Now isn’t the time to dwell on the past Gunnion insists Swifts have put cup exit behind them
J e a n f i e l d Sw i f t s manager Ross Gunnion says the disappointment of last week’s Scottish Cup exit is already a “distant memory”.
The Perth side lost out 3-1 against League Two Annan Athletic at Galabank, although the finishing scoreline did not reflect the game.
It was a hard one to take in the immediate aftermath – not helped by two controversial decisions from officials – but full focus has returned back to the East of Scotland League’s Premier Division.
Gunnion takes his men through to West Lothian tomorrow afternoon for a challenging test against Linlithgow Rose.
“The disappointment of last week is now a distant memory and the players have reacted well in training,” Gunnion explained to the PA.
“That’s the great thing about football, it isn’t usually a long wait to get the opportunity to move on from a disappointing result. I’m confident we can do that if everyone applies themselves with the same effort they have done recently.”
The hosts will be without prolific striker Tommy Coyne, who recently made the move to West of Scotland League side Pollok.
Gunnion realises that there will remain plenty of other threats for his players to deal with at Prestonfield.
He said: “The loss of their talisman striker, Tommy Coyne, was surprising but he’s coming to the end of his career and the team Gordon Herd is building seems to be centred around energy and youth.
“In this league I think you need pace and that’s probably why Tommy and Gordon have agreed to part company.”
Linlithgow sit third in the Premier Division standings and have lost just once this season in the league, but seventh-placed Swifts can leapfrog them with a win.
“I think we’re seeing the
Linlithgow Rose everyone expects to see and that is one capable of scoring goals and being very hard to beat,” Gunnion continued.
“They’ve only lost one league game all season so we’re under no illusions that this will be a hugely difficult game.
“It’s a fantastic ground to play football at, one which puts many senior clubs to shame and one which I loved playing at.
“The players will relish the surface and the facilities and I hope we can raise our game to suit.
“The carrot for us is the opportunity to go above them in the league and that can’t be understated.
“If we can do so, given how poorly we started the league, it’ll be a huge boost going into November and the winter months.”
In the Conference B, Kinnoull are on home soil and welcome second-placed Heriot- Watt University to Tulloch Park.
Alan Cameron’s side sit in sixth position but are only five points off the table’s summit.
Looking to bounce back from losing out in the semifinal of the Alex Jack Cup last weekend are Robbie Holden’s Luncarty.
The Bleachers were edged out 2- 1 by Leith Athletic at Brownlands Park but there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.
Holden is, however, looking for more of a clinical edge when his side arrive at Preston Athletic tomorrow afternoon. This is expected to be another entertaining tussle and one that is likely to be very closely contested.