Elgin ready to take on cup holders
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Passion, pace and precise passing form the basis of Ross Jack’s Elgin City masterplan for a cup shock at Ross County this weekend.
City could hardly have hoped for a tougher start to their new season than a trip to Dingwall to take on the formidable Ramsden’s Cup holders on Saturday.
But it is a measure of the confidence Elgin manager Jack has in his young squad that he is filled with eager anticipation, rather than trepidation, in looking ahead to the match.
Jack is aware that his team will need a vociferous backing from a big travelling support, as well as a sizeable chunk of good fortune if they are to perform a giant-killing act against Derek Adams’ powerful side.
He sees comparisons to last season’s memorable Scottish Cup visit to Caley Thistle when the Moray side, lifted by the noise from 1600 Black and White diehards, came within a whisker of forcing a replay against their SPL opponents.
“It’s games like these that we play football for. This is what it’s all about, a cup-tie against the holders on their own patch – we just can’t wait,” Jack said.
“We’ll need a good support and some breaks on the day because we are massive underdogs, but all the boys are ready.”
The manager has been pleased with his teams pre-season results, which included a 3-0 win over Keith last weekend followed by a 4-3 success at Forres in midweek.
With his squad creating plenty of chances and playing the same brand of good football which saw them flirt with the Third Division play-offs for a spell last term, Jack feels they can do some damage in Dingwall.
“There’s even more pace in the team now, with quick lads like Beveridge and Stuart Leslie coming in to match the speed of Gunny (Craig Gunn), Frizz (Craig Frizzel), Blair (Lawrie) and Soapy (Brian Cameron). Mark Nicolson and now Danny Moore have pace at the back, but we’ve got it all about the place.
“We’ll use that against Ross County, and the sleeves will be rolled up as well.
“If they want to fight us, we’ll fight; If they want to get the ball down and pass, we’ll pass it as well. We know it will be tough because they have good players – but so do we.”
Typically, Jack refused to reveal his hand ahead of the big clash against his former Dingwall employers, who he served both as a player and coach during his career.
But with nine ex-County players in Elgin’s squad of 19, there will be ample motivation for the Moray outfit to go out and try to prove a point at Victoria Park.
See Friday's Northern Scot for full story.
