Partick Thistle vs Dunfermline preview - Donnelly out for Thistle

Posted Saturday, January 29, 2011 by PA

Partick Thistle will be without striker Simon Donnelly for their home clash with Dunfermline.

Donnelly has a foot injury, but Jackie McNamara, John Robertson, Conrad Balatoni, Iain Flannigan and Martin Grehan all came through a midweek reserve-team game unscathed and have been included in the squad.

Manager Ian McCall, whose side are unbeaten in eight games, said: "We're on a good run and we don't want it to stop.

"We went through to their place last month and were worthy of a draw.

"We've done better against teams in the top half of the table this season and hopefully we can keep that going."

Dunfermline's new striker Liam Buchanan could start against former club Partick, but goalkeeper Greg Paterson, defender Jack Ross and midfielder Steven Bell remain sidelined through injury.

The Pars have won only one of their last four league matches and manager Jim McIntyre knows his Championship chasing side will need to be at their best to improve on that record.

McIntyre said: "Partick Thistle and Dundee are the form sides in this league and are playing with a lot of confidence.

"This will be a very difficult game, but after a stop-start run of games I'm hoping that we get back to the form we showed at the end of 2010 when we beat Cowdenbeath 5-0."