I’d love to make bit of history and get Staggies to Europe
Ross Laidlaw has already faced one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s teams in Europe and would love another crack at the glamour of European football with Ross County.
The big keeper made his Hibs debut in a Europa League qualifier against Danish side Brondby and the following season he also played against Soljskaer’s Molde – although he missed out on facing up to the injured Erling Haaland.
Laidlaw knows the Hibees are expected to be regular fixtures in Europe but for County it would be a first and a major achievement.
The Highlanders, who take on Celtic in their top-six opener, know finishing in the top five will qualify them for European competition.
The No.1 said: “I had just come from Raith at the time and it was one of my first games for Hibs.
“I had been out injured before the Brondby game but Neil Lennon threw me in for the second leg.
“It wasn’t the easiest first game but I got a clean sheet so I will take it. could do something this season. Then I played the second leg in Malky Mackay has been great since Denmark but we lost on penalties. he has come in.
“I also played against Molde when “It is a real close-knit group of boys Gunnar Solskjaer was there. and we all want the same thing –
“I played in the first leg (a 0-0 draw) hopefully we can keep it going.” but Adam Bogdan came back for the The recent upsurge in County’s return when we got beat 3-0. fortunes has seen Mackay linked with
“Haaland played the second leg the Hibs job but Laidlaw insists that and you could tell he was a bit of a hasn’t been a distraction. player, even though he was only 17 or He said: “We haven’t even 18 at the time. discussed that. We are focused on
“It is much more of an achievement the next five games and want to if Ross County were to make Europe create a bit of history for the club by than Hibs getting there. getting into Europe.
“Hibs are expected to be in Europe “That is what everybody at the club every year. is focused on and there hasn’t been
“If Ross County got into Europe any talk on that.” it would be brilliant – but there is no Laidlaw insists he is fully focused point in talking about it because we on trying to stop title-chasing Celtic need to do the business on the park.” today and to put down a marker in the
County are one of the form teams in European fight. the Premiership. The keeper (below) warned: “We
They were without a win in their first know Celtic will come out fast. They 10 games but, since then, have found had a disappointingd result form and sneaked intoo the top in the SScottish Cup last six with last week’s weekeweekend against victory at Aberdeen. RangeRangers but have had a
Laidlaw always great season already. felt the Staggies “WWe played them a would turn things few weeksw ago and got around. beat 4-0.
He said: “There “TThey gave us a were some good pro“proper lesson that day. performances in “We know it is going those first 10 games to bbe difficult but we even though we didn’tt are up for the fight. get the results. “At home we have
“There were a lot beenbe doing well but of individual we want a good mistakes as the team support and to do were still gelling. wwell against them.”
“We had a belief wee