SCOTT McDonald believes the fighting spirt and desire within the Firhill ranks will be enough to ensure their survival in the Ladbrokes Championship.
Two goals down and seemingly out on Saturday against Dunfermline, it was the former Celtic star who inspired a great comeback to draw 2-2.
Indeed, Thistle were so strong in the second half they feel they might have won all three points.
That’s the positive they have to feed off in the five remaining matches because the situation is so tight at the bottom with only four points separating five teams.
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McDonald said: “We’ve got five big ones to go with everything to play for and a lot of belief in our camp that we will be good enough.
“The manager asked questions of us after a poor start and we gave him the answers.
“But we need to make sure we are doing the right thing from minute one and start games a lot livelier.
“If we were a team low on confidence, I don’t think you would see us come back. We feel we have the quality in the forward areas.
“It’s madness. The league is tightening right up. Everyone is desperate for points.
“Teams are evenly matched and it’s about who shows that bit of quality on the day.”
The Pars were two up inside 24 minutes after a cool finish from Tom Beadling and a terrific Bruce Anderson volley.
However, McDonald dragged Thistle back in it when his low cross was diverted into the Dunfermline net by Ryan Blair in 32 minutes.
Then he hit a terrific leveller 13 minutes from time – punishing Dunfermline after a mix-up between James Craigen and Danny Devine.
And the Australian international striker, capped 26 times for his country, reckons that the Jags might have won the match, such was their second half pressure.
He said: “We had them on the ropes but we have to take the positives of coming from 2-0 down and showing the character that we have.”
Winger Louis Longridge, who set up both Dunfermline goals, admits that their play-off dream is fading as they trail Ayr by six points having played a game more.
They now must win in Dingwall tomorrow night against the champions-elect to have any chance of hanging on in there.
Longridge said: “We need to keep believing that we can still get to the play-offs.
“It obviously makes it more difficult now but we need to go up to Dingwall and try to get a positive result.”
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