Watson determined to finally make it to the Premiership
Paul Watson has experienced everything there is when it comes to the Scottish Premiership play-offs – everything, that is, except reaching the promised land of the top flight.
The centre-back started both legs of the 2016 final as Falkirk’s 1-0 first-leg lead disintegrated at Kilmarnock with a4-0thumping.thefollowing season he was a member of a defence that surrendered a late lead to Dundee United in the semi-finals. Then, a year later, he joined the Tannadice club and was a bemused bystander as four consecutive United team-mates missed spot-kicks in the final against St Mirren.
United made up for that famous disappointment last term with a triumphant march towards the title, but Watson again missed out on the elite of Scottish football as he was allowed to leave in the summer. Now halfway through a two-year deal with Dunfermline, he is hoping that his familiarity with the minitournament can help inspire
the Fife club to do what no second-tier side has done yet by winning the play-offs from fourth place.
Ahead of tonight’s quarter-final first-leg encounter with local rivals Raith Rovers, the 30-year-old said: “I think I’ve had every experience in the play-offs now an early exit, getting to the final and winning the first leg before getting battered in the second leg.
Then at Dundee United, we drew and went all the way to penalties - and I’ve never seen a penalty shootout like that since. It’s the toughest way to end the season.
"I don’t think there’s many boys who have experienced theplay-offsinourgroup,soi’ve been trying to give little bits of advice to them in certain areas.
“We can’t win the game on Tuesdaynight,it’stwoties,soit’s just about staying in the game and taking it to Saturday.”
Therewon’tbemuchofafighting chance for the return leg if the Pars succumb to the type of hammering they received on the last visit to Stark’s Park, losing5-1attheendofmarch.watson, who missed that encounter, insists things will be different this time.
He said: “I was at the game, I was there, but I didn’t play. As a group, we got it wrong on the day. We won’t be making that mistake again, certainly.”