Shotts target Darvel cup semi-final upset but fixtures backlog could intensify

Shotts face a hectic schedule of four games in a week – unless they stun Premier League side Darvel in their West of Scotland Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

John McKeown’s side host mid-table Darvel at Hannah Park this evening, travel to Petershill on Saturday, before hosting Johnstone Burgh on Tuesday and Drumchapel United on Thursday, as they bid to eat into a backlog of up to five games in hand on their promotion rivals.

However, Pollok await the winners in the final on Sunday at Broadwood, and that would take out the Petershill trip, and possibly the Johnstone Burgh clash.

McKeown said: “A lot of that depends on how the semi-final goes, because if we win that, we would have the final on Sunday.

“That will put off the Petershill game and possibly even the Johnstone Burgh game, I would imagine.

“It’s all ifs and buts just now, but we just need to prepare a game at a time and keep focused, and that’s what this group are doing.

“They’re working their socks off and have a real togetherness, which is really important.

“It’s going to be really difficult against Darvel, who have just got through to the Scottish Cup final and are doing well in the Premier League.

“They’re a good side, and for us we just need to express ourselves and enjoy the occasion.

“The pressure will be on them, with them being the Premier team and everybody’s strong favourites for the tie.

“We’re a league below, with minimum resources, compared to them.

“But we’ve got a determined bunch who will work hard, so hopefully we can compete, and do ourselves proud.”

McKeown added: “The boys have done great to get to this stage of the competition, and it would be lovely to get to a final, but we know it’s going to require Darvel to be on an off-day and us to be on a good day.

“We also need a good bit of fortune on our side.

“But we’re capable of it, we’ve beat Premier League teams in the last couple of seasons.

“We knocked Beith out of both competitions last season and we’ve done Glenafton out of a couple of competitions this year.

“On our day we are capable, and we need to have that bit of belief.”

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