Rose storm back to pull off cup upset
Boss Ferguson praises players for classy display
BRECHIN CITY ......................................2 LINLITHGOW ROSE .............................3
Linlithgow Rose caused a Scottish Cup upset with a surprise victory at League Two side Brechin City.
The Rose fell behind twice in the tie but netted a quick-fire double on 70 and 72 minutes to turn the game on its head and book their place in the second round.
The East of Scotland Premier Division title challengers may have been two leagues below their hosts, but Rose gaffer Brown Ferguson said he believed it was a deserved victory as his side were the better team on the day.
He said: “It was a fantastic performance and I think over the piece a deserved win.
“For the first hour or so, neither team was really able to take control of the game or have a prolonged spell on top but I felt we then were the better side. Our second goal changed things and I felt it was a really dominant and confident display after that point from ourselves.”
Linlithgow went into he contest on the back of a five game winning run, while City were languishing at the foot of the SPFL with a solitary league win to their name this term.
Despite that, they were favourites and things looked to be going their way when Rory Currie fired them into an early lead.
However, as he has done many times over the past decade, Tommy Coyne came to the Rose’s rescue with a neat headed finish to ensure the tie was level at the break.
Kieran Inglis put Brechin in front once more on 52 minutes but the Rose would bounce back again.
Ruari MacLennan levelled things up 20 minutes from time before a wonderful Scott Stevenson strike – cutting in from the right and firing a bullet beyond Patrick O’Neil.
They would pass up chances to put the game beyond doubt but they held on for a famous triumph.
Ferguson admitted he was particularly pleased with the attacking aspect of his side’s performance, saying: “It was a tremendous goal to win it. The finish was great but the build-up play was fantastic and it epitomised our performance.
“Scott Stevenson, in an attacking sense, had his best and most productive game for us and we’d be hoping he can replicate that. I’m not expecting him to score goals of that nature every week because it was tremendous but hopefully he can kick on from here.”
He added: “The guys did all the things asked of them and the attacking players showed that bit of creativity and imagination that we were looking for in the game and it’s helped to make the difference.”