Largs Thistle boss Sandy Maclean has a major worry as his side prepare for a trip to Kilbirnie on Saturday.
With no love lost between the neighbours, Maclean is keen to avoid a derby battle that could have injury or suspension wreck his preparations for the Emirates Cup quarter-final showdown against Irvine Meadow or Glencairn on Saturday week.
However, the Barrfields boss is determined his side build on a storming start to their first Super Premier campaign – they sit fourth top of the table – and wants to return with three points from Valefield Park.
Maclean was speaking in the aftermath of Gordon Lappin and Ryan Deas goals clinching a 2-1 defeat of Yoker to book a last-16 place in the New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup.
He said: “These must-win games are coming hard on top of one another, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“As a manager, it’s an ideal situation to have each and every player on their toes trying to either hold on to a jersey or show they deserve a run in the team.
“However, as we almost found out to our cost at Yoker, there’s a very fine line when it comes to freshening things up and making too many changes.
“I made five from the side that started the previous week against Rob Roy and we looked out of sorts and were struggling until Ryan Deas and, latterly, John Robertson and James Marks came off the bench to fire us up. Deasy, in particular, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and showed yet again why he should be a stick-on for the Scotland squad heading to Northern Ireland next month.
“My headache is whether it’s the right shout to rest him and one or two others against Kilbirnie – or to go with all guns blazing.”
- Scotland boss Keith Burgess took in Glencairn’s 2-1 fourth- round replay win over Cambuslang, having made the trip in order to hand over a jersey and set of training kit for Glens full-back Craig Palmer, who fractured and dislocated an ankle playing against a Scotland XI. Palmer remains in hospital while recuperating from surgery to insert a steel plate and screws designed to strengthen the ankle joint.
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)
Emirates Scottish Cup. Quarter-finals: Bathgate v Linlithgow, Lochee Utd v Tayport. Fifth round: Hill O’Beath v Shotts, Irvine Meadow v Glencairn (all kick- offs 2.30).
New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup. Second round: Shettleston v Arthurlie.
Stagecoach Super Premier: Beith v Lanark, Rob Roy v Bellshill, Kilbirnie v Largs, Pollok v Auchinleck, Petershill v Vale of Clyde.
Stagecoach Super First: Glenafton v Clydebank, Cumnock v Dalry, Kilsyth v Ashfield, Neilston v Annbank, Maybole v Renfrew, East Kilbride v Girvan.
Stagecoach Central District First: Blantyre Vics v Larkhall, Thorniewood v St Anthony’s, Maryhill v Dunipace, Lesmahagow v Vale of Leven, Port Glasgow v Perthshire, Cambuslang v Cumbernauld.
Stagecoach Central District Second Division: Newmains v Yoker, St Roch’s v Benburb, Royal Albert v Wishaw, Forth v Carluke, Johnstone Burgh v Greenock.
Ayrshire District: Troon v Kilwinning, Saltcoats v Irvine Vics, Muirkirk v Ardeer, Hurlford v Lugar, Kello v Darvel , Craigmark v Winton Rovers.
