Jeanfield plan another cup shock
Ross Gunnion Ross Gunnion is relishing this weekend’s test against Stirling University - because he believes his squad play their best football against higher-ranked teams.
The Jeanfield Swifts manager has his team prepared for a SFA South Region Challenge Cup fourth round tie against the Lowland League students.
Gunnion reckons his players raise their game against quality opposition and expects no different at the Riverside on Saturday.
“It will be a similar task to what we faced against East Kilbride,”he told the PA this week.
“They’ve had a good run in the Scottish Cup which I think has been their focus more than anything.
“We played the East of Scotland team and should probably have won the game but it shows you the strength in depth they’ve got.
“They had talented players which is going to be even more so with the Lowland League team.
“I expect them to start as favourites. They will be organised and by the sounds of things they play good football. It will be up to us to go out and play.
“I’m actually looking forward to it because I think we have produced our best football against the best teams.
“When teams try and play against us, it opens up more and we can go and express ourselves.
“We’ve found it particularly difficult when teams sit in and defend.
“We have players who look for space to play in and if you can give them that we’ll hurt any team.”
Gunnion added:“I don’t think our problem is against the better teams. It seems to be against the teams we should beat that we’re struggling to get the performances.
“And I think that is a mindset. A lot of players here have been used to being the underdogs and are quite happy with that.
“But it’s a different mindset when you go into games as a favourite or potentially a league favourite. We’re working hard to get that mentality switch.
“Handling that sort of pressure is a different pressure from a relegation battle or trying to avoid getting defeated every week.
“We need the mindset where we’re aiming to win things now.”
Captain Chris Anton misses this weekend’s game through suspension but Swifts should see Jamie Reid, who had a back strain, return to the squad.