TIME FOR REVENGE
Kilby out for Edinburgh City scalp
Barry Russell reckons East Kilbride owe Edinburgh City a defeat in the IRN-BRU Cup for all the pain they inflicted in the Lowland League.
The Citizens, currently top of League Two, made life a misery for Kilby in the Lowland League during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons, beating them to the league title in each year and winning promotion to the SPFL in the second campaign.
Kilby won just once in six Lowland League meetings, but on Saturday the sides meet for the first time since City escaped Scotland’s fifth tier.
And Russell, who has been on the fringes of the EK side this season, said: “We owe them one for what’s happened before.
“We didn’t have a lot of success when we played against them, but they’ve proved you can get out of the Lowland League, so it’s a good test for us to see how far away we are [from League Two level].
“I don’t think we are very far off, so fingers crossed we can do something.
“It’s a game I’d like to play in, but the gaffer will need to go with a strong squad to see how we match up to them. I’ll need to see what happens.”
City go into the clash on a high after beating League Two title favourites Peterhead on their own patch at the weekend. James McDonaugh’s side now sit two points clear of the Blue Toon with four wins from five.
Conversely, Kilby will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Edinburgh University which ended their 100 per cent start to the season. EK boss Brian Kerr knows the task facing his side and he said: “I’m sure the boys will be excited about it and they’ll really want to challenge themselves against them.
“There’s no doubt Edinburgh have moved on a few steps from when the club last played them, so it will be an enjoyable challenge.
“It’s good for the boys to see a team who have done it. They’ve managed to get out of the Lowland League and keep their place. That’s what our boys want to be looking at.
“They’ve recruited well this season and have good experience, so I always fancied them to be up their competing this season.
“It won’t be easy for us by any means, but we’ll gauge it as a test of where we are as a club and a team. We are in a no lose situation.”
Kick-off at K-Park on Saturday is 3pm.