Mair: Thistle will come good
Defender Lee Mair claims it is only the press who are interested in Partick's failure to win a home Scottish Premiership game so far this season.
The Jags are second-bottom of the table, with their 16-point lead over Hearts helped by the 15-point deduction the Jambos received for falling into administration last year.
Alan Archibald's men will try for the 13th time in this campaign to pick up three home points when Dundee United visit on Saturday.
However, Mair, who joined the Maryhill club just over a week ago after leaving St Mirren, insists the Jags' unwanted record is not a topic of conversation in the home dressing room.
"The only people who talk about that is the press," the 33-year-old said. "We haven't mentioned it at all, that we haven't won at home all season.
"People just dig up a story to get a story for something.
"With the three performances we put in since I came here, I can't believe that statistic.
"We done really well, so hopefully we can win at home soon.
"If we weren't playing well then maybe we would be concerned.
"But in the games I played in we created chances.
"If we weren't creating chances then maybe there would be a problem but it is just a matter of time until we get that win and hopefully it is sooner rather than later.
"We have nothing to fear from teams so hopefully we can put that (record) to bed soon."
Mair will not be fooled by the poor form of United, who have failed to win any of their last six matches.
The former Tannadice player said: "Before that they had won six or seven in the trot, so that is what you are going to get because they are a bunch of kids. But they are probably the best kids in the country, so they could turn it on any time.
"So we have to be at the top of our game."
New loan signings Prince Buaben and George Moncur go straight into the squad for the clash at Firhill.
Both players are midfielders which will make up for the absence of fellow loanee Chris Erskine, who is unable to play against his parent club while Mark Kerr and Ross Forbes left the Maryhill outfit.
Long-term absentees Isaac Osbourne (ankle) and Sean Welsh (groin) will miss out but Kallum Higginbotham is expected to make the squad despite getting six stitches in a knee injury last weekend.
Meanwhile, Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara was delighted to get some much-needed defensive cover in ahead of the trip after signing Curtis Good on loan from Newcastle.
McNamara admitted on Thursday he was looking for cover for left-sided defender Gavin Gunning, whose knee injury might keep him out for another month.
And he succeeded in signing 20-year-old Good on a deal until the end of the season.
The Australian-born player, who arrived at Newcastle from Melbourn Heart, goes straight into the squad for the Firhill trip.
McNamara said: "Curtis comes to us highly recommended and from a well-respected club.
"He is left-footed and can play as either a central defender or left-back. These are areas that require cover and it was important this was addressed during the window.
"He is 6ft 1in and strong and should give a different option to the defenders already at the club.
"I am very happy to have this deal completed - it offers Curtis the opportunity to get some game time whilst enhancing our squad for the latter part of the season."
Good is in the squad for the game.
The 20-year-old joined United on loan until the end of the season on the final day of the transfer window.
Fellow central defender Gavin Gunning is still out with a knee injury while Brian Graham could miss out again for the same reason.
Source: PA
