Tokely: Brora cup win would put Parkhead shock in shade
HE was one of the Inverness Caley Thistle battlers who went ballistic at Parkhead 18 years ago this week.
But Ross Tokely believes Brora Rangers beating Kilmarnock today would go down both as a bigger giantkilling as well as his greatest achievement in the game.
The Cattachs boss started the 3-1 Scottish Cup win on February 8, 2000 that sent shockwaves around the football world and saw Celtic boss John Barnes sacked.
Tokely’s Highland League side head to Rugby Park in the last 16 two days on from the anniversary of the then First Division part-timers stunning Mark Viduka, Lubo Moravcik and Co.
And the 38-year-old said: “If we could win at Kilmarnock it would definitely be bigger.
“Probably the quality in the Celtic team under John Barnes that day was better than what Killie will have but we had a good team under Steve Paterson and were just one league below.
“Given the gulf in placings between Brora in the Highland League and Kilmarnock in the Premiership it would probably be one of the biggest shocks of all time.
“We’re realistic in how we see it. We have probably advanced a round further than I thought we could. The chairman said to me at the outset, ‘Be in the Scottish Cup after Christmas.’
“That’s where we are. It’s now February and the fifth round so it’s all a bonus. We have had a good journey but we want to put on a good show and make it difficult – play to the best of our abilities.
“It is the national trophy and a lot of people will be watching so we have to do our best, individually and as a team. The boys know that.”
Brora’s population is a little over 1000 but close to 400 are expected to make the trip to Ayrshire.
The Cattachs are yet to lose a goal in the competition and will have clocked 2000 miles by the time they return from Rugby Park.
Tokely had Killie watched in their last few games and said: “We are massive underdogs, don’t get me wrong. But things have happened in the cups before that nobody expects so we have a chance.”
And Gavin Morrison already boasts a positive omen having been unbeaten against Killie during his time at Caley Thistle.
The midfielder said: “I’ve not lost in five against Kilmarnock and I’ll be reminding the boys about that.
“To make it six would be special as it would mean a dream result for Brora whether it is a replay or a shock victory. The memories mean I really like Rugby Park and hopefully that continues.
“Guys like Mark Nicolson, Steven Mackay and Jamie Duff have played SPFL-level football and there’s good character all through the team. We won’t be fazed.”