East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz has challenged his Lowland League table-toppers to put their win over Celtic ‘B’ behind them and retain focus for the visit of Gala Fairydean Rovers.
Kilby have been up against full-time opposition for most of their first five games – which continued with Motherwell ‘B’ in the SPFL Trust Trophy last night (Tuesday) – but Rutkiewicz wants to see the same drive when the focus isn’t as high.
A Cami Elliot double in the first half was enough to see the Glasgow giants off at Airdrie’s New Broomfield on Friday night, despite Celtic netting a penalty in the second period.
And Rutkiewicz says their run of fixtures coming up is every bit as important.
The EK boss, whose side are joint-top with Rangers B, said: “The feeling is good, we’re delighted, but the show must go on.
“We can’t stand still and admire what we’ve done, because it means nothing, so we’ve just got to keep churning out the results.
“I suppose the challenge now is that we’re okay in the big games, but can we raise our game against the less salubrious opponents, without the big stadiums around you.
“Can you raise your game every week now? The challenge is to have that consistency.
“In the so-called less glamorous games there’s not going to be as many eyes on it, the same attention on social media as there would be in a Rangers or Celtic game, and I think for our players it’s important that they stay focused.
“As a player I’ve been in a privileged position to be playing with Premier League teams that drew lesser teams in the cup.
“Sometimes mentally you do switch off that half-percent, but the lines are so fine in this league that I think that can lose you a game.”
Rutkiewicz has been happy with Kilby’s response, however, to a 4-3 defeat to Rangers ‘B’, which is so far their only loss.
He said: “After the Rangers game there were a few questions, on the manner in which we lost the game. Going 3-0 down wasn’t great.
“But the response from the boys has been excellent. They’ve won three on the bounce, scored some great goals, and we were a lot tighter.
“We defended resolutely, we were compact, and we shut off the lines and the channels for Celtic to hurt us.”
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
