Premier Sports Cup: Highland League Buckie Thistle have enough quality in their ranks to compete well with Premiership opponents Ross County says manager Graeme Stewart
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BUCKIE Thistle have enough class in their team to mix it with Premiership side Ross County in the Premier Sports Cup this weekend.
That’s what Jags boss Graeme Stewart believes ahead of his club’s first competitive outing of the new season, starting tomorrow.
Buckie play host to a County outfit which finished in the top six of the Premiership last season and almost earned their first shot at European football.
They will give Stewart’s men their toughest match of the group stages but the Jags boss insists they will be ready for the challenge.
“We pride ourselves in having good technical players and I’ve always said my players can play at a higher level,” Stewart said.
“Players that have that ability tend to thrive against higher level opposition. Against Aberdeen (in Stewart’s recent testimonial) I felt (Jags midfielders) Max Barry and Andrew MacAskill were the two best players on the pitch in the first half.
“Our guys tend to get excited about playing against higher level opposition and they can show how good they are. They get to showcase their talent.”
Buckie lost 2-1 to a strong Dons team a fortnight ago, a game Stewart said his team didn’t deserve to lose.
They beat Culter 2-1 on Saturday with goals by Barry and Shaun Wood, while Jack Murray, Lewis MacKinnon and new signing Tom MacLennan were on target in a 3-0 success against Dyce on Wednesday night.
“Friendlies are good for match sharpness and working on a few things but it’s the competitive stuff that you want.,” Stewart added.
“That’s why there’s a bit more competitiveness, there’s more at stake and the boys get more of a buzz from it. So we’re all looking forward to the cup games and the intensity it brings.
“In these four games we are probably going in as underdogs in every game and the problem is we are maybe not working as much with the ball, breaking teams down and creating chances. So we need to make sure we are keeping possession in these games.
“I do think against higher level opposition you get tested defensively which is important before the start of the season. I would rather be playing these four games than playing four amateur or junior teams where you are dominating the ball and not working so much defensively.”
Jags, who are without MacLennan tomorrow, visit Dunfermline Athletic on Tuesday before hosting Alloa Athletic next Saturday then finishing with a trip to League 2 East Fife.
