Chance for Swifts to clinch silverware
Ross Gunnion reckons Jeanfield Swifts will have a target on their back in the GA Engineering Cup.
But the Riverside manager has his squad of players set to handle the favourites tag as Montrose Roselea visit Perth on Saturday.
Gunnion sees the competition as a fantastic chance to pick up silverware this season and said:“I always place importance on cup competitions.
“Good cup runs breed confidence and I go into every game and every competition with the aim of winning it.
“This competition is no different and with the two favourites, Lochee Utd and Broughty Athletic, already knocked out it leaves ourselves as probably the team to beat in the competition.
“So we’ll need to go into the game with confidence and also be able to deal with the expectation of winning.
“Montrose are performing well up in the Aberdeen Super League.
“They’ve made the transition well after getting promoted last year and are a physical threat to any team. I know many of their players and they have a lot of experience in their team.”
Swifts’squad is fresh having had their league clash away at Sauchie Juniors wiped out by the weather last week.
Gunnion said:“We were again disappointed in missing out on a game last Saturday but the squad trained hard and are putting in the work.
“They are desperate to get a run of games and build up some rhythm. Fingers crossed Saturday beats the weather.”
Luncarty are also in GA Cup action this weekend and welcome Aberdeenshire side Hermes to Brownlands Park.
In the North Division, a Perthshire derby will be contested at Foxhall Park as Scone Thistle make the short trip to take on Coupar Angus.
Coupar boss Logan McConachie was encouraged by his side’s performance against Dundee North End last weekend, despite losing 2-0.
He said:“Considering we were down to 10 men for almost half of the game, I felt we still caused North End problems in the final third.
“We’re probably still kicking ourselves at the missed chances but the reality is losing 2-0 to, in my opinion, the best team in the league, isn’t a bad result with 11 men, never mind 10.
“We’ve genuinely got a real good group of players.
“It’s just injuries, suspensions and absences that stop us being at our full potential each week.
“I know every other club have similar issues, but at Coupar we’re trying to balance game time and squad depth.”
McConachie is fully aware of the threat carried by Scone but is confident heading into the fixture.
He said :“Scone are a well organised side and I’ve managed to get them watched the past few weeks.
“We’ve identified where we can get success against them, we’re definitely in the best position we’ve been in a while to take points off of them.”
Kinnoull are on home soil against Dundee Violet while Blairgowrie travel to play Newburgh. Swifts manager Ross Gunnion