Partick's Stuart Bannigan only focused on turning fortunes around
Stuart Bannigan is focused on moving Partick Thistle off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership without being distracted by concerns over manager Alan Archibald's position.
Thistle host Dundee United on Saturday still looking for their first win of the campaign following 10 matches.
Both United and Motherwell have sacked their managers in recent weeks with Fir Park owner Les Hutchison and Tannadice caretaker boss Dave Bowman each blaming the players.
But Bannigan insists everyone at Firhill is doing what they can to change their fortunes.
"We're working hard for the manager, that's all we know," Bannigan said when asked if the recent sackings make him concerned for Archibald's position.
"The manager puts pressure on himself to get results and so do the players.
"So I don't think we are looking into that really. We are just working hard and I'm sure it will come for us."
Thistle have only scored four goals this season but have enjoyed a fair amount of possession and chances in recent games and have struck the woodwork five times in three matches.
And Bannigan remains positive.
The 23-year-old said: "We're an upbeat bunch and we are working hard in training. There's not much else we can do.
"Saturday is a big game and we are excited for it.
"We have the chance to overtake Dundee United and that's the incentive for us."
Dundee United defender Ryan McGowan has accepted the players are responsible for Jackie McNamara's exit.
But he knows they have to put that out of their mind and focus on trying to claim victory against Partick.
McNamara and coaching team Simon Donnelly, Darren Jackson and Craig Hinchliffe all lost their jobs in the wake of United's defeat to 10-man St Johnstone last Saturday, which left them 11th in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Caretaker boss Bowman claimed the players had cost the manager his job and McGowan agreed.
"Yeah, because at the end of the day we are the ones who are responsible for results and performances," the 26-year-old said.
"Once we cross that white line it's really up to what we do. He can prepare us or do as much as he can Monday to Friday but really it's us who are the ones who can influence the performances."
The Australia international, who played alongside McNamara during a loan spell at Thistle in 2011, said: "It's never nice to see someone lose their job and he was a team-mate and someone who brought me in, but we have both been in football long enough to know that it's a results business.
"He came in to see us all and wished us all the best. But we move on now and we have to focus on a huge game. There will be a caretaker manager and people watching who want the job so we have to perform well."
McGowan stressed that there would be no excuses at Firhill as they face the team sitting two points below them in the table.
"It's been a little bit difficult, with everything that has gone on over the weekend and at the start of the week," the former Hearts player said.
"It's never nice to see. But as football players we have a bigger job. We have a game of football on Saturday that we must win."
Source: PAR
