Talbot win will make up for our lost wages
ARBROATH v AUCHINLECK
ALLAN McLUCKIE reckons his Talbot stars’ willingness to be hit in the pocket for a Scottish Cup jackpot just shows their commitment.
Auchinleck were just six minutes away from a thirdround shock on Saturday.
Now the junior side’s stars have wangled time off from their day jobs to run out at Arbroath tonight in the replay, with Falkirk awaiting the winners.
Assistant boss McLuckie, whose side face Rossvale on Saturday in the Junior Cup they’ve won 13 times, said: “A lot of them are selfemployed so don’t get paid when they’re not working.
“That is showing their commitment. They were all so disappointed after Saturday but you need to realise we’re playing against a Championship team and one that has been playing extremely well.
“We lost a late goal but you need to be delighted with the performance that we put in. It’s a huge week, massive. Saturday is a bigger game for us than probably Wednesday night now. We have got to be staying in the Scottish Junior Cup.”
Gordon Pope trudged off at Beechwood four days ago gutted at failing to get one over overwhelming favourites Arbroath.
But the left-back insists they will be up for completing the job tonight.
He said: “It just shows the way we are. Everybody puts us as underdogs in this Cup but we love this Cup, it’s brilliant to play in.
“We have got to pick everybody up now, that’s the thing. We can’t be too down about it and we’ve got the Junior Cup on Saturday as well.”
Mikey McKenna earned Arbroath the replay with a late penalty and can’t wait to face Talbot at Gayfield.
He said: “We’ll be used to the conditions there.
“It’s a bit bigger pitch and hopefully we will get to play the way we like to and dictate a bit more.”