FALKIRK manager John Hughes is hoping the new year will bring a change of fortune as he prepares his side to face in-form Kilmarnock today.
The Bairns go into the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash on the back of a run of only one win in their last ten games and sit joint bottom of the table following last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Dundee United.
Whilst Hughes' side were going down a
t Tannadice, Kilmarnock were turning in what manager Jim Jefferies described as the best performance of his seven-year tutelage in Ayrshire as they pulled off a 4-2 win over Hibs despite being reduced to ten men.
Hughes knows his former Falkirk manager and assistant Billy Brown will have the Rugby Park outfit well prepared to try and repeat that Easter Road display at Westfield. However, he is hopeful his players will treat the advent of 2009 as a clean break from their recent form and start meeting the high expectations placed on them.
He said: "Nothing surprises me with Jim and Billy's teams. They are always well organised, always hard-working and always play spirited, good football. They're coming off the back of a fantastic result last weekend, so they'll be confident and buoyant. But this is a new year and I said that to the players after training. We have to get back to picking up results to get us up that league.
"I keep saying this and I say it to the fans all the time: we only budgeted to stay in the SPL. Over the last two or three years, we have maybe given them too much, with a couple of semi-finals and a couple of seventh places. The expectations went up. But I'd like to think that in that dressing room there is a determination to pick up results and get high up that league. Hopefully, with the turn of the year, it can start on Saturday."
Kilmarnock defender Frazer Wright has recovered from a hamstring injury ahead of the game. However, Mehdi Taouil faces a late fitness test as he battles the same problem and goalkeeper Alan Combe is suspended following his red card against Hibs last week.
Simon Ford could return to the squad but David Lilley, Ryan O'Leary and Allan Johnston are still out.
The full article contains 394 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
