JAGS' VITAL HEART TEST

Jan 19 2005

By Neil Cameron

DICK CAMPBELL has spent his first fortnight as Partick Thistle boss trying to work out if his players are good enough to get themselves out of trouble.

If he has been testing them so far,then tonight's replay at Tynecastle is the final examination.

Campbell insists if his players perform well against Hearts, regardless of the result, they have it in them to stay in the First Division.

He said:'I have spent my first few weeks here trying to assess if the players were under- performing or whether they were just not good enough. So far, we have had good results and that has brought in confidence.

'I was never going to come in and make signings right away. I needed to know what these players were all about. But if I feel I can add to the squad I'll just go ahead and do that. There would be changes then.

'So this game is another chance for me to learn what they are all about. If they can show up against an SPL side, as they did in the first game,then that would tell mean awful lot.

'I have never been one to get worried about the opposition.Hearts are a good side who have my respect but for me it's all about Partick Thistle.

'I told my players if they come off that pitch at the end of the night having given everything then they won't hear a bad word from me or Jimmy Bone.

'If they give a good account of themselves it would confirm that they are good enough for this club.'

On paper,Thistle's chance of an upset ended when the first match at Firhill finished in a draw.

However,Campbell and Bone have taken on the good work John Lambie did in his brief stint and, who knows, this one could be one to remember.The Thistle boss said: 'We'll have a big crowd going through and I'd love to win for them and the club.

'I've seen a change about the place in the short time I've been there. The players have responded to what we've asked of them but you would expect that when a new manager comes in.

'Can we beat Hearts? Well, it's a one-off and could go to penalties which always makes it interesting.

'To take Partick Thistle into the last eight of the Scottish Cup would be fantastic.'

Campbell has been linked with a move for Dundee United's Collin Samuel but has dismissed any interest in Brechin's Scott Walker.

Jamie Mitchell will miss out tonight after picking up a rib injury at the weekend but Grant Murray is back

Taken from the Daily Record