Peterhead’s Ross Kavanagh reckons the Blue Toon will “cruise” to the League 2 title if they keep up their early-season form.
They travel to Kavanagh’s former club Stirling Albion this afternoon on the back of just one defeat in their last 14 games, with a 1-0 win over promotion-chasing Clyde taking them to the top of the pile last weekend.
Promotion is the number one target at Balmoor after missing out on the play-offs last season and Jim McInally’s side have started strongly, with their only dropped points coming in the 1-1 draw to Queens Park on the opening day.
A settled squad with quality in the ranks gives Kavanagh faith they can win League 2 with room to spare, if their momentum continues.
Kavanagh said: “It’s probably close to 100 per cent, in terms of Peterhead winning the league this season with the players we have. If we keep this form going then we should cruise the league, in my opinion.
“There’s Derek Lyle, Cammy Eadie and myself that have come in, so there’s not been many big changes. Clyde are probably are most difficult opponent and we shut them down – they didn’t really cause any problems.
“The younger you are, the greater achievement it is to win the league. You’re able to move up the leagues, earn more money and play better teams and gain more experience.”
Kavanagh’s bold prediction comes just before they face a team who would expect to be up there challenging for promotion again. Stirling were beaten by Peterhead in the play-offs last season and have got off to a stuttering start this year, losing all three games and sitting second-bottom.
There will be no room for sentimentality today for Kavanagh, after leaving Forthbank in the summer for a fresh challenge with the Blue Toon.
He added: “It’ll be my first time playing at that ground for another team, which will be a bit weird, but I’m there to win. I’m good friends with a few of the boys there but we have to get the football bit done first, then I’ll see them after the game.
“They have a good setup at Stirling and they’re just having a bad spell right now. But every time we came up against Peterhead last season, you would take the win as they were the best team in the league and unlucky not to go up.”