MURDO MacLeod was Partick Thistle manager relegation from a play-off to Dundee United some 22 years ago which took them out of the Premier League.

The villain of the piece, in the eyes of Thistle fans, was referee Les Mottram who in the second-leg at Tannadice missed a blatant penalty for the Glasgow side. Had they scored it would have kept them up.

Have you forgiven Les? “No,” was the honest reply from nice guy MacLeod.

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The next derby at Celtic Park will likely see those dressed in blue squeezed into the restricted view area of the stadium.

It makes you wonder when the current Thistle players will forgive themselves for what has just happened.

MacLeod’s team was unfortunate in 1996 but the modern side were simply not good enough; all season and in the two games with Livingston. And the former manager did not like to see what was going on.

“I am very disappointed for Partick Thistle,” said MacLeod. “I just watched them as the whole season moved towards the end and Archie was talking about getting a little run at some point. But they had players out injured and were struggling, then they got players back and you thought they could kick on and go on that ruin.

“However, I remember the Dundee game being one of the biggest kicks in the teeth. They were one up with minutes to go but then lost the game. If it had finished a draw they could’ve put up with that. But to lose the game, I think the heads went down after that.

“Alan Archibald spoke about his targets and winning that was one of them. But it didn’t happen. Then they just went on a poor run after that.

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“They were going into the play-off against a team they probably didn’t want to play against. Livingston’s reputation was of fighting spirit, the size of them, the way they play football.

“I think Thistle - a nice footballing side - were a bit opposite of them. Thistle are good to watch but they just can’t score goals.

“And they can’t defend at the other end. That was always going to be a big problem for Thistle.”

Football can get over-complicated but any team which doesn’t score enough and concedes too many is bother.

Archibald must to sort this out over the summer because, as MacLeod conceded, the Championship is not an easy league to get out of first time.

Just ask Rangers, Hibernian and Dundee United.

“That’s the danger but it’s also the challenge for Thistle," said MacLeod. "They’ll be going down there and be in among the two Highland teams who were both recently in the Premier League, Falkirk, Dunfermline, Dundee United.

“For me, the Championship was the toughest league this year. Take out Dumbarton and Brechin, the rest of them were all getting results against each other. It was a good standard.

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“I don’t think I’m fearing for them. I would expect them to come with a challenge. Thistle have got to say that they’re better than the rest — which they are.

“They’re the side coming from a higher level. I’d like to think that Thistle would be strong. They’ve got to freshen up the club on and off the park.

“Even the fans, if Thistle get off to a good start then I’ve no doubts they’ll turn up in good numbers and be noisy. I’m sure the club will have the same gates as they did in the Premiership.

“If Thistle get off to a good start next season I think they can come straight back up.”

*Murdo MacLeod was speaking at the SPFL Trust’s Annual Golf Day at The Carrick. All proceeds raised will be used towards mental health first aid training in Scottish football in partnership with the Chris Mitchell Foundation. For more information visit www.spfltrust.org.uk