Rutherglen Glencairn gaffer Willie Harvey says his players must show no fear in their Scottish Cup replay with Kilwinning Rangers, after being seconds away from sending the Premier Division side crashing out.
Two goals in two minutes from Jack McIlveen midway through the second half at the Hamish B Allan Stadium on Saturday had Glens on course for the first round proper as they led the visitors 2-1 in the preliminary round tie.
In their first-ever senior Scottish Cup tie, they were on the cusp of a historic victory in front of a fantastic home crowd.
But a last-gasp goal from Mark Millar earned the Buffs a replay.
The sides must do it all over again this weekend at Buffs Park and Harvey insists his players must believe they can topple their opponents after overcoming a nervy start during Saturday’s contest.
He said: “I felt in the first 30 minutes on Saturday our players showed a bit of nervousness and a bit of fear.
“It was only once we got them in at half-time, they started to realise they can compete with Kilwinning.
“We’ve said to them that they’ve had a good look at them now, you know what you are up against and you know how you’ve got to perform to get something out of the game.
“So we are very confident we can go there on Saturday now and get the result.
“I think both teams are quite evenly matched, in all honesty, and we are both capable of beating each other so it should be another good game.”
The draw for the first round was made on Monday and Glens now know what awaits them if they can progress – a home tie against Lowland League outfit Tranent.
Harvey added: “It gives us an added incentive now.
“At home we’d have taken anyone: Auchinleck, Cumnock, whatever. That’s the good thing about it, to get handed a home game.
“Tranent are a very capable team. They beat Darvel in the play-offs for the Lowland League last season so that’s what we are up against.
“It could have been worse, it could have been better. But if we are lucky enough to get through, it will be nice to play a team we haven’t played before.
“If we are going to continue in the competition we are going to have to do it the hard way.”
Saturday’s clash at Kilwinning is a 2pm kick-off.
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