BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
PAUL Watson insists there will be no panic in the Falkirk ranks today (Saturday) – even if Morton prove as stuffy opponents as last season.
The Bairns failed to get the start to the campaign they wanted when they crashed to a first-day defeat to expected promotion rivals Hibs last weekend.
It was the ninth year in a row that the club have fallen short in the opening game of a new league term.
Last year, they struggled to a 1-1 draw away to Morton and return to Cappielow this afternoon expecting another difficult 90 minutes following the Greenock outfit’s Betfred Cup win over Hamilton Accies in midweek.
Watson said: “It’s always a tough place to go. We went to Morton on the first day last season and drew 1-1.
“We know it’s going to be difficult, but we’re looking forward to the game.
“There were a lot of positives to take out of the Hibs game and we want to get those first points on the board.
“We don’t see there being pressure on us to do that. We’re going into the game to win but if we don’t get the win there will be no panic stations, it’s still early days.
“If we hit our points target for each quarter then it pretty much guarantees you the play-offs.
“So, we’ll be going for that again this year.”
Play-offs
Manager Peter Houston set his squad a goal of at least 15 points from each round of fixtures last season and they finished in second spot after surpassing that by racking up 70 points.
The campaign ended in bitter disappointment when the Bairns lost out to Kilmarnock in an agonising play-off final.
But Watson, who is in his second year at the club after joining from Raith Rovers last summer, insists their sights are firmly set on going one better this term.
The 25-year-old defender added: “After a great campaign last year, falling short by just one game, our target will be to reach the play-offs again.
“And hopefully we can have another good season.
“There wasn’t much between us and Hibs last weekend and hopefully we can be right up there with them again this year.”
