Fight Club!
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Jimmy Calderwood celebrates with the Alba Challenge Cup.
FRESH from lifting the Alba Challenge Cup, Jimmy Calderwood is urging his County heroes to show their bottle and beat the drop.
Two matches last week showed the Staggies’ manager the worst then best about County these days.
A bitterly disappointing defeat against main Irn Bru Division One relegation play-off rivals Cowdenbeath last Tuesday left Caldo floored and he asked for a reaction in Sunday’s cup final.
His players responded in the perfect fashion to sweep to a 2-0 victory against Queen of the South in Perth to net the Challenge Cup for the second time.
Now, another HUGE week for the club lies ahead, with Partick Thistle at Firhill on Saturday followed by the Queens they outclassed wanting revenge on Tuesday at Palmerston. Three more games follow to decide their fate.
One massive blow for County, however, is they must tackle Thistle then Queens without skipper Richard Brittain, who is suspended.
Calderwood is calling on his squad to rise to this bigger challenge than a cup final and win three games to surely remain in Division One.
He told the North Star: “After the debacle last Tuesday at Cowdenbeath, we needed a response and all credit to the players because they were absolutely fantastic on Sunday. We had that game won in 25 minutes against a very good side in Queen of the South. We could – and should – have scored more.
“It was strange because I don’t know where that performance came from against Cowdenbeath. But we oozed confidence in the final, that was more like it from us. I have seen the talent in training every day, I keep saying that, but we showed that on Sunday.
“We need to get more streetwise in these massive games. Sometimes I think we’re taking off in the right direction and then comes along another dodgy performance.
“However, if we can combine the talent, vision and quality of football, with a fighting and battling spirit, beginning with individual battles, then we won’t have a problem. We had that never-say-die attitude on Sunday and we’ll need it again. Those are the kind of battles we lost at Cowdenbeath, who deserved to win that night.
“Partick Thistle got a terrific win against Falkirk on Saturday and Queens will be after revenge on Tuesday, so we know what we’ll be up against. If we can get two wins though then we’re well on our way. I think three wins overall are needed from these last five games.
“Jimmy (Nicholl, Cowdenbeath boss) has a tough game against Falkirk on Saturday. That will be Falkirk’s last chance to keep their title challenge alive, so we’ll see what happens. We must take care of our own situation though. We have been to Raith Rovers and Dunfermline and should have won them both, so away games won’t faze us, we’re ready for them. It’s in our own hands, and that’s all you can ask.”
Dundee, who were whacked with a 25-point punishment for entering administration this season, sit just four points ahead of County and have been drawn closer to the danger zone.
Calderwood said: “They have been on an unbelievably good run, but if they get a few injuries then they could yet be up against it. However, we have our own job to do, first and foremost, starting at Partick Thistle.”
While admitting that the loss of Brittain for these next two massive games is a real blow for County, the Victoria Park manager added: “While it’s really disappointing not to have Richard available, we have many players waiting in the wings, eager to do a job, such as Darren Smith, Paul Di Giacomo, Steven Craig and Jason Marr. The quality is here, there’s no doubt about that.”
