Elgin City goalkeeper Thomas McHale is determined to help send shock troops Clydebank spinning from the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
The League Two side were pegged back for a 1-1 draw in the second round of the cup against their West of Scotland Premier Division hosts on Monday night in a tie screened live by BBC Scotland.
Ticket information for this Saturdays replay vs @clydebankfc can be found hon the link below 🎟 https://t.co/Iioqs4l28P
Hopefully it will be a packed Borough Briggs’s for this Scottish Cup clash 🏟
See you soon 🖤⚽️🏆 pic.twitter.com/iUKwgDo1Ia
— Elgin City F.C. (@ElginCityFC) October 27, 2021
An early strike by Rory MacEwan was cancelled out by Nicky Little’s second half penalty as the Bankies, who are third in their division, roared back in front of a sell-out 1,200 crowd to secure a deserved replay .
McHale determined to avoid cup exit
McHale, 26 knows their visitors will head to Moray, with nothing to lose again, but explained it’s up to City to ensure they get through this tricky rematch.
He said: “It was a great occasion, being on TV in the Scottish Cup.
“In the first half, we dominated the game by playing good football and made them work hard. That’s what brought us success.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t do that in the second half. Clydebank worked hard and, all credit to them, got themselves back in the game.
“You could feel they were growing into the game and you have to try and ride the storm. They got the penalty and they took their opportunity. It only takes one chance to get back into the game.
“We know they’ll come up here looking to take a scalp by knocking us out. We have a job to do and we’ve got to turn this around.
“We know what we need to do and what got us success in the first half. If we can implement that on Saturday, we won’t go far wrong.”
Thanks in part by subsidised buses, Clydebank fans will travel to Borough Briggs in force as the junior club aim to continue their journey in the Scottish Cup – the first time in 20 years the town has had that opportunity.
Clydebank fans fancy team’s chances
It means the pressure remains on Elgin against opponents who will fancy their chances, despite being two tiers down the Scottish football ladder.
Away from the cup focus, Elgin have been struggling to find form, with only one win in nine games in all competitions.
The 2-0 League Two defeat at Albion Rovers on October 16 leaves City only three points above bottom side Cowdenbeath.
McHale said the squad appreciate a vast improvement is needed, with Saturday’s cup replay a key match as they seek to find a positive turning point in their campaign.
He added: “I know we’re not in the strongest league position, but when we have won games, such as against Albion Rovers and at Stenhousemuir, we have got success by playing football. We need to turn these draws and losses into wins, starting on Saturday.
“We will focus on what we have to do and put everything out there. It’s a chance for us to put on a performance and try to get into the third round against Clyde (on November 27).
“It’s the same for Clydebank. They will certainly be coming here looking for the win, so it will take a lot of hard work and for us to do things right. If we can do that, we should be fine, but we know how tough it will be.”
McHale, who landed on his elbow in the second half when gathering the ball under intense pressure, confirmed the pain has eased and he’ll be fine for the weekend.
Our Fixture vs Edinburgh City has now been re-arranged to Tuesday 23rd November with a 7.45pm KO ⚽ pic.twitter.com/xMo05E8fLd
— Elgin City F.C. (@ElginCityFC) October 27, 2021