HUG LIFTED STOPPER’S WILL TO WIN
WILL TIZZARD’s dad took a 1000-mile gamble on his boy – now the stopper’s intent on putting his foot down for first-team action.
Queen’s Park left Inverness with a 1-0 win last week but it wasn’t Dom Thomas’ winner that captured the mood.
It was the snap of Tizzard getting a hug from his old man Nick as he made just his second start since agony at Airdrie when he was subbed off in the first half.
The Spiders, having ended a 15-game winless run last month, can leap from ninth to sixth at Dunfermline today.
And Tizzard said: “My family home is in bristol. Dad planned it a couple of weeks ago – just because I think he wanted to see the Highlands.
“I found out I was starting during the week, which was a little bonus. I don’t get to go home as much any more but when they come up I really appreciate it. It’s brilliant.
“I’ve been out of the team for a while now so it was nice for him to come up and watch, then also the luck he did book it, a win-win on both fronts.
“The past few months haven’t been great in terms of results. but I feel we’re on an upwards trajectory, the gaffer has come in and made a real impact.
“Everything seems to be working well, I’m enjoying it and from what I can tell everyone is too.
“I’ve just got to try to push on now. Keep training well, keep being consistent. It makes it all better when you’ve family coming to watch who you don’t see as much.
“My dad is quite loud, he’s not afraid to say what he thinks! So I can always hear him – he likes to give his opinion. He’s brilliant, he just enjoys coming to watch me play and he enjoys football.”
Tizzard admits the call to take him off four minutes before the break in October’s draw with Airdrie won’t define him.
Asked if it was tough, he added: “It was. The weekend helped massively.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have to build myself back up a little bit again.
“but it feels so long ago now I try not to think about it too much. It was a kick in the teeth but those sort of things you have to look back and say they only make you stronger. you just have to move on.
“Hopefully now I can get back to how I was at the start of the season.”
James McPake has urged Dunfermline to “put things right” after their horror show against Morton last weekend.
The Pars host Queen’s desperate to bounce back having been booed off after the 5-0 thrashing.
McPake said: “The good thing after such a bad afternoon is you have a game the following week where you can go and put it right.
“And that’s what we need to do. I’m genuinely delighted we’re back at home because we owe the club a performance.”