Even with a less-than-ideal vantage point, Jim McIntyre could see Cove Rangers had issues they needed to fix.
McIntyre watched from home last week, sidelined by illness and reduced to watching a stream of the game against Hamilton Accies in which Cove blew a three-goal lead to draw 4-4.
While there were question marks over how the late equaliser came about – McIntyre has spoken to colleagues in the game who were “astounded” at the indirect free-kick being given – Cove still allowed the hosts back into the game.
McIntyre wants to avoid individual errors coming to the fore again tonight, as Cove prepare for their first TV league game with the visit of Queen’s Park.
“We’ve got to be better in key moments of the game,” he said. “If we score four goals away from home we should be good enough to see the game out. We handed Hamilton a way back into the game by us making poor mistakes for the second and third goals.
“The way it’s going for us just now, we seem to be punished for every mistake we make.
“We’re scoring goals and we’ve had some really positive play in the final third. We want to make sure we get the balance right and not leave ourselves exposed.
“We weren’t exposed against Hamilton – we just made individual errors.
“It was difficult watching it through a TV camera because you don’t get to see the whole pitch. The cameras at the home team’s stadium is just following the ball and you don’t see where the players are in relation to the play.”
Take-two for televised Cove match
The collapse last week left them still waiting for their first win on the road this season. By contrast, their form at the Balmoral Stadium has been up there with the best in the Championship.
The way tonight’s opponents have taken to life in the second tier is no surprise to McIntyre. Queen’s came up with Cove last year and find themselves in third, as they threaten back-to-back promotions.
“I think you would expect that, given the depth of squad and the players they have signed,” said McIntyre. “It shows their intent to go straight up again.
“The game down there was close and we’ve got to make sure we concentrate on ourselves and make better decisions in key moments of the game.”
It is take-two for the first televised league game at Cove, as their fixture with Dundee in September was due to take that honour but was postponed following the Queen’s death.
The BBC Scotland cameras will be in the north-east again this evening, with the chance for Cove to put on a show.
“I suppose for the boys who have come up through the Highland League, it will be the first time they’ve been here with the cameras,” added McIntyre. “We want to put on a performance and show ourselves in a good light.”
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