IF Partick Thistle end up relegated for a second successive season then Gary Caldwell’s decision to jettison Chris Erskine in the January window will come under serious scrutiny.
The man known universally as Squiddy was deemed surplus to requirements at Firhill, and Livingston did not hesitate to take advantage, handing the 32 year-old an 18-month contract.
That a player reportedly not good enough for the bottom end of the Championship is now starring for a mid-table Premiership side makes the decision to let him leave even more baffling.
READ MORE: Steven Anderson accuses Partick Thistle of showing soft touch
Still, Thistle’s loss continues to be Livingston’s gain. Utilised as a lone striker, Erskine’s first goal for his new club on Saturday against Kilmarnock was enough to earn them their first victory since mid-December. That the player who provided the assist, Steven Lawless, is another Firhill alumnus will only add further salt to Thistle wounds.
“I’m delighted because it’s been a while since we last won and also because it was my first goal for the club,” said Erskine. “Stevie tells me that he’s always providing assists for me although I think that’s the first time he’s ever set me up with a header. I was surprised to see him jump that high – I think someone must have given him a punty! He was loving it in the dressing room afterwards.”
Erskine was in no rush to leave Thistle but is determined to make the most of this opportunity to play top-flight football again.
“I wasn’t getting a game at Firhill when I was desperate to get into the team there and then the chance came for me to play in the Premiership,” he added. “I was coming from a team at the bottom of the Championship so I was looking to prove some people wrong and show that I’m still good enough.”
For Kilmarnock, this was a seventh game in succession without a win. Youssouf Mulumbu admitted he has not made the immediate impact he had hoped for after returning to Rugby Park on loan from Celtic but hoped his performances would improve in sync with his fitness.
“I just need to keep going and then in one or two games I’ll be at the top of my performances,” said the midfielder. “And then I’ll be able to help my team-mates in the way that I want. It’s different to my first time at the club. But I will try to fit in better.”
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