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Having gone seven matches without a win, and now sitting in the relegation play-off place, the team faces a crucial period in their bid to retain our Championship status.

Just half a dozen matches remain, including away meetings this month with our rivals Hamilton and Arbroath, and everyone at the club is determined to get back to winning ways and to revive our hopes of survival.

That begins with the weekend encounter with Partick Thistle, a fixture which has already produced high drama during this campaign, and manager Paul Hartley is determined to extend our unbeaten record against the Maryhill side:

“We’ve done well against Partick this season, with a draw and a victory at Firhill, and another share of the points here at Balmoral, a game which was snatched from us in the cruellest of fashions deep into stoppage time.

“The guys are going to have to guard against that, and to eliminate the individual errors which have cost us so dearly.

“It would also be good to think that we might get a break or two during the run-in, but the most important thing will be the application and desire of the players. Get that right, and we can secure that coveted eighth place.”

Captain Mitch Megginson is also hoping our luck will turn during the next few matches, and he says the squad has been giving everything this week as they prepare for the match:

“In a number of games recently, we have played plenty good football, but have allowed the match to run away from us. We’ve had a bad habit of conceding goals in multiples and not allowing ourselves to get a foothold. At 1-0 down, you’re still in with a chance, but all too often we have given up the second goal too, and that makes it extremely difficult. We need to make sure we’re competitive for the whole ninety minutes.

“We have worked hard in training this week – we always do – and despite the recent run, there is still a good, positive feeling among the boys.

“Apart from upping the performance levels, we could also do with catching a break! Anyone who has watched us regularly this season will know that luck has not gone our way, and I firmly believe that has got to change at some point, hopefully starting against Partick.”

“We’ve done well against them, and we can feed off our last victory down at Firhill, but they’re a good side, and we’re going to have to rediscover the form we all know we’re capable of if we’re to get the right result.”

There was much-needed good news this week with Blair Yule finally back at full fitness after completing two training sessions. Having missed the first ten games of the season with an ankle problem, the midfielder has been absent for the last nine after suffering an injury to his heel. He cannot wait to play his part during the conclusion to the campaign:

“This lay-off has been worse than the one at the start of the season, probably because of how the results have been going. You feel helpless sitting in the stand watching on, knowing you’re not able to contribute or help your team-mates.

“It has been a really frustrating time, and I’m delighted to be back in the squad. As soon as I was able to, I put in the hard work, and it was such a relief being back out on the training pitch with the boys.

“Now, I feel good, I feel fit, and I’m ready to give everything I have for the team over the last six matches. I’ve been here a long time, and I know the efforts that have gone into getting Cove Rangers to where we are. I’ll be doing what I can to try to make sure we stay there.”

With Blair back in the squad, Connor Scully having recovered from last week’s injury, and Scott Ross also in contention after shaking off the after-effects of a virus, only two players are side-lined: long term absentees Fraser Fyvie and Brody Paterson.

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