WATCH: Marcus Goodall fires Buckie Thistle through against Lossiemouth in Scottish Cup and relishes Linfield test in SPFL Trust Trophy in front of bumper Victoria Park crowd
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Marcus Goodall is ready to take on Northern Irish champions Linfield after shooting Buckie Thistle into the second round of the Scottish Cup.
The full-time Ulstermen visit Victoria Park in the third round of the SPFL Trust Trophy on Saturday in Jags first-ever competitive match against a club from outwith Scotland.
Linfield have won the league title in Northern Ireland a record 56 times, including each of the last four seasons, and play European football every season, once reaching the European Cup quarter-finals.
Goodall knows it is a big step up in opposition but feels Buckie’s experience in playing higher league opponents in the domestic cups can put them in good stead.
“We are definitely underdogs but it’s something we are all embracing,” he said.
“The aspect of playing full-time teams in the League Cup means we know how to play and combat that.
“I’ve not heard much about Linfield because it’s not a league we watch really but we know they will be a good side and will want to get through.
“So we need to be at it, every one of us. It’s a really good cup for the town and financially really good for the club.”
Buckie won 2-1 at Lossiemouth in the Scottish Cup - see Scottish Cup YouTube highlights below.
Goodall expects a big crowd inside the Viccy and urged Buckie’s fans to do their bit to help the team cause a cup shock.
“I think it’s a ticket game so hopefully they take a lot of fans over and we back ourselves as well,” he said.
“The fans make a big difference to the outcome of a game. We can only do so much on the park but when the fans are backing you it gives you that extra 10 per cent to go and kick on.
“It was the same in the games against Ross County and Alloa. When the fans are behind you, there’s a lift right through the team so hopefully they come out in numbers again.”
Goodall will be fit for the Linfield clash despite coming off early in the second half following his match-winning performance at Lossiemouth.
The 20-year-old netted twice in the opening 17 minutes before Jags had to sweat it out for a 2-1 win to earn a home match against Broomhill in round two.
Dogged by hamstring problems in the past year, Goodall said a slight strain on Saturday denied him the opportunity to go for a famous Scottish Cup hat-trick.
“My hamstring couldn’t quite cope with it and I couldn’t really sprint so I had to go off. I was desperate for the hat-trick,” he said.
“I’ve not injured myself, I just need to watch it because I’m just back from a spell out.”
Goodall was thrilled by his early double strike. “They were identical. We work a lot on training on the movement of centre midfielders and wingers and the movement was natural,” he said.
Normally a winger or striker for Jags, Goodall has been asked to play in centre midfield and admitted he is relishing the challenge of a playing in a new position.
"It’s a different position for me this season but I will play anywhere to get in the team.
"I’ve been playing further back in centre midfield alongside Sam Pugh so it is a bit different but I’m enjoying it and getting a lot more involved in the game.
"I think my energy and ability to get up and down the park were the reasons when the manager played me there."
