Manager on Friday

19/07/19: SC - ”We are just delighted by the way that it has gone but we will not get carried away.

Stevie Crawford is expecting Edinburgh City to be stiffer opponents than Albion Rovers proved to be on Wednesday night. He told the media:-

“Obviously we were delighted with the result the other night and to score six goals added to the three that we put by St Mirren was a terrific start in terms of goalscoring.

“It will be a different test for us against Edinburgh City on Saturday. We will have to be very wary, we will have to work hard and make sure that we are committed to the cause to give us the best possible opportunity to progress in this tournament.”

Edinburgh City only lost their match at St Mirren by the one goal scored from the penalty spot two minutes from full time by their new signing Oan Djorkaeff. Stevie is also full of respect for how City did last season:-

”They had a really good first half to the season, tailed off a little bit as the season progressed and they will have looked to have added over the summer to give themselves a chance if winning promotion out of League Two this year.

”It will not be an easy game, they will be well organised under James McDonaugh and now I have selection headaches because the two performances and the manner that everybody has gone about their jobs, makes it difficult but it is a pleasing problem to have.”

Stevie made two changes to the starting eleven from Sunday leaving out Andy Ryan and Josh Coley to bring in Kevin Nisbet and Kyle Turner against Albion, would we see changes for Saturday?

”We had somebody watching Edinburgh City on Wednesday. Myself and Jason (Dair) went to see East Kilbride and Albion Rovers and we felt if we could play in the pockets behind the midfield four that we would try and get some joy from it. I didn`t realise that we would get as much joy from it.

”Again we will do our homework as a coaching staff and try and give the boys the best possible opportunity. What formation we go with, what personnel is a headache but better having a headache that way than searching for a result.

“James was on the Pro Licence with me, he is a great guy and I know that he has Jim Jefferies there who oversees. Edinburgh City had a really good first half of the season last year and slightly fell away towards the end of the season but I’m sure that they will be wanting a good League Cup campaign to lead into a successful season.

Latest new signing from Airdrieonians, nineteen year old Josh Edwards came on as a second half sub against Albion Rovers and Stevie thought that while happy with his first showing, he will need time to get him up to the level of fitness that the coaching staff are looking for:-

”It was important that he got a run out and I think Tom Lang is the other one who came in a little bit later and we are working behind the scenes to get him some extra conditioning work.

”The boys had a tough couple of weeks and it is important that these boys try and catch up to give themselves the degree of fitness to carry them through the season.”

The gaffer confirmed that Euan Murray’s absence from the first two competitive games was because of an injury.

”Euan has had a couple of conditioning days himself. Whether it comes too soon? I wouldn`t like to push him, it had been a calf injury that has taken a little longer than we anticipated. I don`t want to throw Euan in and then he ends up with a knock on it again and we lose him for three or four weeks.”

The manager agreed that there is no urgency while Stuart Morrison has been playing so well. Stuart made 23 appearances while on loan to Edinburgh City just two seasons ago so indeed, could be an asset when the Pars travel to Ainslie Park.

”He has done terrific and big Ashy is a credit to himself playing alongside Stuart who has come in and done well in the last two games.”

Danny Devine has been back in training this week and doing extra conditioning work:-

”It is trying to get that balance right now until Danny is available for selection. He is another one that we are looking forward to coming back because it puts pressure at the back to perform at a good level.”

In closing Stevie said:-

”We are just delighted by the way that it has gone but we will not get carried away. We will make sure that we fully focus on a hard game at the weekend but one where we are hoping to go and get a positive result.”

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