Peterhead manager Jim McInally has urged his players to keep their composure as they try to secure the Scottish League 2 championship.
The Blue Toon’s lead at the top of the division has been more than halved to five points in the space of the last two games following defeat by Annan, who then won their game in hand – against Albion Rovers – in midweek.
As the Blue Toon travel to Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium to face Queen’s Park today, McInally has urged his players to remember that their fate lies in their own hands.
He said: “We’re at the stage of the season now where it’s really exciting for us.
“Everyone was talking about our 11-point gap a week ago, which has quickly been eroded down to five.
“But we feel we are in a great position and every game we come to now is still about us.
“We are not looking over our shoulder as our destiny is in our own hands.
“We haven’t played at Airdrie’s ground before and I am sure the players will enjoy that.
“It’s important we hold our nerve now. We seemed to get involved in silly things at Annan last week, which was disappointing, and the message to them will be to keep cool heads this weekend.
“Composure is the word I used a lot after the game and if we do that we will be okay.”
McInally will be hoping leading goalscorer Rory McAllister maintains his run of form this afternoon.
The Spiders, who are bottom of the division, stand between the Blue Toon and a chance to get back to winning ways today and McInally believes the trip to Airdrie is a season-defining one for his club.
He added: “Queen’s Park have won their last two games and scored eight goals in the process so they have turned the corner.
“We know what to expect from them and we will give them the utmost respect. We will treat them as if they were second in the league and chasing us.
“But I feel if we win this game it will go a long way to us achieving our aim of winning the title.”
Blue Toon defender Ross Smith begins a two-game suspension following his red card at Annan last Saturday.