New Year, fresh start for Josh
Thursday, 1st Jan 2015After last Saturday's match at Brechin was frozen off, Josh Falkingham is desperate to get back on the pitch to face Peterhead this Saturday.
John Potter's attempts to secure a friendly match against Queens Park on Monday also succumbed to the cold weather and then another attempt in midweek was foiled when their possible opponents had to call off. Josh described the week as being all over the place:-
"The gaffer has brought us in every day which is fine. It has been good and it has been tough. We need to take in everything that we are being told and do it on the pitch."
Maybe the daily training schedule with no days off was the new management's way of keeping the players focussed on Saturday but Hogmanay for Josh was just a quiet meal out and home early:-
"That is how it has always been for me. I don't think I have one good New Year where I could celebrate. I am just used to that now, it's just a case of saying Happy New Year to everybody and then get yourself to bed."
The players will be keen to make up for their defeat in John Potter's first game in charge - a 1-0 reversal against fellow challengers, Stranraer, Josh continued:-
"I think we were very unlucky in that game. If the scoreline had been four or five I don't think it would have been any injustice at all really. But that's how it is going at the minute really. I think if we had been on the run that Stranraer had been on (17 games undefeated) I think we would have won that game. Then vice versa we have not really been getting the luck of the draw, the ball has not really been falling for us but the ball drops once in the box and they finish it off. That's football, it is a kick in the teeth.
"The performance overall I think was very good. That is what we have to focus on. I know results now we need to start turning quickly. We can't keep saying that there is plenty of time to go because in my eyes, time is running out. It is not ten games into the season any more, now we are half way there.
"I am sure that we will turn it around. The gaffer and Neil have made the training really sharp and the boys are looking good so hopefully we can make up for that defeat in his first game and get a good win."
The team was set up differently for John Potter's first match and Josh enjoyed his more attacking role.
"He changed the formation slightly and that meant me and Alex Whittle on different sides were higher up the pitch. I am more than happy to play anywhere on the pitch; it was more attacking and I have only scored one goal this season (against Peterhead) so I am looking to add to that now. If I am going to play in that higher role I need to get on the scoresheet a bit more.
"I enjoyed it and I thought there was a buzz in the game, especially in the first half. We were fired up but in the second half Stranraer used their experience. Once they got the goal they just totally killed the game which was really tough.
"When you are on that pitch, you are trying your hardest, you are working your socks off but sometimes teams just make it horrible. Unfortunately that is just what they did, fair play to them and there was nothing that we could do.
"We need to look forward now, we can't keep looking backwards. It is like a fresh start, it is a fresh season now really that is how we have to look at it and just kick on."
The fresh start included Josh being given the captain's armband which he explained came about after John Potter had pulled him in for a chat:-
"He spoke about it last week. It has been nothing major, just a slight change. No big deal about it, I am happy to take it. It is for me to do as the gaffer says and that is the way he looks at it, there is nothing to it but obviously I am pleased."
Josh missed the match at Peterhead since he was recovering from having his tonsils out in November but smiled at the very mention of the first ever league match against the Blue Toon which took place in September. Peterhead were reduced to eight men before half time that day after three red cards were shown. Josh described it as a strange, strange game all round:-
"Even afterwards all the social media things that were said, but that has all been dealt with. I think that is finished and hopefully the football will do the talking and that will be it. I am looking forward to it, it will be a tough game."
The East End Park undersoil heating will be switched on if required but it is the rain that is more likely to be the source of any concerns for the fixture, Josh continued:-
"Peterhead's game against Forfar Athletic last Saturday was postponed so they will be just as desperate for a game as us. The pitch cut up a bit against Stranraer but hopefully it will have recovered and be fine."
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