Partick’s Motherwell game is hardest so far

Alan Archibald: Toughest test. Picture: SNS

The Maryhill side are unbeaten in their first three Scottish Premiership matches since being promoted from the First Division last season.

A goalless home draw against Dundee United in their first game of the campaign was followed by a convincing 3-1 win at Ross County before a 1-1 draw at Firhill against Hearts. Archibald, though, is aware that the Steelmen have finished second and third in the top flight in their last two seasons and are among the favourites to finish runners-up to inevitable winners Celtic again this season.

“I think it will be the toughest test,” said the former Partick and Dundee United defender. “Even when I was playing, Fir Park was a really hard place to go to get a victory and we will let the boys know that. You see that they have had the same core of the squad over the last few seasons. They lost a few this year but they have replaced them with some good players.

“They have been unlucky in their games so far so they will have a point to prove and they will be looking for a victory.”

The Jags manager believes ex-Motherwell players, Ross Forbes, Steven Lawless and Kallum Higginbotham will have a point to prove against their old club.

“They probably have, anybody going back to their old club always wants to do well,” he said. “It is a personal pride thing, to show that you shouldn’t have been released.”

• St Mirren manager Danny Lennon has yet to make a decision on whether to take Blackpool midfielder Jake Caprice on loan.

The 20-year-old has spent this week training with the Paisley club. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game at Ross County, Lennon said: “He has shown up particularly well. When we see him in a game, we will make that decision on him. He has settled in very well.”

Lennon says he could bolster his squad ahead of the transfer deadline but only if the signings improve the options he already has at his disposal.

The Saints manager added: “With the window still being open, there are a lot of phonecalls and a lot of emails going back and forward. It’s important, if anyone comes in, that we make sure it’s the right one for us. We want to make sure that player is going to add to the good quality of players that we have and one that’s going to improve us.”