Source: FOOTYMAD
Make Or Break Game For Killie And Falkirk
Today's game between Kilmarnock and Falkirk may not end up being the pretiest but it will be drama filled for sure. Chris Maguire returns to the Kilmarnock squad for the game against Falkirk that will decide who gets relegated from the SPL. The on-loan striker had to sit out Wednesday's 2-1 win over parent club Aberdeen. Allan Russell remains on the sidelines with a groin injury and David Fernandez is ill, but Killie otherwise have a full squad. Kilmarnock manager Jimmy Calderwood has dismissed his Falkirk counterpart's, Steven Pressley, claims that the expectations of the home support could weigh heavy on the Ayrshire side during today's crunch game. Pressley has tried to put the pressure on his rivals as Falkirk seek the win they need to retain their SPL status and send Killie down. Kilmarnock beat Aberdeen to remain in pole position in the two-way battle for survival, but that followed six consecutive away defeats and Calderwood believes home advantage could be crucial. Calderwood said: "It's very important. Steven says the pressure is on us being at home. I would rather be at home than going to Falkirk. We have played well at home and got some good results, and football-wise have done well. If you look at our away form, I wouldn't like to be going to the Falkirk Stadium. We had a wonderful support up at Aberdeen on a very cold Wednesday night, but we are back at home and our home form has been much better than our away form. We've got the advantage at this moment in time. Listening to Steven's comments, it seems they play better away from home.'' Falkirk are expected to put out an unchanged squad. Carl Finnigan is likely to remain on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Long-term Achilles injury victim Pedro Pele is Falkirk's only other absentee. Falkirk defender Marc Twaddle feels the resilience they have shown to keep in touch with the rest of the league throughout the season could prove crucial as they face their destiny at Rugby Park. Falkirk have claimed crucial wins just at the right time to avoid being cast adrift at the bottom of the SPL, and Twaddle believes those survival instincts will come to the fore today. Twaddle said: "About three or four weeks ago we were five and six points behind teams so I would have bitten your arm off for this chance. We've got a positive manager and good players and that's what has made us claw back the points. We've got this chance and we have earned it. Everyone thought we would be relegated by now and we have clung on. There were quite a number of games where we could have gone seven or eight points adrift but we have won the game and clawed it back. The pressure has been on us every single game because we have been bottom for basically the whole year. Other teams have had that cushion but I think it will be annoying other teams that we keep clawing teams back, because I think everybody thought we were going to be relegated. So it's a credit to us, but it will only be a credit to us if we stay up.'' Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
