Boss faces team selection dilemma
Ross Gunnion admits it will be difficult not to field the same team that thrashed Stirling University when Jeanfield Swifts return to action on Saturday.
The Riverside boss was thrilled with his players after watching them shine to record a thumping 9-1 league win against the students.
Football Nation Qualifying Cup second round action against Civil Service Strollers, who play in the Lowland League, awaits the Perth men this weekend.
Swifts will be without Scott Mollison, Fraser Smith and Scott Smith who are all on international duty with Scotland’s futsal team.
None of the missing trio started last week’s game and Gunnion said: “It’s hard not to put the same boys back in. We’d been threatening to score quite a few goals in a game. We maybe had 12 chances in the game and we took nine of them.
“For the first time in a long time we were absolutely ruthless. We pressed brilliantly and were outstanding with the way we attacked.
“We left the guys that are going to play futsal out of the starting line-up because we needed to start planning ahead for this week and then Broxburn.
“We want to make sure we have players fit and in form for the big games that are coming up. Three will be away playing futsal, which we absolutely support.
“We could’ve had the day off, we’re entitled to that because we have three players on international duty.
“The East of Scotland League have been brilliant with us but I feel we’ve got the strength in depth to continue to play these games.”
Gunnion has plenty of information on Civil Service Strollers and reckons his squad is more than capable of another cup scalp.
“Civil Service Strollers had a good start to the season and looked like one of the stronger teams early doors,”he said.
“Kelty Hearts and East Kilbride have started to put together a run of form which has overtaken theirs.
“We’re perhaps getting them at a better time than if we got them earlier in the season when they were hitting form. We’ve got back to form and winning ways.
“Having watched them I definitely think there are frailties and that they can be exposed. Given our attacking options, we can certainly cause them problems.
“We’ll be underdogs again, which is good, and we enjoy that. We’ll go and attack them to score more goals.” Ross Gunnion