Championship Award for Nicky Clark

Congratulations to Nicky Clark who has been named the Ladbrokes Championship Player of the Month for March.

March saw Nicky score seven goals in the space of three games including hat tricks against Brechin City and Queen of the South. He admitted it was a good month for him:-

“It was good to get the hat-tricks. I think I’ve won one or two player of the month awards before, but probably not as many as I would like! It’s been massive for us. The last four or five weeks have been great. Obviously, personally, for me, scoring the goals and getting the award.

“But, as a team, we’ve been excellent and picked up some massive results recently and on Saturday in the derby I thought every one of us was brilliant. It was a big result and a big performance from the boys.”

The trip to Falkirk last Saturday was always going to be tough, especially with what was at stake. Nicky continued:-

“We knew if we won that it would put us a step closer to the play-offs. It was a derby game and both teams were right up for it. It was a great atmosphere and we showed what we’re all about.”

The other close contenders for a play off place all lost so clinching one of the places got a little closer. The 26 year old striker looked ahead to the three remaining fixtures, saying they were now in the home straight and there are three good games to looking forward to.:-

“We’ve got two home fixtures in the three games left and, no disrespect to the other teams, we need to go and get six points from those. We’ve got a tougher fixture up in Inverness, but we beat them here and there’s no reason why we can’t go up there and beat them.”

Nicky agreed that form make be peaking just at the right moment:-

“We’re taking momentum into each game. With wins in football you get that naturally and confidence comes from that. It’s a great time to have that if we get ourselves into the play-offs.

“We’ve picked up at a great time in the season and the momentum and the confidence is building nicely. We’re not there yet, but if we get into the play-offs then we’ll take that momentum and confidence into the games and I’m sure that will stand us in good stead.”

Nicky has play-off experience with Rangers at the end of season 2014-15 and agrees that it is definitely weighted in favour of the Premiership team.

“Especially if you’re third or fourth in the Championship, it’s really hard to get through. That time with Rangers we fell at the final hurdle but hopefully this season, if we can get to the play-offs, I can go one step further.

“You need to get through the first four games before you even get to that stage of playing the Premiership team. That’s difficult enough. You see how tight it’s been in the league this year between maybe the top five or six teams.

“If you get to the play-offs you have to play those teams home and away, which is a very hard task. Then you’ve got the Premiership team sitting waiting on the winners. It is in their favour but you never know what can happen in football and if we’re lucky enough to get there then I’m sure we’ll do fine.”

To succeed in the play offs team spirit will be important and that too appears to be boosted right now. Nicky explained:-

“The team spirit comes with winning games and confidence. But its a great dressing room, the boys are really close in there, and I think you can see that on the pitch.

“We’re going out and winning games and fighting for each other, and Saturday was a great example of that. It got tough in the last 10 or 15 minutes and every one of us worked their backsides off for each other and fought for each other. It was a great to see.”

On Saturday it was great to see the fans yet again getting behind the team as well, Nicky said:-

“They always come out and back us and on Saturday it was great to come out and see that away stand full. And they got right behind us.

“You’re going to get tough times through a season in football, every team goes through it. But they stuck with us and the boys all stuck together and got through it, and now we’re looking up and hopefully it continues that way.”

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