BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Scott Gibson insists Queen’s Park’s previous playoff pain can spur the Spiders on to make it third time lucky.
Gibson, 22, has been a first-team star with the Glasgow amateurs for four campaigns and, despite his tender years, has experienced his fair share of heartbreak in the race for a League 1 place.
Queen’s Park were dumped out of the playoffs by Peterhead in 2013, with a side including Andrew Robertson, Blair Spittal and Aidan Connolly succumbing to a 4-1 aggregate defeat against the Blue Toon.
Further torment was to follow last season when they got to within one tie of the third tier – only to lose out 2-1 to Stenhousemuir.
Depending on results elsewhere, Gus McPherson’s men – currently in third spot – could confirm their top four berth with a Glasgow derby triumph over second-placed Clyde today at Hampden.
And Gibson said: “If we get there then this will be my third year in the playoffs. I’ve been unsuccessful in the previous two years, losing to Peterhead, then last season Stenhousemuir. I’m hoping it’s third time lucky.
“It is a sore feeling. You put so much in over the course of the season and you want to get the rewards at the end of it.
“That pain will drive us on. It is not a nice experience to go through and we are determined to go one better this time. Not every player gets the chance to win promotion, whether it’s through the playoffs or by winning the title, so it would be a special experience.
“But first and foremost, we need to secure the playoff place.”
Clyde, who played host to East Fife’s title party last weekend after a 0-0 draw at Broadwood, have promotion aspirations of their own under boss Barry Ferguson.
And, with just one point separating the sides from second to fifth in a remarkable race for the playoffs, Gibson is expecting a fraught fight at the national stadium.
Gibson continued: “The league table doesn’t lie, so we know that both teams are really evenly matched and we expect a tight game. Hopefully we can get the right result.
“East Fife found that wee bit of consistency to take the title, but from second down to fifth, there’s only one point in it, but we have a confident dressing room and believe we can handle that pressure.
“We have put a lot in this season and proved we can compete with the best teams in the division, so the aim is to make sure that wasn’t for nothing.”
