Keep Calm and Carry On – Sean Crighton Praises Spiders skipper

SEAN CRIGHTON told his Queen’s Park team to keep calm and carry on when Linlithgow Rose went ahead in the third round of the Scottish Cup.

The head coach acknowledged the BBC Scotland cameras’ interest in the tie on Friday night hinted at a possible cup shock in West Lothian.

That potential grew when the home side took the lead at MV Commercial Prestonfield through captain Connor McLennan.

However the Spiders head coach sent a re-assuring message to his players – one that paid off in the end.

Speaking to members of the press he said: “This is not an easy place to come. It’s not an easy tie. That’s why it’s on telly, it’s a potential banana skin but I think we went about our business well, especially in the second half.

“We can definitely play better but I am proud of them because this is not an easy place to come.

“I always knew the character in the group. My message to the group when they scored was remain calm because I knew we could come back into it. I knew we had the character in the team to do that and as a bit of a wind in the second half which goes for us.  I am happy though because it made us the first team name in the hat [for the fourth round draw on Sunday evening].”

Queen’s equalised with a Euan Murray header before stretching into a comfortable lead with close range goals from Grant Savoury and Josh Fowler.

It was the leader’s role that pleased Crighton too.

“Euan Murray has been a magnificent captain for us since I brought him in.  

“I knew what I was bringing in to the club. It was important for me on the recruitment side of things to add to the quality that I had and Euan was my main target.

“Josh is picking up all the headlines for all his goals and his prowess but big players like you and others are definitely helping us too.

“Scoring goals is what Josh does. He would have been absolutely raging if he hadn’t scored tonight and that’s the type of player he is. 

“I knew when I brought him in over the summer that he knew for the goal was and whether it’s his head or either of his two feet he has scored a barrel-load. 

“He popped up with a header tonight and I was actually very pleased with that one because it’s something that we’ve spoken about with Grant [Savoury] sending in the cross and playing that inverted role.”

Crighton and the Spiders will learn their opponents in round four in the draw which takes place live on BBC Scotland on Sunday, during the Premiership highlights programme beginning at 7.15pm.