Eiji Kawashima will never forget his 'miracle' escape from relegation with Lierse – and insists Dundee United can still pull off their own survival mission.
Back in 2011, Kawashima was between the sticks against Club Brugge when his heroics helped secure a priceless 0-0 draw, with the valuable point enough to keep Lierse out of the play-off and in the Belgian top-flight for another season.
Kawashima's old club had looked doomed and the 33-year-old Japanese star is facing another major fight to stay up as United trail second-bottom Kilmarnock by five points with just six games remaining.
The Tangerines' bold bid to beat the drop was dealt a blow after Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat away to Partick Thistle, but Kawashima is refusing to give up and cites the example of his former team as proof that Mixu Paatelainen's bottom-dogs can beat the odds ahead of today's crunch visit of Inverness.
Kawashima said: “It’s similar because in Belgium the league set up is the same in that second bottom of the top league goes into a play-off to survive.
“We went from bottom of the table to second last but then on the last day of the season we managed to climb one more spot to avoid the play-off.
“I can use that experience for this situation with Dundee United to help me handle it better.
“It gives hope.
“For example, after the last game against Partick Thistle we were so disappointed but we have to believe in ourselves and not let it beat us up and lose confidence.
“We had set-backs with Lierse at times too and when that happens it’s difficult to keep the faith but you have to stand up and fight for every game.
“It was a really hopeless situation for us at the time because we were many points behind and we didn’t see much chance for us.
“But, like here, we’d see the situation get better and better after January and we started to believe that there is always a possibility to make it happen.
“It’s the same here. We need to be really strong in our heads and believe until the very end.
“We have just six games to go and in each one we have to give 100 percent because sometimes even one point can make all the difference, as it did with Lierse.
“We played Bruges in the last game, got a draw and one point changed everything for us.
“It was a miracle.
“It’s not the same as playing in a big competition like the World Cup but at the time I was under big pressure ith Lierse. A different pressure but it was still a lot of weight.
“When we made it and stayed up it was a really big moment for me and my career – and also for the supporters and the team.
“Looking back on that experience can help and staying up this time with Dundee United could have another big impact on my career, especially with the national team.
“I am not just here to play. I am here to keep this club in the top league – and if I can do that it will help my position in the national team also.”
Meanwhile, Paatelainen had told his players they must bounce back this afternoon as Kilmarnock are guaranteed at some point to turn the corner.
Paatelainen said: “There is still a chance. It’s five points, it’s more than a victory so it is a comfortable cushion in that respect.
“Kilmarnock will win. They won’t lose every match between now and the end of the season.
“That’s not just mind games. Someone said that, but it’s not mind games.
"It’s a fact.
“We need to be really strong and whenever we play well we must win so that’s why Tuesday was so disappointing.
“But it’s gone and now we move on.
“At the moment we are more or less, not in touching distance, but no far off it.
“I feel Kilmarnock feel that Dundee united have a chance, I’m sure they do.
“There are still 18 points available so it will be interesting."
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