Cup competition is so special for Ross
The Scottish Junior Cup holds great significance for Jeanfield Swifts manager Ross Gunnion.
And, this weekend, the Riverside squad open up their account in the competition with a tough trip to face Ayrshire’s WhitlettsVictoria.
Advancing into the latter stages is the plan for Gunnion, who has watched his players find Super League form - most recently defeating Carnoustie Panmure.
“Where do I place the Scottish Cup in terms of significance? I put it right up there with the league,”Gunnion told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“The league provides us with the highest possible level of competition week in week out and tests our ability and consistency.
“The Scottish Cup however is the biggest cup competition we play in.
“The opportunity to progress to the next round is there for us and given a good draw you can go far in this competition without facing a top Super League team, as Luncarty proved last year.
“The mindset you take into these games is key and if we get that right we have a chance.
“I genuinely believe my team is capable of regularly competing with the top teams in the Super League and we’re working hard to prove that week in week out.
“The nature of the cup means that we need to compete on the day. There are no second chances or opportunities to rectify things the following week.”
Gunnion has been gathering information on Saturday afternoon’s opponents Whitletts, who sit well-placed in the Ayrshire District League.
He explained:“I’ve had some reports from managers in the west and managed to see some of their match highlights. They are definitely a team with some quality.
“The front two both stand out as players who should be playing at a higher level and they certainly seem like a team capable of competing with better teams than they currently are.
“They play direct and at a high tempo and if we don’t step up to the mark quickly we could find ourselves in a bit of trouble.
“That said, the way we’ve played lately gives me confidence that if we go there with the correct attitude we can come away with a positive result.
“Any tie down in Ayrshire is going to be a tough one. I’ve never experienced an easy game there yet, no matter what league the opposition are in.
“There seems to always be a bold and confident nature surrounding these teams and they go into every game believing they are going win.
“If we don’t stand up to the physicality, tempo and attitude of Whitletts then we are in danger of being bullied and overrun by them.”
Gunnion wants a prolonged run in the Scottish Junior Cup this season