Wullie Gibson wants his Queen of the South players to use the hurt of Sunday’s cup final defeat as motivation to remain in the Championship.
The Doonhamers welcome Partick Thistle to Palmerston for a massive match in the South’s relegation dogfight.
Gibson warned his players the feeling of disappointment on Sunday can’t be repeated.
He said: “I said to the boys we need to use the hurt, that feeling, and make sure it’s what kicks you on. Because you don’t want to feel that with relegation at the end of the season. So you really need to use that on Friday night and the games going forward.”
The Palmerston club didn’t receive any favours from Sunday’s Trust Trophy cup winners Raith as they lost 2-0 to ninth-placed Dunfermline on Wednesday night.
But Gibson insisted his squad can’t be looking elsewhere for help.
He said: “We can’t worry too much about what goes on elsewhere with Ayr United and Dunfermline. We’ve got to look after our own game.
“Partick are coming to us and we’ve already beat them there. I thought when we played each other recently we were the better team first half and they were the better team second half. So we know there’s not going to be much in it but it’s about winning games and staying alive.”
After spurning multiple opportunities the gaffer wants his side to be more clinical in front of the BBC Scotland cameras tonight.
He said: “I don’t think we’ve taken enough chances this season.
“Last week against Hamilton we had a good chance at 0-0. The first goal and working harder than the other team is underrated in this league. It goes a long way to winning. On Sunday in the first half we had three off the bar, two off the post and one off the line. It was one of those days. Some times it looked easier to score than miss.”
Coverage starts on BBC on BBC Scotland at 7.30pm.
Meanwhile, former Queen of the South player Lex Law has died at the age of 75.
The inside left played 332 times for the Doonhamers between 1964 and 1976 scoring 68 goals for the club.
The club sent condolences to his family.
