Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Albion Rovers v Queen of the South
Scottish Cup Third Round, Cliftonhill, Saturday, kick-off 3pm Darren upbeat despite facing big-hitters from Championship
Albion Rovers boss Darren Young has called for his players to upset the odds and go through in the Scottish Cup.
The Coatbridge side prepare to face Championship outfit Queen of the South in the third round this weekend and boss Young is keen to cause a shock.
He admits it will be a difficult tie against the Dumfries outfit, as they prepare to face opposition fr o m the division above for the second year in a row. Queens are currently under the caretaker charge of Jim Thomson, and have faced a difficult start to the season, with Gavin Skelton leaving earlier this month.
But Young – who played in two Scottish Cup finals during his time at Dunfermline Athletic – thinks the part-time club have been handed the most difficult tie they could have faced at this stage.
“Queens are a really good side with some top players,” he said. “The same thing happened last season when we were drawn with Morton – it was another side in the top half of the division above.
“We haven’t had kind draws but I think we can go on a wee run. It will be tricky, but we go into the game in the top half of the league and we have been playing well, so we are confident.”
The player/ manager was disappointed after the game against Brechin was postponed – meaning Rovers’ match was the only game in the country to be called off.
“It was frustrating, as it’s one of the few times this season that we have had a full squad to choose from,” Young said.
“It’s a bit of a joke but there isn’t much we can do about it if they haven’t covered their pitch, but you’d like to get a game under your belt every weekend.
“We still got the lads together and had a good training session at our place. It meant as well that I got to go through for the Queen of the South game at Hibs and get a look at them.
“We know they have good players there but we go into the game looking to get a result.”