Stewart set for busy time between posts
As opponents set their sights on a treble, underdogs’ goalkeeper is steeling himself for a hectic afternoon
THERE could be two Ross Stewarts in action for Albion Rovers against Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup this afternoon. One will probably be substantially busier than the other. While their 6ft4 striker faces a late fitness test having missed the last month through injury, his namesake will take his usual place between the posts. It may prove to be the most frenetic afternoon of his life.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, pictured, expects as much too. A Celtic strikeforce relaxed and reinvigorated following their winter break in Dubai are unlikely to go easy on their League One opposition on the neutral artificial turf of Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium. Celtic’s struggles against East Kilbride last season will serve as a cautionary warning that things don’t always go to plan but under Brendan Rodgers, and with the possibility of a treble dangling tantalisingly in front of them, Stewart is steeling himself for a busy afternoon.
“I am going to be our last line of defence against the likes of Moussa Dembele, Leigh Griffiths and Stuart Armstrong which is quite a thought,” he said. “You watch these guys on the television every week smashing in goals from all kinds of distances and angles you can’t help but be impressed by their ability. So from a personal point of view, it should be a lot of fun.
“I am certainly expecting to be busy but that is the way I like it. Celtic have some tremendous individual talents, even their substitutes would be in the starting line up at any other club. On top of that they are a terrific team, one which plays with great pace and movement. Things have really clicked for them this season under Brendan Rodgers.
“Domestically they have been sweeping all before them to the point where we are in the middle of January and they are not only still in the hunt for the treble, but still unbeaten in all domestic competition.
“That’s remarkable form, right up there with some of the best runs the country has seen.
“There has been plenty of chat about them staying unbeaten all season domestically, and of course. every opposition side now wants to go down in the history books as the team that stopped it happening.”
Stewart, though, knows from experience that cup shocks can sometimes happen.
When Rovers knocked out Motherwell in 2013, he was among the Premiership club’s substitutes.
“The club has a really decent record in this competition” he added. “Four years ago, we put Motherwell out in the fourth round when we beat them at New Douglas Park. And the year before that we went to Ibrox and came away with a replay in the quarter-finals.
“I know all about the win over Motherwell – I was in the Well dressing room that day as understudy to Gunnar Nielsen. It was so miserable in there afterwards.
“Stuart McCall was the manager and it felt like he kept us in there for about two hours before he finally let us away. So we know that these results happen. “All this week the chat has been not so much about those results but about Celtic’s loss to Clyde back in 2006. “That was the day Roy Keane made his debut for them and they got really done over by a Clyde team who just went for it. “The guys have all been saying that is what we have to aim for. “Obviously, as a goalkeeper, I have to focus more on the defensive side of things. “The way I look at it, the longer I can keep a clean sheet the better chance we will have of making something special happen.”
From a personal point of view, it should be a lot of fun. I am expecting to be busy but that’s how I like it