Gus: Squad's facing an exhausting month

Nov 7 2008 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

gus macpherson

BUDDIES boss Gus MacPherson has told his fringe players they’ll be handed a chance to prove they’re a cut above this month as St Mirren face a hectic schedule of games.

Saints will have played a whopping six SPL matches by the time November comes to an end.

And MacPherson has urged his entire squad to be ready and waiting for the chance to shine as the club negotiates a November to remember.

He said: “Everybody has to be ready, especially when you look at the games we are going into over the next month.

“On paper, all these games are a tough task and it will be a case of using all the bodies that are at our disposal.

“We don’t have a fully fit squad as yet and that’s not ideal because you always want your players to be fully fit and ready to play but we have to get on with it.

“What we do have is competition for places and the players are bringing out the best in each other, without a shadow of a doubt.”

MacPherson’s side were held to a 0-0 draw against Hibs last weekend and face the second half of an Edinburgh double-header tomorrow when they welcome Hearts to Love Street.

Next Tuesday, the Buddies will take the high road to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The fixtures get tougher still as Saints then face Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, November 15, followed by Celtic at Love Street seven days later.

And MacPherson’s men complete an exhausting month with a home game against Dundee United on Saturday, November 29.

The Saints gaffer reckons his squad will be stretched to the limit.

But he insists his players are going into this crucial period of the season without any fear as they know exactly what they will be up against in the games to come.

MacPherson said: “We’ve played everyone now and we’ve got nothing to fear because our players have a bit about themselves.

“They’ve showed it when the chips have been down in difficult periods of this season already.

“They have the ability and they can compete, whether it be against Rangers, Celtic, Hibs or Hearts.

“We’ve been delighted with the way the team has played, although we are frustrated that we haven’t picked up more points than we have done, but three or four other managers are saying exactly the same thing.

“All we can do is try to maintain our standard of performances and hope we can get the breaks that we need on the day in front of goal so we can pick up three points instead of just the one.”