Swifts prepared for Bo’ness backlash

Gunnion says squad on a high after Penicuik win

Jeanfield Swifts manager Ross Gunnion is expecting a backlash from this weekend’s opponents Bo’ness United.

The Perth side’s Super League hosts suffered an agonising Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final defeat against Hurlford United last Saturday.

Gunnion is surprised by the current league position of Bo’ness, who sit one place and two points above Swifts heading into the fixture.

“Bo’ness have struggled a little this season by their standards and it’s a bit of a surprise seeing them only one place above us,” said the Perth boss.

“They’ll be hurting from last week’s Scottish Cup exit as well.

“We’ll need to be wary of a backlash from them but at the same time can’t show them too much respect.

“They are packed full of experienced players and Super League winners but for whatever reason haven’t hit the heights this year.

“We’ll be aiming to pinpoint the frailties shown by them this year and attempt to expose them on Saturday.”

The Swifts camp has been on a high following a 2-1 victory against titlechasing Penicuik Athletic last week.

But Gunnion has warned his players that their standards can’t drop for the remainder of the season.

He said: “I think the win last week has relaxed the players a little and there’s been a few more smiles around training this week.

“While that can be a positive it’s important that they realise the hard work hasn’t ended and they don’t have any room to be complacent.

“Good teams in this division stay focused and determined to put a run of results together and we have to aim to do just that.

“The result against Penicuik can spark that run if the players apply themselves in the same way.

“What’s important for me, though, is that the performance levels stay at that same high level.

“If that’s the case then we’ll win more games than we lose between now and the end of the season.”

In the North Division, a positive result for Coupar Angus against Dundee Violet can help chasing Perthshire teams.

Violet sit second in the standings, narrowly ahead of Kinnoull, Scone Thistle and Luncarty.

Coupar boss Logan McConachie is hoping to improve on their 3-0 defeat from earlier in the season.

“This weekend’s game against Violet is a chance for us to right our wrongs from the last time we played at Glenesk,” he said.

“The guys were disappointed to concede avoidable goals and not taking any of the chances that we were given.

“This time around we’ll have a full squad so we’re aiming to put in a strong performance.”

Blairgowrie welcome Arbroath Vics to Davie Park while Luncarty are also on home soil with a game against Lochore Welfare.

Hitting the road are Kinnoull, who play bottom club Forfar Albion. Scone Thistle make the journey to Newburgh.