Buckie Thistle manager looks to shock mentor when they face Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
BUCKIE Thistle manager Graeme Stewart will pit his wits against his first gaffer in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
Buckie Thistle’s reward for their 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Albion Rovers is a home tie with Championship neighbours Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend.
The Jags will welcome John Robertson’s team to Victoria Park on Saturday, in the second round.
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart admits that while they have a “slim chance” of springing an even greater shock, they will go into the game in confident mood, and intent on making it tough for their full-time visitors.
“It is going to be a very difficult game, but we are looking forward to it,” said Stewart, who was a player at ICT from the age of 17-21, which coincided with Robertson’s first spell in charge of the Highlanders.
“John Robertson was brilliant, and I learned a lot from him and Donald Park when I was there.”
Stewart and his assistant Lewis Mackinnon, both started their played careers with Caley Thistle, and a number of other players in the Buckie squad have former links to the club. That includes Buckie skipper Kevin Fraser, who Caley tried to buy a couple of seasons ago.
Stewart was pleased to get a home draw, the only disappointment is that lockdown means there will be no fans inside the ground, so no major financial reward for the Jags, from what would have been a potential four-figure crowd.
“We have a slim chance of winning, but we will come up with a plan to try and beat them,” he said.
Buckie produced a good performance to seal a Scottish Cup shock, by dumping League Two strugglers Albion Rovers in Coatbridge.
A first-half goal directly from a corner from Andy MacAskill, and a Scott Adams strike, put the Highland League side in command. MacAskill sealed a great win with his second 20 minutes from the end.
Stewart said: “We could have scored more. The boys were outstanding.
“It was great to get a clean sheet, and I don’t think our keeper had a save to make.
“It is great credit to the way our players approached the game, with their professionalism, with the way they ate and trained over Christmas.
“The overall team performance was exceptional. We had the wind and the rain in the first half, and knew if they got a goal back in the second half it could be tough, but we played very well and got a third goal.”
