THIS MEANS WAR
Goal hero Russell predicts more mayhem in second leg crunch
East Kilbride goal hero Russell McLean insists he is preparing for WAR when Buckie Thistle visit K-Park in the second leg of their SPFL play-off semifinal.
The Lowland and Highland champions fought out a 2-2 draw in Moray as Kilby came from 2-0 down to level the tie with goals from Paul Woods and a dramatic late header from McLean. It was a game full of needle with some robust tackles flying in and there was ugly scenes at the end as Buckie gaffer Graeme Stewart was sent to the stand for grappling with EK right-back Fabio Capuano. Coins were thrown at the Kilby players as they left the pitch and Buckie scorer Chris Angus accused Capuano of spitting on him. The feisty first leg has set things up nicely for Saturday’s return match at K-Park but McLean fears it could get out of hand once again.
He told the News: “We are expecting a war on Saturday and I think it will be even worse than the first leg.
“Things spiralled out of control with that stramash on the touchline.
“Their manager getting involved with Fabio was unnecessary and they lost it a bit.
“If things don’t go Buckie’s way again I think it could get pretty nasty. They came out at 100mph
on Saturday, pressing high but they showed they can’t go for 90 minutes like that.
“The last 15 minutes they ran out of steam. We were all over them and got the equaliser.
“K-Park is a bigger pitch than theirs and I don’t think they’ll be able to handle it for a full 90 minutes.”
The former Hearts striker, who towers above everyone else at 6ft 5in, popped up four minutes from time to head home Barry Russell’s long throw and it could prove to be the pivotal moment in this tie.
McLean raced over to the away dugout to celebrate and he feels he has proved a point to gaffer Martin Lauchlan with his crucial goal.
The 18-year-old said: “Since I came to the club I’ve been in and out of the team a bit and it has been frustrating, so it was a great feeling to come on and score a big goal like that.
“The gaffer sent me on and just said go and get a goal – and I did that. You can’t ask for much more.
“There’s always talk about whether to play me or not, but I feel I’ve proved my point. I did what I needed to do.”