Mackay-Steven proud of team effort on the road

Wednesday 21st October, 2026 at 4:43pm

Gary Mackay-Steven was pleased with the overall performance across the park as Partick Thistle shared the spoils on their third away trip in just over a week in a closely contested match against Dunfermline.

The winger, who returned to Mark Wilson’s starting eleven last night, admitted that it took “five or ten minutes to get to grips with the game” but once the Jags found a more recognisable groove, “our game plan started working quite well.”

“Obviously we get the goal to go ahead, start creating more chances and overall doing alright. The second half, maybe they put us under a little bit of pressure, but a well fought point in the end.

“On another day we maybe could’ve nicked all three with the chances that we had. All in all, we’re not too despondent with it.”

Despite the strike from the hosts that eventually sealed a draw falling in the closing minutes of the first half, Gary didn’t believe that it caused any last-minute alterations to the half-time team talk nor the game plan for the second 45.

“I felt that our game plan was still working. It was a great strike from the boy. You can’t do much from scoring from 25 yards out so we just got together, and thought you know, just keep doing the same.

“They started well in the second half, but then we showed the other side of our game, as the boys have been doing recently and we take pride in that.”

The number 11 went on to praise his teammates, particularly for their second half display, reflecting that “our defence, our midfield, defending the box was superb. We should be taking pride in not conceding, the boys saw it out well.”

A busy week, in amongst a busy month has seen Partick Thistle on the road for the 3rd time in 10 days but Gary believes that the cohesive work from the back to the front is to be thanked for such a positive points return.

“Obviously we get the wins at Livingston and Ayr which was great then the point here so overall it’s been a good week and a squad effort. Seven points from three tough away games – we’ll take it.”

But the squad are well aware that the month’s fixture list isn’t slowing down anytime soon, with another quick turnaround seeing them return to home soil to face Stenhousemuir on Saturday. Despite this, Mackay-Steven was quick to reassure that it’s simply a case of knuckling down and preparing for another big match.

“It’s just the same as always – you get used to the short gaps between games in the Championship. Hopefully we can just dust ourselves down, see how the boys are feeling, recover, and go again.”

With the added caveat of having that Firhill backing for the first time in over three weeks, Gary says that he’s “looking forward to being back at home” as all focus pivots to Saturday’s tie against the current league leaders.

“Hopefully we stay hungry for it, hopefully get the three points. We’re a close-knit bunch, we just want to keep going and to keep striving for more.”

Written by Amy Banks