Stubbs Focuses On Falkirk

Following on from the four one victory over Alloa Athletic at the weekend, head coach Alan Stubbs has said it’s all eyes to Falkirk and finishing second now.

There’s very little game reaction that I can find at least, all of the after match comments from Stubbs are focused on the final days game against Falkirk where we can secure second place and have an easier play off ride.

With Rangers slipping up against our upcoming opponents and only taking the draw, we sit in second place with it being ours to now lose, but Stubbs insists nothing changes for us as we go into the game.

The Evening Times have him quoted as saying.

‘An awful lot hasn’t changed from my point of view because my mindset was go to Falkirk and get a result anyway, and then we see what has happened at Tynecastle. Our aim hasn’t changed – we are going there to win. We know now if we win the score at Tynecastle is irrelevant. So we know exactly what we have to do next week and the players will be ready for it.’

Of course it’s clear what a second placed finish would do for us in terms of extending the season, and Stubbs added in quotes carried by Sky Sports.

‘Avoiding having to play three games will just give us a bit of extra time to recover and prepare the players for the winners of that third and fourth place play-off. We would like to finish in second place and from that point of view it is important that we try and get a result against Falkirk on Saturday.’

What has pleased Stubbs though is the reaction of the players to the loss to Falkirk in the Scottish Cup.

‘It was obviously very disappointing. In any semi-final you would like to win and get to a major cup final. But the response I’ve had from the players has been very good. This will certainly be a tough game. Our record against Falkirk certainly could have been better but we are in good form having won our last five in the league and from that point of view we are really happy with where we are.’

Finally the Daily Record carry quotes from the gaffer just prior to the game explaining that if the players do get second spot, he might use the extra time we get to take them away to help prepare for the end of the season play off run in.

‘We`ve provisionally looked at going away if we finish in second place. I would like to do something with the lads. Whether it`s here or somewhere else, I`ll look at it. There is a possibility of getting away for some sun but it`s a May Bank holiday in Scotland, so booking 30 or 35 flights is not easy. That`s not to say we`re going to do it but we`ve definitely discussed it. It would be a chance to give the players a little bit of down time, considering what they`ve been through. The players are aware of it but, obviously, if Rangers win their last two games then it`s irrelevant.’

Stubbs however adds that it’s only a possibility if we get second place now Rangers slipped up in that first game, but if we don’t then it will be a normal week for the players with no break.