Football: Al: Only way is up to keep fans on side; DIVISION 1.

Byline: By Kevin Clelland

PARTICK 1 ROSS CNTY 1

ALAN ARCHIBALD admits past glories will count for nothing if he can't help Thistle to a rosy future.

The defender is back with the Jags after a three-year stint at Dundee United and got a rousing reception from the Firhill faithful on his debut.

But Archibald knows those cheers will turn to jeers if he fails to halt his new club's slide down the table.

Partick were top a few months ago but one win from their last 11 matches leaves them just eight points clear of second-bottom Airdrie.

Archibald said: "It's good to be back and not a lot has changed. There are the same kit men with their daft pranks.

"My first spell at the club was full of ups and downs. We were relegated but we also won two promotions and had preserved our place in the SPL by the time I left for United.

"It was fantastic to get such agood reception from the fans but it won't last long if we get a couple more bad results.

"That's just the way supporters are - it doesn't matter who you are and we need to start winning."

Don Cowie should have grabbed an opener for County in 31 minutes but blasted wide after Dene Shields' clever dummy freed up space onthe edge of the box.

Mark Roberts broke the deadlock with a wonder strike in 68 minutes, latching on to Billy Gibson's pass to hammer home from 30 yards.

Thistle had chances to stretch their lead with Pat Keogh and Allan Russell both going close.

The home team's failure to add a second cost them in the end. Kenny Arthur failed to pack enough power into his punch from Hugh Robertson's 94th-minute corner and Cowie volleyed a leveller.

Jags boss Dick Campbell said: "The corner should have been dealt with and we seem to get punished for these individual errors every time.

"It was never going to be a classic because Ross County are fighting for scraps although Mark's goal was worthy of winning any game."

County manager Scott Leitch said: "The heads never went down and we got what we deserved.

"Don took his goal really well but Ross County are not about one player."