Fagan: No Highland hangover

Albion Rovers defender Sean Fagan has vowed to avoid a second Scottish Cup Highland horror show against Fort William.

Fagan was part of the side who exited the competition last term against Formartine – with the Cliftonhill defeat ending John Brogan’s ill-fated spell in the dugout.

The 19-year-old doesn’t want to see history repeat itself this weekend as they go in as heavy favourites against the struggling Highland League outfit.

Having lost their last three he reckons it puts an additional importance on a win for the Coatbridge outfit.

The teenager admits Fort, who went all of last season without a win, come in as underdogs – but says that is exactly the same as Formartine last year.

“This year Fort William have went and won a couple of games,”he told the Advertiser.

“I have played with a few of the boys in their team now and I think they will be a decent side.

“We don’t want to go in an underestimate them just because they are in the league below us. I think there was a bit of that last season.

“We need to treat them like we would any other league game, because going off how they have started the season they are not that bad.

“The standard of the Highland League is coming up, which we found out last season and when you look at Cove Rangers this season.

“They are probably playing at quite a similar level to some of the League Two teams.

“They will have a few players who are tidy and good on the ball, which we saw against Formartine. We don’t know much about them but the boys know we need to be professional.”