Scottish Football: Thistle fancied in basement battle, says Dino Vita

PRO PUNTER Dino Vita (@VitaDino) is heading to Saturday's Scottish League One action for his latest weekend NAP from north of the border.

Partick v Alloa | Saturday 15th December 2018, 15:00

My selection this weekend comes from the Scottish Championship as Partick host fellow strugglers Alloa.

Thistle fell out the Premiership last season after a play-off disaster against Livingston. The plan to bounce right back hasn’t gone to plan; a bad start to the season resulted in manager Alan Archibald losing his job and being replaced by ex-Scottish internationalist Gary Caldwell.

The Caldwell reign hasn’t gotten off to the best beginning, losing his first four games. But in recent weeks Partick have picked up and achieved their first win under his leadership at home to Dunfermline last weekend, moving the hosts off the bottom and up to eighth.

Thistle have won four games all season, but all four wins have arrived on home soil, which is something for them to build on over the next few months.

Alloa have found life tough back in the Championship and currently sit joint-bottom of the league after only winning two of their 16 league games.

Being the only part-time side in the division means it was always going to be a struggle to stay up but only one point splits the bottom three, making Saturday’s match a big chance for Partick to take all three points and give themselves a bit breathing space.