View from the dugout

PAUL HARTLEY

I will begin by extending a warm welcome to the players and coaching staff of Falkirk FC on their visit to Balmoral Stadium. Our League One clash is certainly the match of the day as far as the SPFL goes this afternoon.

I would also like to express thanks to our players for ensuring we are going into this match with a place in the top half of the division when it splits, already secured.

When the season kicked off, I made it clear our aim was simply to gain as many points as we could to ensure we remained in League One.

To have guaranteed a top five finish - with two games still to play ahead of the split - is a testament to the dedication and determination shown by the players over the course of what has been the strangest of all campaigns.

Playing without fans has been tough enough, especially at Balmoral Stadium, where the backing we received from the Cove Rangers supporters played a huge part in helping us win League Two last term.

PAUL HARTLEY

The players have also had to contend with two shutdowns - but on both occasions they showed real professionalism to return as fit as they could possibly be, which won’t have been easy.

Let’s not forget they are all part-time, so twice had to train on their own over periods of several weeks.

To a man, they did what they had to and it meant my coaching staff and I could focus more on ensuring they were ready to return to actually playing games in the little time we had available to do that, particularly after the second shutdown.

That played a huge big part in us also being able to face Falkirk unbeaten in our last seven league games, a run that stretches back to when we won away to Forfar Athletic on Boxing Day.

The really pleasing part of that is every player in the squad has played a part in the run.

With the games condensed into a short space of time, we have done our best to rotate the squad to keep players fresh and cope with any injuries.

So well done to the players for still managing to maintain the consistency in results required to get us to where we are now in what is a very tough league.

As was the case when the campaign began, there will be no bold predictions coming from our camp about what happens next. We are the new side in the division and just happy to be in the top half with the opportunity to be part of what looks like being an exciting end to the campaign.

Stay safe and enjoy the game.

Paul Hartley

“So well done to the players for still managing to maintain the consistency in results required...”