UP FOR THE CUP
Binos face tough battle with Highlanders University determined to make hat for the third round again
Stirling Albion are aiming to book their place in Sunday evening’s draw for the third round of the Scottish Cup when they play Strathspey Thistle tomorrow.
The Binos go into the game as big favourites against their Highland League opponents who knocked out Lossiemouth in the first round.
Albion had no game last weekend and haven’t played since the 1-1 draw at Brechin a fortnight ago while Gordon Nicolson’s side lost 3-2 to Deveronvale on Saturday and are 12th out of 17 in the table.
It’s almost exactly a year since Kevin Rutkiewicz took over from Dave Mackay as manager, with Darren Barr still in temporary charge when Stirling lost 2-1 to Queen’s Park at the same stage of the Scottish Cup in 2018/19. The 39 year-old enjoyed some good times in the competition as a player and is desperate for a decent run this season.
He said: “A cup run is important to the club in terms of finance and it’s also something for the fans and the players to look forward to if we can make it through to the fourth round in January.
“We are favourites against Strathspey but there will be no complacency and we will go with as a strong a team as we can.
“We played well at Brechin in our last game and should hopefully have some of the injured players back.
“I had some good memories of the Scottish Cup as a player. I was with Aberdeen when we got to the final against Rangers in 2000.
“And I played in the semi-final for St Johnstone against Rangers in 2008 when we played well but lost the game on penalties.
“Another one that sticks out with St Johnstone is drawing with St Mirren on the Saturday then going there on the Tuesday night and beating them 3-1.”
Stirling have suffered some days to forget in the Scottish Cup in recent years, losing to Deveronvale and Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, and defeat to Strathspey would be a bitter blow.
Rutkiewicz said: “I’ve never been on the end of a shock result in the Scottish Cup but I was part of the Aberdeen squad that were knocked out of Europe by Bohemians. Stirling University are preparing for their biggest game of the season as they aim to make the Scottish Cup third round for the second consecutive year.
The University meet Linlithgow Rose on Sunday at Forthbank with the winners one step away from a possible lucrative fourth round tie against
“I played the game over there which we won 1-0 but we went out on away goals.
“The pressure of being expected to win can be an issue in football and St Mirren Colts in the Challenge Cup is a very recent reminder of how it can feel to lose a game like that.
“That said, we created a lot of chances and I think if you played that game again we would win it comfortably.
“It will be a hard game against Strathspey and it’s important the boys stand up to it then show their quality.”
Admission for the game is £12 for adults,
£8 for seniors and students, £5 for U16s and free for U12s.
If the game ends in a draw the replay will take place at Seafield
Park, Grantown-onSpey, on Saturday,
October 26. a Premiership outfit. The students reached round three for the first time ever last season, losing to Elgin City, who went on to face Hibs at Easter Road.
Coach Chris Geddes said:“We’re looking forward to the match and hope that, with a good performance, we can reach the third round again – not only for ourselves but for the University, our supporters, and our families and friends.”
In round one the students beat Keith 3-2 and go into the match having scored a 93rd-minute winner away to Spartans in the South Challenge Cup last Saturday.
Linlithgow have come through three rounds – including two preliminary stages – beating Preston Athletic 2-1, Jeanfield Swifts 5-2 and Huntly 1-0 in the first round proper.
The West Lothian side – currently eighth in the East of Scotland Premier League – have recently appointed former Rangers
Academy coach and Stenhousemuir manager Brown Ferguson as their new boss.
Geddes added:“I expect a competitive match as their players look to impress under their new manager.
“It will be a tough game for our boys but we come into this game with confidence.”
The match on Sunday kicks off at 3pm and is pay-at-the-gate with entry £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.