Binos boss now chasing trophy glory as manager
Dave Mackay famously skippered St Johnstone to Scottish Cup glory in 2014 and now faces his competition debut as manager when Wick Academy visit Forthbank on Saturday.
Mackay was a key man when Tommy Wright’s side beat Dundee United 2-0 to claim the trophy for the first time in their history but is now facing a different challenge as Binos boss.
Stirling rescued a point in a 2-2 home draw with Arbroath on Saturday thanks to a dramatic double in the dying minutes from Sean Dickson, with Wick boss Gordon Connelly among those watching.
Albion safely negotiated their secondround visit to Linlithgow during Martyn Corrigan’s spell as caretaker boss and are bidding to reach the last 32 for the second year in a row.
Mackay said: “It’s one Wick will fancy to come down here and try and get into the next round but I’m desperate to have a cup run with Stirling Albion and we’ll be taking it very seriously. It’s an opportunity to get in the hat with the big boys and who knows where you can go.”
He added: “We at least deserved a point from the Arbroath game – we missed some glaring opportunities although we were still vulnerable to the counter-attack, even against 10 men, but it’s a couple of great goals from Sean Dickson and we are happy in the end to get the point.
“The equaliser was an unbelievable strike but you should have seen his shooting at training on Thursday night – it was abysmal!
“The most encouraging thing is that the guys have worked really hard for me. They seem like a really good, genuine bunch.
“There is quality in there as well and sometimes you just need that confidence to bring it out and we are trying to get that across to them. If it goes wrong I’m not going to have a go at them for trying something in the final third.”
Mackay made a tactical switch at the break, withdrawing Bryan Hodge from the middle of the park and introducing Ross Kavanagh to play alongside Blair Henderson in attack.
Mackay added: “I just felt it wasn’t quite working with three in midfield in the first half – we weren’t getting Dickson on the ball enough and I felt we had to change it by going 4-4-2 and matching them.”
Scottish Cup details: Admission prices for Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Wick Academy have been reduced to £10 for adults, £5 concessions and free for U-12s.
If the game is postponed, or ends in a draw, the teams will try again on Saturday December 3.
Albion Lotto: Last week’s Albion Lotto numbers were 16, 22, 32, 34. There was no jackpot winner so today’s jackpot is £20,000. Play online at www.safclotto. co.uk