Freddy Frans urges Partick to pick up points to avoid relegation worries
Partick Thistle defender Freddy Frans is anxious to get more points on the board and not rely on games in hand.
Thistle have only lost one of their last 10 Ladbrokes Premiership games but sit just one point and one place above Kilmarnock and the relegation play-off spot.
They have played three games fewer than the teams immediately around them but Frans wants to get out of danger as quickly as possible, starting with the visit of Aberdeen on Friday night.
Thistle saw Kilmarnock, Hamilton and Motherwell all pick up points after their game against Hearts was postponed on Saturday, and Frans does not want to get dragged further down.
"We're on a pretty decent run," the centre-back said. "We are pretty solid at the back, don't concede a lot and it's a home game so we need to take a point because, okay we have three games in hand, but we are close to the bottom and you don't want to get dragged into the relegation battle.
"You know you have got three games in hand and if you win those games you are even top six. But still mentally you don't want to get dragged into the battle because you see the league table and we are in 10th position.
"We have to take it game by game and see how it goes. We have it in our own hands."
Frans knows Aberdeen will also be determined following their defeat by Inverness on Monday.
"Aberdeen are a great team and are still battling for the league so for them it will be a very big game because they lost on Monday," he said.
"I don't think they can afford to drop points again so it will be a really hard game."
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has challenged other players to step up after Jonny Hayes was ruled out for up to a month.
The Irish winger limped off during the first half of the 3-1 loss at Inverness, which hit their Ladbrokes Premiership title hopes.
McInnes said: "As anticipated, Jonny has got a tear in his hamstring and the scan shows he will be out for probably three to four weeks."
Peter Pawlett came on in his place and Cammy Smith has been pushing for more action. And, with central midfielders Willo Flood and Ryan Jack fit again following hamstring injuries, Kenny McLean could also be freed up to push forward more.
"I think it's important that it's somebody else's opportunity," said McInnes ahead of Friday's game against Partick Thistle at Firhill. "It's always been the way when you lose important players.
"We have lost important players at different stages of the season and we have to cope with that. There is no point getting too down about it.
"We know the importance of Jonny, but it's important that it's someone else's opportunity. Maybe one or two who haven't had a run of games might get a chance to do that now in his absence."
McInnes is expecting his players to come out fighting after the end of their 12-game unbeaten league run.
"Knowing the players as I do they will be eager to get back to winning ways," he said. "We've been on a strong run and it's important we bounce back with three points.
"I expect the determination to be there, it has been there more often than not in the last two-and-a-half seasons.
"It will be a tough game for us, there is always an opponent trying to stop you doing what you want to do. But we have got to show a performance of real determination and come up with three points.
"The pitch might be difficult, all the reports say that, so it might not be pretty on the eye at times for both teams but we have to find a way to win the game."
Source: PAR
