The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Archibald staying put for now
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald will not be moving to English League One club Shrewsbury Town but has not ruled out a move to England.
Shrews directors had been in talks about an approach for the Firhill manager but the 38-yearold said: “The two clubs had a chat but that’s as far as it has gone. I’ve not spoken to Shrewsbury and that is it done now.
“It’s been put to bed and I now focus on Ross County on Saturday. I’ve got no ambitions to speak to them at this time.”
Archibald would like to test himself south of the border one day and said: “Everyone wants to get to the best level they can and if that was an opportunity that came up I’d have to think about it.”
Gothenburg Great Neale Cooper is confident Aberdeen will handle the weight of expectation in tomorrow’s Betfred Cup semi-final against Morton at Hampden.
The Dons are overwhelming favourites to defeat their Championship opponents.
Pittodrie manager Derek McInnes ended the club’s 19-year wait for silverware in March 2014 when the Dons won the League Cup at Celtic Park in a penalty shootout with Caley Thistle.
But Aberdeen’s recent record at Hampden does not make for impressive reading. On their last six visits to the national stadium, the Dons lost – including a 4-3 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by First Division side Queen of the South in 2008.
Aberdeen go into tomorrow’s tie in excellent form, having won their last five matches, and Cooper believes the current Dons side will deal with the pressure.
The 52-year-old, who won nine trophies during his seven years with the Dons before moving to Aston Villa in 1986, said: “When we were doing well in the 1980s we were favourites going into most games. We had to live with the pressure.
“Aberdeen were excellent last season and were already looking strong but they look even more equipped to deal with anything thrown at them this season. They look unstoppable just now.
“They are rightly going into the game as favourites and the manager will drill it into the players they need to win the contests first, then play.
“Morton manager Jim Duffy will be organised and ready to try to make life difficult, but Aberdeen will take the game to them. The Dons team is going into the game in great form and Morton will have to be at their very best to even think about getting a result.”
Tens of thousands of supporters turned out to watch the League Cup being paraded through the centre of Aberdeen in 2014 and Cooper reckons there is an appetite for further success.
The former Ross County manager added: “Going back to the 1980s when we were doing well, the oil prices were not great, much like now, so there are similarities.
“There has not been a lot of positive news recently but Aberdeen getting to a cup final would be a lift for everyone.
“I sense there’s a really good feeling about the team around the stadium at home games. The team got to a final a couple of years ago and, after experiencing the euphoria that came with that occasion, they will be desperate to get back there. It can sometimes take some-
“Aberdeen can deal with anything thrown at them and look unstoppable just now”
thing like that to lift the mood in the city.”
Tomorrow’s match, which kicks off at 12.15pm, is set to be played in front of a less than half-full Hampden, with the Dons selling less than 11,000 tickets. Cooper is confident the inconvenient kick-off time will pale into insignificance should the Dons progress to the final.
He added: “The 12.15pm kick-off time at Hampden is a nightmare for the supporters. It’s difficult for anyone to get there for that time, let alone those coming from Aberdeen.
“The players have had plenty of early kick-offs before, so I don’t think it will bother them. It’s more of an issue for the supporters but it will mean nothing if they watch their team get to the final.” Rangers captain Lee Wallace has suffered pangs of jealousy watching Celtic’s Champions League exploits and has not given up hope of doing the same next season.
Celtic landed a £20million windfall when they were drawn alongside Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Munchengladbach in Group C.
Light Blues captainWallace has been watching the matches wishing it was him.
Reaching the promised land of the Champions League still appears to be a distant dream for Wallace and his team-mates as they trail their foes by seven points having played a game more. But the Scotland defender is nothing if not ambitious and said: “I was watching Barcelona versus Manchester City and, of course, there isenvy. I want to be playing at those levels.
“That’s why I came to this club. That’s why several players have signed for this club. As a Rangers player that’s where I want to be.
“We know how we’re going to get there. It will take hard work but hopefully this time next season we’re in a similar position.”
Had Wallace tuned into to Celtic’s 2- 0 defeat by Gladbach on Wednesday night, he would have been given some useful pointers ahead of Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final.
Wallace’s side could certainly do with some help handling manager Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops after last month’s 5-1 Parkhead beating.
But the Ibrox left back has been buoyed by recent winsagainstPartickThistle and Inverness and insists his team will not be walked over so easily this time.
“Celtic will be disappointed,” he said. “They’ve had some really tough fixtures in the Champions League.
“They are in a tough group with some elite teams but I’m sure theywill be ready for Sunday in the same way we are prepared for it.”