East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz says the festive fixture schedule will make for an unforgiving Christmas for someone – and he is determined it won’t be his merry men.
Kilby kicked off a run of six games in five weeks last Saturday with a battling 5-4 win at Gala Fairydean Rovers and on Tuesday night they drew 1-1 with league leaders Rangers B.
Today Caledonian Braves come calling before a trip to Edinburgh Uni on December 17, a Boxing Day clash at home to Gretna 2008 and then a Hogmanay visit to Cumbernauld Colts to see out 2022.
With Kilby fifth in the table but just two points seperating second from fifth, it’s a run that could define their season.
And Rutkiewicz said: “We have to be on it and with how tight this league is, this Christmas period is going to be very unforgiving on someone.
“The games are coming thick and fast and we are entering a crucial period.
“You don’t want to look too far ahead, you want to take one game at a time, but this period coming up is huge for teams in terms of where you are going to be in the table.
“Somebody is going to be given a harsh lesson and we have our fingers crossed it isn’t us.
“In the space of two or three weeks, you could find yourself a long way behind with how tight it has become or you could find yourself in a pretty strong position.
“It’s massive and I’m not going to play it down because it is there for everybody to see.
“You can’t hide or get away from the fact these are five big games.
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“If we were to win all five, what a position we would be in.
“Alternatively, if we lose some of them or draw while our rivals are winning, the league is so tight, we’ve got no grace from anybody.
“We aren’t seven or eight points clear or something like that so it is a massive period for us.”
The clash with Caley Braves is an intriguing one with Kilby drawing 2-2 in the last league meeting in October, before going on to thrash them 5-0 at K-Park in the Scottish Cup a few weeks later.
Rutkiewicz added: “Caley battered us for large periods of the game at their place last time in the league.
“Since then we’ve turned them over in the cup so that will be the motivation for them, I’m sure, to get one over on us.
“I don’t think they’ll need motivated for that.”
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