Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Reid happy to silence “disrespectful” Brora
Albion Rovers manager Brian Reid was happy to have the last laugh in their Scottish Cup tie with Brora Rangers - after finding some of their opponents’pre-match chat “disrespectful’.”
After a 0-0 draw away from home, the Coatbridge side won the second round replay at Cliftonhill 1-0 thanks to a David Wilson penalty. They played with 10 men for a spell in the second half after Kyle Doherty was sent off.
Reid says some had expected Highland League Brora to cause a shock against Albion Rovers, but a third round tie with Championship side Ayr United - his former club - now provides intrigue.
The Wee Rovers boss said:“it wasn’t an easy draw. Brora knocked Hearts out of the competition last year. The bookies fancied them to knock us out and we felt they were a wee bit disrespectful with some of their chat in the papers.
“So we are pleased to get into the next round. We should have won up at Brora though. We had loads of chances and we hit the crossbar. We should have taken it and we had to come down the road and get ready to go again.
“We were determined to make sure we got through it, especially after going down to 10 men with 20 minutes to go. It was a good positive result which always gives you a platform.
“On your cup runs, you would always prefer a home tie. It’s the luck of the draw. Ayr will be a tough game for us.
“They are a Championship, full-time club with a decent team, and a good manager. We need to believe we can get something from it. If we get through it into the next round, it opens more doors for us financially, which is hugely important.”
The weekend’s match secured a
third clean sheet in succession for Rovers, after the initial 0-0 draw with Brora and 2-0 League Two win over Elgin City.
More in attack is what Reid now craves. He added:“defensively we are solid at the moment but we maybe need to become a bit better in attack. We need to take more care in the final third to make sure we take our chances.
“We need to create more opportunities, but perhaps I am being over-critical. We are on a good wee run at the moment.
“Clean sheets will breed confidence. It’s trying to get the balance right of keeping clean sheets but also creating chances.”
Albion Rovers will look to build on their success in the Scottish Cup with a game on Friday night against Edinburgh City.
“I am quite looking forward to it,” Reid enthused.
“Edinburgh are doing that with the situation at their new stadium, so it works for everybody, as they get more supporters through the door.
“It’s something different for us as well.
“We just need to prepare as normal and hope we can perform to a level where we pick up points.”