Source: Team_Talk
Hughes can save Falkirk - Crabbe
Falkirk's 3-0 defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday, coupled with St Mirren's draw against Hibernian, has left the Bairns four points from safety at the bottom of the Scottish Premier League.
Falkirk, who host in-form Hearts on Saturday, are in danger of being cut adrift before the league splits but Crabbe believes his former Ayr United team-mate can turn things around.
"I travelled with John every day down to Ayr and it was an absolute pleasure to listen to him," Crabbe said.
"I could listen to him 24/7, he is just brilliant. He is such an enthusiastic guy and, when you're down there at the bottom of the league, you will certainly need someone with enthusiasm to get you out it. He is second to none.
"I think if I was playing for John Hughes, he would be that type of manager that you would run through a brick wall for him.
"He is going to need 11 guys who will do that in the last few games."
Falkirk's predicament has taken some of the shine off their Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final against Dunfermline on April 26.
But Crabbe, who joined the trophy today at Polmont Sports Centre on its tour of Scotland, feels their difficult league campaign can make the players hungrier for cup success.
Crabbe, who helped Falkirk to the 1997 final, said: "When you're down there you don't not look forward to the next game, but you never know what you're getting.
"When the cup comes around, it's quite nice to get away from that feeling.
"That's probably sometimes how it happens, you go on a cup run because you are away from the league.
"It is weird, it takes a weight off your shoulders a wee bit. You can go out and relax a bit. We beat Celtic in the semi-final.
"Teams aren't expected to win because you're not fancied. But, it just shows you, when you get away from the league situation, the pressure is off you a bit."
In the meantime, Crabbe expects Falkirk to face a tough test against another of his former clubs on Saturday.
"Obviously I'm a Hearts man and I'm going to the game," Crabbe said.
"I'll have mixed emotions because Hearts have got a lot to play for as well. But Falkirk probably need the result more than Hearts to stay in the league.
"I can't call it. It's a massive game for Falkirk and they'll be up for it. But I've watched Hearts all season, they have learned under Csaba (Laszlo) to dig out results.
"But Yogi will certainly have his team fired up for this one and the players will know how big a game it is. If they can take three points, it's going to go a long way to keeping them up."
