Rovers to start over with aim of new cup fairy tale
DARREN YOUNG hopes Albion’s Scottish Cup fairy tale last season can inspire his squad to another memorable run this time out.
Rovers kick off their campaign with a second round tie against Stirling University tomorrow as they look to bounce back from a League Two loss to East Stirlingshire last weekend.
The Coatbridge club were the headline story of the competition last term as they beat Motherwell and took Rangers to a quarter-final replay under former boss James Ward.
A shot at the fourth-tier title remains Albion’s top priority in the coming months but player/ manager Young is eager to have another prolonged run. He said: “First and foremost we want to do well in the league and get ourselves up there in terms of promotion, whether that is the title or through the play-offs, and that is the main thing.
“But a cup run, as you saw last season, is amazing for the club and if we can do half as well this year then we would be delighted.
“Nobody would have known what would happen last year when we started out in the cup. Getting through and facing Motherwell and Rangers was massive for the boys and the club.
“Something similar would be great this year but you take it one game at a time and don’t get ahead of yourselves.”
Albion will be firm favourites to progress to the third round tomorrow afternoon after making an impressive start to their League Two campaign. Rovers are second in the standings and just five points adrift of leaders Arbroath under the guidance of new gaffer Young and assistant Sandy Clark.
Defeat to the Shire last weekend was a setback for the Coatbridge club, but they are eager to set the record straight at Forthbank.
Young said: “We will put it down to a minor blip. We had a good chat after the game and spoke about things.
“Going forward, it is all positive and we are looking forward to the Scottish Cup game now.
“I have been in ties as a player when you are favourites and I think the fact that we got beat last weekend will give the boys a bit of a point to prove, they want to show that it was just a one-off.
“We have got a big squad and the boys know that if they don’t perform then they could be out the team and someone else will get their chance.”
The second round tie at Forthbank will see history made as Shelley Kerr becomes the first female manager to lead a team out in the Scottish Cup.
The former Scotland star was appointed boss of Stirling Uni last month and has guided her side to sixth place in the 14-team Lowland League after 11 fixtures.
Young said: “Shelley has done well in football and done a good job there so far. We have our focus on the job and are looking to play like we know we can and get through to the next round.
“Shelley is doing the same job that I am doing and at the end of the day it is a game of football.
“She will have her plans in place, we have our plans in place and hopefully we can do the job we want.”
IAnd we were treated to a fairly compelling spectacle that highlighted many of my suspicions about Ally McCoist’s team.
I have watched the Gers closely for the last two or three seasons as they have gone from the bottom division to the second tier.
During that time, they have done what they needed to do – won games and climbed the leagues.
But I have always felt they lacked a dynamism. When they are off their game, as they were in the 3-1 defeat earlier this week, everything happens in flat lines.
They are too slow. They are too flat. They lack pace and invention. And I think that is going to have to change if they want to win the SPFL Championship and get back to the top flight.
Rangers can win most of their games by virtue of having better players than their opponents.
However, when they come up against rivals with a bit of know how they can struggle. That is certainly what happened against Hibs.
The Easter Road club have toiled in the 2014/15 campaign so far. But they have some experienced professionals and some exciting youngsters.
In that situation, Rangers have to find a bit extra. Often they are unable to do that.
Ally McCoIST has come in for serious criticism since the loss to Hibs.
It is easy to say his side was terrible. But they desperately need to find different ways of winning games.
What is missing at gives the opposition time to track back and defend an attack.
On Monday they seemed unable to up the tempo. The team is also carrying far too many passengers. Bilel Mohsni and Arnold Peralta are underperforming.
Of course, it is just one defeat. There is a long way to go before the league is decided.
But the match against Hearts at Tynecastle next month – a game I am looking forward to commentating on for BT Sport – is huge for them. Rangers are six points behind just now.
Fall further adrift and things could get very difficult indeed for Ally McCoist and his players.