and he believes they open the way to the kingdom of three points.

Gerry Britton, former player, former manager, enduring legend and now academy director at Thistle, sits at one table, offering his observations as Allison makes such a convincing case that one wants to shout Hallelujah and head to make Thistle the bankers in the fixed odds coupon.

His congregation is spellbound. This is a class in how top-level football clubs prepare for matches in strategic terms. His listeners are coaches drawn from boys' or girls clubs. They are amateurs with a professional obsession.

The sitdown follows a similar exercise when the Jags played St Johnstone at Firhill. This was restricted to Thistle youth coaches. Allison cannot but smile when he remembers it. He pointed out precisely before the match how St Johnstone could be vulnerable at set-pieces. Alan Archibald, the Thistle manager who watches match video with a relentless zeal, agreed.

Thistle scored two goals within 10 minutes, the second from Conrad Balatoni adhering in minute detail to the agreed strategy. Thistle won 3-0.

Allison and Britton are quick to point out that strategy, scouting and unearthing the flaws in the opposition are only part of the masterplan. But they undoubtedly have an effect and they are undertaken with a sober deliberation.

Allison watched Motherwell three times in the flesh, his manager watched them twice. He compiled statistics that include when the Fir Park side are most likely to concede goals. He divined such details that the bounce of a ball before a corner was taken meant the delivery would be to the far post. He scrutinised every set-piece for clues as to where and how it would be played.

He mercilessly judged every player. Allison and Britton thus can sit and point out where and who they would target on a blustery Saturday.

The verdicts are blunt. But this is not personal, purely business. Much of it is routine, but all of it can prove important. The Motherwell keeper, George Long, always kicks long, invariably to his left for the head of Lee Erwin or John Sutton. They defend corners without anyone on the post. They place Anthony Straker in front of Long to protect him. Stephen McManus, the former Scotland centre half, is left free to attack the ball.

Allison believes the setpiece can be exploited. Ryan Stevenson will be employed to joust with McManus and Thistle will try to crowd Straker and Long. Thistle, too, believe that Motherwell's midfield two of Stephen Pearson and Keith Lasley can be isolated and then outnumbered on central areas. They seek to target Straker, an attacking wide man who has been employed at full-back.

These plans are all backed by video analysis and by statistics. Allison and Britton bring gut feeling to the table but they support it with film and numbers.

The coaches of under-age teams are so much a captive audience they could be chained to the radiators. This is a riveting, intriguing lesson in how it is done at professional level.

Allison explains that the information is relayed to Archibald, who has watched Motherwell both live and on screen, who will draw up his plans. There is a protocol at Thistle where the week is carefully split into time for recovery, post-mortem on individual and collective performance, working on defensive drill and setting out offensive strategy.

The Motherwell match has come in a week where Thistle played Celtic. Defeat at Celtic Park has not only been disappointing but deprived Thistle of extended preparation time and the services of James Craigen, who was dismissed and is suspended.

Allison, with a light-hearted warning about information not being discussed outside the room, gives a prediction about how Thistle will play.

''There are variables," points out Britton. "Not least in execution. It is all right coming up with a plan but that does not mean it will be carried out in the heat of play.'' He adds diplomatically: "Some players are better than others at carrying out instruction."

The basic plan - and it is invested with precise detail - is for Thistle to exploit what they perceive at as weaknesses on the left flank and at setpieces. The home side also want to ''play between the lines'', that is find space in front of a back four that does not press up and a midfield that can be outnumbered in the central area.

Initially, all strategy seems to evaporate in the heat of reality. The pitch is bumpy, the players are nervous, there are minor incursions rather than devastating raids down Well's left flank. Motherwell are the more proactive side. The Thistle strategy is being blown like chaff in the wind. At half-time, Allison say he believes that Archibald will be telling his players to pass more, to put more pressure on the areas they have identified as weak.

Britton, with the wisdom of experience, simply points out: "This is a huge match. This is about whether you are contesting the play-offs or preparing for a comfortable finish to the season. The players are obviously anxious and the manager will come to the fore. He knows his stuff, he is articulate, he doesn't panic."

This optimism is rewarded when Thistle score two goals in the second half through Lyle Taylor and comfortably take the points.

Archibald comes into the "debrief'' to a round of applause. He is open, even frank about the match. He feels the key to victory was the way his side played the ball "between the lines'' in the second half, pointing out that the second, vital goal came from Abdul Osman, hugely impressive in the second half, picking out a pass to Stevenson that gives the opportunity for a subsequent cross and goal.

So how did the strategy work? It may not be immediately obvious but the attention to details paid a dividend. The first goal came from exploiting a perceived fallibility at setpieces with a concerted run to the front post allowing space at the back post for a free header across goal that Taylor converted. That free-kick was won by Stephen O'Donnell charging down Motherwell's left flank and drawing a foul from McDonald who was isolated because Straker had been taken inside.

The second goal owed much to Archibald's insistence on composure and his playing of Stevenson between the lines.

But, of course, this is football. The science is still imprecise. Baraclough pointed out later he believed both goals were offside. Archibald revealed that he was on the point of "changing it" when Thistle scored.

Two managers, two strategies, two viewpoints separated by the singular reality of achieving or losing three points.

Archibald left the room, declaring he would watch video of the match at least three times and "once tonight". Allison packed away the screen and closed his computer. His sights now set on another team to scout.