Kingsley hails Pressley as Falkirk ‘miracle man’

Teenager Stephen Kingsley has branded manager Steven Pressley a “miracle man” for inspiring Falkirk’s young side to this season’s string of successes.

The Bairns go into this afternoon’s meeting with Ross County in Dingwall knowing they could leapfrog their opponents and go top of the First Division with a two-goal win.

The Westfield outfit also already have a Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final against Celtic and a Ramsdens Cup final against Hamilton Accies to look forward to in the new year.

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Knock-out victories over Rangers and Dundee United, and a run of only two league defeats all season have belied the massive cutbacks carried out to Pressley’s squad over the summer months, when question marks hung over the club’s very existence.

And 17-year-old Kingsley, who has shaken off hamstring and knee injuries to become the latest youngster to show huge promise at first-team level, believes Pressley deserves massive credit for the extraordinary way he has motivated his team to defy expectations.

He said: “At the start of the season, considering the money worries and everything, I don’t think anyone could have thought we would have done as well as we have. But we have an absolutely brilliant team spirit. We have pushed on and proved a lot of people wrong and, hopefully, we can keep that going for the rest of the season.

“We have so many young players coming through and they are all great players. It’s all looking good for the future. I could not speak highly enough of Steven Pressley. I think he’s brilliant and what he has done for this club in the past few months is nothing short of a miracle.

“Since the summer he has put together a squad which has gelled really well together and everyone is glad to be here. It’s really exciting times.”

Kingsley has been the youngest member of a Falkirk team that has included the likes of fellow 17-year-old Jay Fulton, 18-year-olds Murray Wallace and Dale Fulton, 19-year-old Blair Alston and 20-year-olds Rhys Bennett and Stewart Murdoch in recent weeks.

With youth comes inexperience, in contrast to this afternoon’s opponents, but Kingsley insists it also brings the courage to face head on the challenges that have been thrown their way this season. He added: “Ross County will be a tough team to beat with all the experience they’ve got. It’s in contrast to us who maybe have little experience but have a real desire which has shown in our last few games.

“We go up there with no fears and we just need to prove ourselves again which we have done all season. It will be a hard game but we will do our best.”

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Falkirk goalkeeper Mick McGovern will be facing his old club this afternoon and he said it is no surprise to him that County lead the way in the First Division.

The Enniskillen-born keeper said: “If I’m honest, it doesn’t surprise me much at all – I knew Ross County would be up there this season. I know all about their players. Last season, we didn’t do ourselves justice, but there was certainly quality in the squad.

“It wasn’t enjoyable at all last season, particularly with all the managerial upheaval. We were expected to kick on after the Scottish Cup final but, for whatever reason, it just never happened. But I had an absolutely fantastic two years up there at County.

“I’ll always be grateful to Derek and George Adams for giving me the opportunity to play first-team football regularly.

“Straight after the cup final, I went on to win my first international cap as well and that would never have happened otherwise. I’ve not really thought about the reception I’ll get from the home fans. They were great in my time up there, so we’ll see.

“But I do keep in touch with a few of the County players but, like them, we’ve just been focusing on preparing for the match. It’s obviously a huge one for both clubs.”