Swifts aim to upset Spartans at Riverside
Jeanfield Swifts have a tendency to raise their game against opposition from higher up the ladder.
And experienced midfielder Keiran Stewart is planning for that to again be the case, this time in the South Challenge Cup quarter-final.
Swifts, recently buoyed by impressive results against Darvel and Penicuik, welcome Lowland League side Spartans to the Riverside tomorrow afternoon.
“The squad knows we are more than capable against these teams with the quality we have - and we have been showing that,” Stewart told the PA.
“We started the games really well against Darvel and then Penicuik, so we need to do that again.
“Everyone is full of confidence at the moment and I would say the pressure is more on Spartans this weekend. Let’s just hope we can provide an upset.”
While a place in the last four of the competition is up for grabs, Stewart is determined for Swifts to go all the way.
“The whole squad has been looking forward to this one,” he continued.
“The target is to win silverware, so this is a great chance for us. We have done well against Lowland League teams in the last year or so. I fully expect Spartans to give us a tough match so let’s hope we can give a good account of ourselves.”
The Perth side head into the fixture on the back of a 1-1 League Cup Group A draw with Armadale Thistle last Saturday.
Swifts were missing a number of first team regulars but Stewart himself was on the scoresheet to ensure a point was picked up on the road.
Some unnamed sources were claiming Stewart didn’t get the last touch but he wasn’t having any of it.
Stewart laughed: “As for the goal... I’m definitely claiming that one for the first of the season!
“I should have nicked a winner at the end too, which was disappointing.”
He added: “It was probably a fair result to be honest. We played nowhere near our best, but with quite a depleted squad a draw wasn’t the worst result in the end.”
On the transfer front, Swifts have welcomed Scott Mollison back to the Riverside until the end of next season.
The left-sided defender has been playing his recent football at fellow Perthshire side Luncarty, who ply their trade in the East of Scotland League’s Conference B.
Meanwhile, Swifts’ U20 team is into the last 32 of the Scottish Lowlands Development League Challenge Cup.
Their progression in the competition was made possible thanks to a penalty shoot-out win against Sauchie.
The Fair City youngsters were two to the good in the opening stages of the game thanks to finishes from Ben Clos and Adam Leese but the visitors hit back at Bertha Park for a full-time scoreline of 2-2.
Scorers in the shootout were Scott Logan, Luis O’Rourke, Aidan Strong, Nathan Howgate and Joe Jeffers.
Goalkeeper Sam Townsley made an ‘outstanding’ save to help send Swifts into the next round.