Southy all set to Livvy la vida loca with Glens in cup
YOU can always lose a match yet still come away with the plaudits, however that scenario is not being entertained by boss Craig McEwan ahead of his Glenafton players going up against Livingston in a Scottish Cup third-round tie on Saturday.
The trip through to Almondvale Stadium to lock horns with Scottish Championship title contenders Livvy has been likened to the Glens players playing keepy-uppy all the way to the top of Ben Nevis however Southy, who steered the Ayrshiremen to a league and cup double last season, is vowing not to set out his side’s stall merely to keep things respectable.
Last night he insisted: “Most people are expecting us to park the bus and try to shut out Livingston at every turn, but the prospect of being knocked out of the Cup without so much as laying a glove on them does not appeal to me or my players in the slightest.
“It’s only right and proper to show due respect to their standing in the Scottish game by not adopting a gung-ho attitude and it is fundamental that the guys have to be solid defensively, however we do intend to have a go.
“And why shouldn’t we when our dressing room has no shortage of guys who have played at the very top level of the game here in Scotland and will be relishing the prospect of facing down Senior opponents again?
“I’m excited myself at the thought of trying to tactically get the better of a veritable Scottish legend such as David Hopkin.”
McEwan and No.2 Craig Potter have watched Livingston in action first hand since the cup draw was made and their dossier also includes another three match reports gleaned from reliable Senior sources .
The 40-year-old admitted: “You won’t be surprised to hear me say Livingston are a top side with quality players in every area of the pitch and they are particularly proficient at set-plays, which is a trademark of David Hopkin teams.
“The former Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander is between the sticks and in front of him is the experienced Alan Lithgow while up front is a real Italian livewire of a striker in Rafal De Vita, whose cv boasts an array of English clubs.
“You can bet the Livvy players will be clued up on what to expect from a Junior side given their ranks also include Josh Mullin who had spells at Pollok and Kilbirnie Ladeside as well as the former Bathgate Thistle and Bo’ness United midfielder Stevie Pittman.
“And let’s not forget Hopkin was assistant manager to Brian Heron at both Port Glasgow and more recently Maryhill, so there will be no surprise element to work in our favour and that’s no bad thing because I will be asking my players to focus on playing our brand of football and see what happens.
”We are in decent fettle team wise with both Cammy Marlow and Connor Lhynas recovered from injuries and the only player not available for Saturday is Darren McGill who is probably needing surgery to put right a hernia.”
Among the Glens players packing bags of Senior nous are Kyle McAusland (Ayr United), Chris Dallas (Albion Rovers) Joe Andrew (Dundee United and midfield playmaker David Gray whose former clubs include Kilmarnock, Dumbarton, Morton and Clyde.
Junior football’s only other surviving representative – North Region big guns Banks O’Dee – face a tester of their own in hosting the visit of Ayr United at Spain Park.