Kilby up for crunch
Skipper Barry Russell plays‘ under dogs’ card
East Kilbride skipper Barry Russell reckons the pressure has been heaped on Cowdenbeath ahead of Saturday’s play-off final – because it would be EMBARRASSING for them to be relegated from the SPFL.
The Blue Brazil finished bottom of League Two and must now beat Kilby over two legs to stay in the senior ranks and avoid playing in the Lowland League next season.
It’s been a torrid three years for Cowden, who have plummeted from playing in the Championship in 2014 to now battling for their SPFL survival.
They are bidding to avoid a third relegation on the spin and Russell insists Cowden – who were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Kilby this season - will be left redfaced if his side come out on top.
He said: “We are on a good run and Cowdenbeath aren’t, so it’s do or die for them. I think they would feel embarrassed to drop into the Lowland League.
“It will be a hard game, but it will be good to be the underdogs. I don’t think Cowdenbeath think they can just turn up and beat us, especially after the Scottish Cup result, so they know they’re in for a game and the pressure is on them
“We are all buzzing for this and we will go for it.
“This is why everyone signed
here. We’ve been away from our families a lot this season to get to this moment.
“We are two games away and we want to take the chance. “East Kilbride deserve to be in League Two.” Martin Lauchlan, who masterminded the 1-0 win for 10-man Kilby in October, is wary of Gary Locke’s side and insists they have vastly improved since the last locked horns.
The K-Park gaffer said: “They will be a different animal to the team we beat in the cup.
“Gary Locke and (assistant boss) Billy Brown have seen it all at the top of the game, so this won’t faze them.
“They are better organised than before and they are the form team in the division, despite their relegation.
“Since Locke came in they won three, drew four and lost three, so they have improved.
“They’ve added a bit of quality to the squad and will pose us problems.
“It’s going to be a really tight game, but our boys are well up for it.
“We’ll be looking to win the game and take a good result to Cowdenbeath for the second leg.”