GRETNA manager Mick Wadsworth is sure his players will bounce back from their 6-1 thrashing by Inverness Caledonian Thistle because they are playing for their futures.
The Clydesdale Bank Premier League's bottom side made the long journey north on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, during which they had conceded just one goal. But it took just 37 seconds for Dougie Imrie to slide home the opening goal, and Inve
rness went on to record their biggest SPL win.
Wadsworth revealed a pre-match meal of cold lasagne, thanks to a broken microwave on the team coach, had summed up their poor preparations. And he expects performances to improve for their remaining games against Hearts and St Mirren as the players need to impress other clubs, with administration-hit Gretna's future remaining uncertain.
"The stakes for the players are very high because lots of teams are watching them and quite a few have had offers already," Wadsworth said.
"The next few games are ones where not only Scottish clubs are watching, but with the end of the English season there will be managers from south of the Border watching as well.
"It's massive for the players to big themselves up and give good performances in the remaining games, and I'm sure they will do that.
"This is hopefully just a major blip in this run of games because we've done really well and we've still two to play."
Inverness manager Craig Brewster was rewarded for tying up Rory McAllister and Iain Vigurs for next season when the youngsters scored during the rout.
McAllister headed Inverness two up midway through the first half and Vigurs volleyed the final goal in injury time, soon after setting up Ross Tokely with a corner.
In between, Steven Hogg headed what proved to be a consolation for Gretna and Barry Wilson and Don Cowie scored spectacular goals.
But the performances of his young players were the highlight for Inverness manager Brewster, who believes he can get more out of McAllister in the coming year.
"In patches he looks like a player, his presence can be a handful and if he gets his head right then he certainly has ability," the former Dundee United manager said.
"It's just that work-rate and getting into position when we don't have the ball. But we work him hard, he is maybe just a bit laid-back at times."
The full article contains 414 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
