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Boss Jim McIntyre expects to see a big reaction from his players in tomorrow’s cinch Championship encounter with Queen’s Park.

Having kicked-off the campaign with an impressive victory over Raith Rovers, the last few weeks have been disappointing, culminating in the home defeat last weekend, our first loss at Balmoral in the league in fifteen months.

The manager says that was unacceptable, and everyone at the club knows that only too well:

“Having gone back through the match, I see that Ayr United performance as a stand-alone.

“I know we’ve lost three in a row, but the other two at least had positive aspects.

“In the Morton game, we played really well first half, but failed to take our chances, then while still in control and easing to a point late on, one mistake killed us. In Inverness we were rocked early on, but came out strongly after the interval, and for twenty minutes, had them worried before their goals near the end.

“So, while I understand we have been defeated in all three, there were at least things I could take from the first two. That wasn’t the case against Ayr last weekend.”

While lessons will have to have been learned from that match, Jim says it has been important this week to take a positive approach.

The manager has reviewed the whole game numerous times on video, but he decided against subjecting the players to that ordeal, as he felt that would simply put the squad on a downer:

“They didn’t need that. They’re an honest bunch, the players are well aware they let their standards drop last week, so it has all been about working towards rectifying that.

“I’ve got to say the boys have been great in training. It’s been excellent this week, they’ve trained really well.”

There have, however, been absentees during the build-up to this one, with five players counted among the walking wounded. That has caused a selection headache for the boss:

“We’re still without Blair Yule and Evan Towler, so we could have done without last week’s injuries.”

Scott Ross, Mitch Megginson and Mark Reynolds all limped off last week, and they have been able to do little in the days since. All three will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness, but it will mean a waiting game for the manager:

“It might be there’s an opportunity for some of the guys who have been on the bench, waiting for their chance. They’re all good players, they’re all capable of playing in my team, and I have every confidence in them.

“When you’re facing adversity, you need to step up to the challenge, and that’s what I expect the boys to do.”

Supporters are reminded that Queen’s Park are currently playing their home matches at Stenhousemuir’s Ochilview Park while work continues to have Lesser Hampden ready for use.

Tickets can be bought in advance here https://tickets.queensparkfc.co.uk/package_link/LZEmOKzmpW/QueenssParkVCoveRangers

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