Captain’s View

Last week’s defeat in Inverness was a tough one to take.

As a group, we’re an honest bunch of players, and we know the overall performance was unacceptable.

The Championship is a step-up and at this level, teams will punish you, particularly the better sides, the ones likely to be pushing for promotion. We found that out the hard way last Saturday.

It’s a long time since we last lost two league games in a row, it’s something we’re not used to, and it hurts. I can promise you we have been working hard in training this week to try to ensure we won’t have that feeling again this afternoon.

Our home form is going to be key to us having a good season. We haven’t been beaten here in a league game for fifteen months, and the aim has to be to take maximum points as often as we can.

I don’t know exactly what it is, but the Balmoral Stadium certainly suits us, and we have to use that to our advantage.

It is a big open pitch, which is perfect for the style of football we like to play, and obviously we are used to it, and have the bonus of training on it every week. Lots of other teams will have tighter pitches, will play on grass, and when they come here it’s more difficult for them to sit in and defend, and close down the space.

That plays into our hands.

Since our last match here, the manager has been able to add to the squad, and I would like to welcome Luis, Cieran and Charlie to the club.

“Our home form is going to be key to us having a good season. We haven’t been beaten here in a league game for fifteen months.”

They all seem like great lads, and will fit in well both on and off the pitch.

It’s important that we’ve got those new signings. The squad would have been a bit stretched as soon as we picked up a few niggles or suspensions, and it means we have more options.

It is also good to have that healthy competition for places. None of us can take our place in the starting line-up for granted, we have to work hard in training, and perform in the matches, if we’re hold on to it.

Having other boys pushing you is really important, it means you have to maintain high levels of consistency, and that’s got to be a good thing for the team.

The opening performance and win against Raith is what we have to be aiming for week in, week out, and that’s what we’ll all be hoping to achieve this afternoon.

The league is so tight, every win will be massive. The boys will all be giving everything to put three more points on the board.

COYCR!

Mitch Megginson