It has been a quick 12 months for Partick Thistle and their defender Aaron Taylor-Sinclair in the SPFL Premiership as this time last year they were still looking to be crowned First Division Champions.
The Jags travelled to Falkirk on April 20 and secured the title thanks to a 3-0 success and now 52 weeks later they are looking for a win at Kilmarnock that will help keep them in Scotland’s top flight.
A pivotal night in the Firhill side’s success came earlier in April when they defeated closest challengers Morton 1-0 to move five points clear in front of a bumper crowd of 8,875.
Taylor-Sinclair said: “The game was just over a year ago but it seems a lot longer than that. In saying that, I share a flat with James Craigen and he scored the winning goal that night and he reminds me about it fairly frequently.”
“At the time it was the biggest crowd I had played in front of and there was a great atmosphere at the game. That win gave us the edge over Morton and put the finishing line in sight and we got over that at Falkirk 10 days later.”
Whilst the Jags moved up, and are hoping to stay up, Morton have moved down after relegation to League 1 was confirmed last weekend after they lost 2-0 to Alloa.
Taylor-Sinclair is surprised by Morton’s fall as he explained: “I did not think they would struggle this season as I thought they would go for promotion again. I did not think they would be relegated but that just goes to show you what a crazy game football can be.”
As for life after promotion Taylor-Sinclair said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed this season in the Premiership and it is great to test yourself against the best players in Scotland. Hopefully I will continue enjoying it in our last 5 games.”
This year has seen highlights for Taylor-Sinclair as he said: “The highlights for me were the firsts in the season. The first game against Dundee United at Firhill was a huge occasion and it was live on TV the night before everyone else kicked off. It ended in a goalless draw but it was a decent game.”
“I also really enjoyed our first win up at Ross County the following week when we came back with a 3-1 success. It was also good to get our first win at home when we beat Aberdeen 3-1.”
The Aberdeen born player said: “They had enjoyed getting the better of us in three games and with me coming from up there I really enjoyed beating them. It also meant that we had finally won at home.”
“We wanted to get our home hoodoo out the way and we did that with a really good performance that day. We were the better side in that game and Lyle Taylor was terrific in getting our two goals.”
Taylor-Sinclair also found the net for the first time in Scotland’s top flight in this campaign and he said: “I have also scored my first goal in the Premiership and that came against Hearts in a 2-0 win at Tynecastle. It was a bit of a special moment and it was good to get off the mark but I know I have to add scoring more often to my game.”
The biggest highlight would of course be staying up with Taylor-Sinclair saying: “We are sitting second bottom now but we can still meet the objective that was set at the beginning of the season and that was survival. We now have a 5 game season where we will give everything we can to stay up. I am well up for the challenge and I know the rest of the team are as well.”
“We lost on our last game before the break when Hearts beat us 4-2 and that was really disappointing. We had seen that game as a chance to get 3 points on board and stay ahead of a couple of teams however it never happened.”
“St Mirren won and that took them above us however we took time during the break ahead of the split to get recharged.”
The fortnight away from games looks to have put a spring back in the Maryhill step as Taylor-Sinclair said: “We are chilled out and ready to look for the 3 points down at Kilmarnock. It was good to regroup and get ready for the challenges we face in our last run of games.”
The full back is looking to get over a season low for him when he faces the Ayrshire side as he explained: “We have been unlucky against Kilmarnock this season. The last time we played them we were really unlucky as we were one up until the last minute. I was ruled to have given away a penalty and was sent off. “
“As I was walking off I stopped and watched as Paul Gallacher saved Kris Boyd’s effort only for Robbie Muirhead to run in and score the rebound. I was feeling bad enough as it was but that probably made me feel even worse. If we could get the right result in this game then it would probably make up for that.”
Taylor-Sinclair reckons that last season’s title win would not be as great as staying in the Premiership as he said: “We have kept a good spirit in the team and that started when most of us were together last season. There is always some really good banter flying about and a few of the older boys are joining in now as well.”
“To be honest staying up would top winning the First Division. Being promoted and staying up in our first season would be fantastic, it would be a great achievement.”
Getting wins will be key and Taylor-Sinclair said: “In the bottom six we have already beaten Hearts, Hibs and Ross County and we will give our all to do that again. If we could get another three wins then we could be alright however we will give everything to get 5 wins.”
“No-one at Firhill wants to be in the play-off zone however we are being positive about getting out of it.”
Getting goals will become even more vital in the last month of the season and Taylor-Sinclair said: “We have guys that can create and score chances and that could be crucial. Kallum Higginbotham has more assists than anyone in the Premiership and he can score as well. We have Lyle and Kris Doolan as well to get us goals.”
“If they are doing that and we are keeping things tight at the back then I am sure we will do okay.”
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