The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McBride tells Turriff to raise game to avoid another rout
Turriff United defender Russell McBride fears his side will be on the wrong end of another thrashing unless there is a vast improvement in performance against Brora Rangers this afternoon.
Ross Jack’s team went down 5-1 against Highland League leaders Cove Rangers in a one-sided encounter at Harlaw Park on Wednesday night.
McBride was bitterly disappointed with Turriff ’s showing against the High- land League leaders and has warned his team-mates of the consequences of another below-par display.
The former Fraserburgh captain said: “If we play as poorly as we did on Wednesday then we will get thumped again.
“Cove Rangers aren’t top of the league by chance, they are a great team but we gave them far too much respect.
“We have to let teams like that realise they are in a game when they come up against us. Cove could have scored six or seven in the first 30 minutes against us, we changed the shape at half-time but it just seemed to be wave after wave of attack.
“The players have to realise when it goes like that they need to keep playing and limit the damage.
“The score didn’t flatter Cove. They deserved their five goals.”
Things do not get easier for Turriff and McBride added: “We have Brora and then Formartine United the following week in the Scottish Cup.
“It is a tough run of fixtures and we need every one of the players to step up as we were so far off the pace against Cove it was unbelievable. We need to have more belief in ourselves.”
Brora Rangers midfielder Mark Nicolson hopes to get one over his former Elgin manager Ross, who will be in the opposition dugout this afternoon.
The Cattachs made it four wins on the spin after defeating Clach 2-1 in midweek and Nicolson said: “Clach defended well and made it difficult for us but I felt we deserved the win as we played very well in the second half. Turriff will want to bounce back this weekend after losing against Cove.
“I know Ross Jack very well having played under him at Elgin City for five years. This is the first time I have come up against one of his teams so I know he will have them fired up, but we are on a good run and we want to keep that going.”