Captain’s view

MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF HOW BIG FACING PARTICK THISTLE TONIGHT IS FOR US, BUT IT REALLY IS JUST ANOTHER GAME IN OUR EYES.

We never treat any we go into any differently from any other. It was accepted at the start of the season that making the step up into League One was a big challenge for our club, which meant every game we faced would be huge.

It was vital we didn’t look too much at who we might be up against, it’s always been more about focussing on what we can put into the 90 minutes as a team in the hope that it would help us compete at this level.

That one game at a time approach might not be what a lot of people want to hear, but it’s always been the way things have been done at Cove Rangers.

This being the second of four games inside a week presents it’s own challenges, but we aren’t too worried by that. It will be hard going for a part-time side like ourselves, but we have been dealt the cards we got, so just have to get on with it.

Doing as well as we did in our two recent games against Falkirk offers us a lot of encouragement going forward.

We played very well to beat them 2-0 at Balmoral Stadium and I felt we were unlucky not to back that up with another victory down at Falkirk on Saturday.

>>> Given how well we played - and the amount of chances we created - it was hard coming off the pitch having ended up drawing the match 2-2. But showing we were up to the challenge of competing with full-time opponents over the two tough games inspires confidence as we attempt to finish the season strongly.

It was particularly pleasing to see Leighton McIntosh scoring our first goal down in Falkirk. I know it was preying on Leighton’s mind that the goals hadn’t been coming as regularly as he would have liked. Everyone in the squad admires how much unselfish work Leighton puts in every time he plays, so it was pleasing to see him finally get some reward for his efforts

Leighton was unlucky to see a penalty saved in the second half too. You are maybe wondering why I didn’t take that penalty. It was my choice to make a change, mainly because I have missed a couple this season and my gut instinct suggested it might be better to hand over the responsibility at that moment. It’s always been about doing what is best for the team.

Leighton was in top form and feeling confident, so I was happy to give him the ball. I might take the next one or it could be trusted to someone else, it will all depend on the circumstances at that exact moment.

Leighton will have received a boost from the goal he scored, as strikers always tend to do. That’s great because we are going to need all of us digging deep and eager to do our bit if we are to have any chance of getting the results we would like over the next period.

CYCR!

Mitch Megginson