THE ICE MEN COMETH
Caretaker boss calls for his players to have fire in their bellies and ice in their veins
Jim Paterson wants his East Kilbride stars to have fire in their bellies and ice in their veins for their Scottish Cup clash with BSC Glasgow.
On Saturday, the Kilby caretaker boss is bidding to lead the club to the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in their history when they host the allLowland League tie at K-Park.
The last time East Kilbride reached the fifth round they famously faced Celtic and Paterson knows another moneyspinning tie could be on the cards if Kilby can keep their cool in a nervy encounter.
The former Motherwell winger said: “I’ve played in big games myself and seen the occasion get to players, so, for me, it’s the old adage of playing with fire in our bellies and ice in our veins.
“That’s what we’ve got to do, but at the same time don’t build the game up too much.
“We have to stay calm. We are scoring goals, playing with confidence and the boys are buying into everything we’ve been asking them to do.
“It would be only the second time the club’s made it to the last 16 and we are still the only Lowland club to make it that far as it stands, so it is a massive game.
“The carrot that could be waiting for you in the next round could be huge. You are expecting the big teams to make it through and there’s the possibility you could be paired with one of them.
“It was Celtic the last time we got through to the last 16 and you never know who it could be if you get through this time.”
Since Paterson took the reins in October when Stuart Malcolm left to take the Forfar job, the Scottish Cup has been Kilby’s focus.
With EK eighth in the league and a successful title defence long gone, Paterson guided them to a 4-0 win away at Highland League Formartine United in November before landing a home tie with their familiar foes.
But BSC have just come off a 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions and will arguably be favourites given they sent League One East Fife packing in the last round.
Paterson added: “I’m sure both teams will give each other the respect they deserve.
“We know BSC are here on merit and winning has become a habit for them, but they’ll have looked at us and seen we’ve turned a corner.”
A fortnight ago, Paterson’s men fired a warning to BSC with a 7-0 thrashing of Cumbernauld Colts at K-Park, where EK have lost just as many games as they’ve won in the league this season
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”We’re a different team to when we drew 1-1 with BSC earlier in the season,” Paterson insisted.
“That game was tight. There wasn’t much between us and there wasn’t many chances. either.
“Will we concede? We might do because we are quite open, but we are very good at attacking teams and scoring goals and that’s what wins you games.
“It’s a game we have been looking forward to for while.”