Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 28th Oct 202128/10/21: PG - “Hopefully your chances and your quality can shine through but we know that we know that we will need to work extremely hard against the ball as well.”
Biggest question for the manager, can we get a win at Arbroath on Saturday? Peter Grant
“We are determined, we know that it is a tough fixture it always has been. I have watched them for the last three years that I have been involved up in Scotland again and it has been really really difficult to play them.
“They make it really hard for you because they have good players. People I think forget that they have good players and are a good team. They have a good squad of players, they mix it but the standard doesn’t drop and that is great credit to what they have built.
“They show guts and determination. I am not surprised by the results they get here and there because I know how hard they work at it. They all fight for each other every moment of the game.
“We know that we need to put in a big big performance and fight fire with fire and make sure that we defend those moments better. I feel in the last few games if we had taken care at vital moments we could have seen through and tried to win the games more comfortably.
“When you are up 1-0 like we were on Tuesday evening, it becomes difficult because our boys always get an opportunity in a game. There were periods in the game the other night and periods that we will get against Arbroath where you have to take your chances and if you don’t they will punish you because they have good quality players.”
Arbroath registered a 1-0 at Inverness on Tuesday night but that did not surprise Peter in any way.
“I am not surprised by that. I have been fortunate enough to have played against them so many times in the last three years so I know how hard they work at it. Great credit to them, you have to tip your hat to them but I know that we have players who are capable of winning games of football.
“We know that it is going to be a very difficult game. You have to work extremely hard, take your chances when they come along and you have to be concentrated and defend exceptionally well.”
Can you deal with the wind at Gayfield?
“I am not even sure that Arbroath know! Listen it is the same for everyone, we have to accept that. Arbroath obviously play there week in week out, I understand that but I know that it is difficult when the wind is blowing a gale.
“People will say to you that they will accept anything apart from the wind, unfortunately that is part of football. You have to deal with that and you can’t make excuses. It is the same for everyone and we have to try and make sure that we keep the ball on the deck as much as you can.
“Hopefully your chances and your quality can shine through but we know that we know that we will need to work extremely hard against the ball as well.”
Graham Dorrans has been out since sustaining injury at Stark’s Park at the end of last month, how is he progressing?
“He is getting there, he is determined and he has worked exceptionally hard. It is touch and go this week. It is a difficult week, we would have liked to have seen him get a full week’s training. He has joined in with us since the end of last week and done some bits and bobs with us. We will see how he responds over the next few days.
“We picked up a few knocks on Tuesday night and we will just have to see how they come through them. If not I always look at the bench now and if the bench stays as strong as we have got and I get the other boys back in I will be delighted if I have most of them all fit but I know that there are a couple struggling for the weekend but we will deal with that.”
How has this week panned out given there was a midweek game?
“Wednesday was recovery, Thursday was on the training pitch and then Friday preparation you want to keep them off their legs as much as you can. The guys who have maybe not played as much will do a lot more than those who have.
“That is the way we prepare week in week out. Guys on the side of the pitch at this moment in time have a big part to play. They have to keep themselves topped up and we have to look after them making sure that they are getting the preparation like everyone else because they could be the ones who start on Saturday.”
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