Alan Archibald: Partick Thistle must start better

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald bemoaned his side's opening to the match in the 1-0 loss to St Johnstone.

Stevie May's 27th-minute strike put Saints ahead and though Thistle improved after going behind, they could not restore parity.

"It took us until about 35 minutes to win a tackle in the middle of the pitch and it kind of spurred us on after that," said Archibald.

"We've got to play better than we did in the first half."

Archibald was frustrated by Thistle's lack of determination in that opening period.

"They won every second ball, they were better," he explained on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"We were second to every ball all over the pitch. Credit to them, they started the game a lot better and brighter than us.

"We didn't perform well enough.

"I know St Johnstone were very good but I thought we let St Johnstone be very good.

"They showed all their experience. They're doing the right thinks that an experienced side does.

"We've been in the league long enough now. We're in January now, we should be picking up more points at home and learning good habits."

The result extended Partick Thistle's long wait for a first home Scottish Premiership win this season.

"It puts more pressure on our away form, which has been good, but now you're relying on having to go away from home to pick points up," added Archibald.

"The ball's just not falling for us. In the second half, we threw umpteen balls in the box and got umpteen shots and it just wasn't happening for us."