First Team
EVERY WORD | JIM GOODWIN AHEAD OF LEITH ADVENTURE
1st November 2024
Having spoken with his players in the aftermath of last week's disappointing defeat at Pittodrie, Manager Alex Smith was in sanguine spirits midweek reviewing the team's ongoing preparations for Saturday's home tie versus Ayr United in the Quarter-finals of the 2001/02 Tennent's Scottish Cup.
"On Monday night we secured an psychologically important win over Dundee at Dens in the Under-21's, the Manager maintained. "After a scruffy first half, we managed to pull ourselves together and came away with the full three points thanks to goals from David McCracken and Jim Paterson - both recommending themselves for Cup action. Charlie Miller, returning from suspension, also put in a fine performance over the whole 90 minutes staking his claim for a first team starting berth. Other players competing for places on Saturday came through unscathed and remain in the frame."
"We also had a closed-door game against Arbroath on Wednesday fielding again some of the players in contention for Saturday's pool", the Manager continued. In a match that ended 2-2, Stef McConalogue scored both United goals. On display was also an as-of-yet unnamed trialist whom the Manager hopes to have another look at.
Reasonably good news on the injury front for Messrs Wright, McIntyre and Wilson, all of whom have had specialist appointments on Wednesday. Stephen will require a small operation after which he should be able to return to training after three weeks, whilst Jim and Mark (pictured) are making steady progress recovering from their respective operations around a fortnight ago.
"On Monday night we secured an psychologically important win over Dundee at Dens in the Under-21's, the Manager maintained. "After a scruffy first half, we managed to pull ourselves together and came away with the full three points thanks to goals from David McCracken and Jim Paterson - both recommending themselves for Cup action. Charlie Miller, returning from suspension, also put in a fine performance over the whole 90 minutes staking his claim for a first team starting berth. Other players competing for places on Saturday came through unscathed and remain in the frame."
"We also had a closed-door game against Arbroath on Wednesday fielding again some of the players in contention for Saturday's pool", the Manager continued. In a match that ended 2-2, Stef McConalogue scored both United goals. On display was also an as-of-yet unnamed trialist whom the Manager hopes to have another look at.
Reasonably good news on the injury front for Messrs Wright, McIntyre and Wilson, all of whom have had specialist appointments on Wednesday. Stephen will require a small operation after which he should be able to return to training after three weeks, whilst Jim and Mark (pictured) are making steady progress recovering from their respective operations around a fortnight ago.
