Management thoughts on Tynecastle tomorrow

Posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009

This morning Mike said –

“I’m no historian but I think tomorrow is the first ever league meeting between Spartans and Tynecastle. Keith Summers, Murray Balloch and their players deserve our upmost respect as last season they won the most competitive East of Scotland First Division there has ever been. To come out well on top of more fancied sides like Gretna, Stirling Uni, Craigroyston and Civil Service Strollers says everything about the strides the club from Fernieside have made over the last couple of seasons.

For our part we have gone from bottom of the Premier League to top of the pile in three weeks. As defending champions we are there to be shot at but tomorrow Tynecastle have the added incentive of trying to beat the league leaders and current league champions.

How will our players handle that pressure? Our Scottish Cup exploits would suggest that we like to wear the mantle of underdog and last season we sat in behind Dalbeattie for most of the season letting them take all the pressure. Whatever happens tomorrow there is a long way to go between now and next May and I’m sure there will be many twists and turns in the championship race.

In selecting our team Sam and I are without David Etale as he is in London playing for his works side (the Army) but welcome back Alex King and new boy Kevin Sivewright to the squad. Alex will start and we hope Kevin will take part at some stage in the game.  Chris Smith has been undergoing tests in hospital for a stomach complaint and we are not sure as yet of his availability.

In our two games this week against Preston and Edinburgh Uni we have played well for spells but struggled at other times in both games. Tomorrow Sam and I are looking for a more consistent performance from the team over the full ninety minutes.”

The ko is 2.30 and admission is £5 and £3.  Programmes will be £1.