| His men are on a high after their 4-0 thrashing of First Division leaders St Mirren last Saturday, but all week Alan has been stressing the Palmerston visit would be a different, but just as difficult test.
And he knows the home side will be looking for the kind of lift his team got from their last result.
“Just as beating St Mirren was a huge win for us in terms of confidence because it showed we can figure at the top of this league, Queen of the South will feel that if they beat us they will show they can survive in it,” he said.
“That makes it a big test for us, but what I am looking for is exactly the same level of performance as I got in the last game. That in itself is a challenge, particularly for the younger players. But if they manage it, we will come away with three points.”
The nature of the St Mirren win and the fact Tam McManus is still out injured, means it’s a near-certainty the gaffer will go with the same starting line-up.
Garry Brady, a sub against the Buddies, is back in full training after a bout of flu and his inclusion in the travelling party will see Alan pick from the same squad.
He has, meanwhile, confirmed that striker Gavin Swankie will be allowed to leave the club in the January transfer window if he can get fixed up elsewhere.
Swankie’s summer signing from Arbroath was funded by cash from fans’ trust Dee 4 Life, but he has failed to establish himself in the squad and the feeling is a fresh start elsewhere is in the best interests of both club and player.
“I have spoken to Gavin and we will be circulating his name to other clubs. He sees himself as a centre-forward, but, with the arrival of Steven Craig and the emergence of Craig O’Reilly, he is well down the pecking order and I feel it is better for him, as well as us, if he moves on,” explained the manager.
“The fact funding came from the fans for Gavin’s signing makes this unfortunate, but I cannot really take that into account and I have to do what I feel is in the best interests of the team and the club.” |
