Caley Thistle's Development side out to add to Arbroath's woes in IRN-BRU Cup
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ALL the pressure is on Arbroath to avoid an unwanted cup double in the Highlands, according to Caley Thistle development coach Duncan Shearer.
Three days after a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the first team, Arbroath return to the Caledonian Stadium in the Challenge Cup to face their Development side and Shearer hopes to have the advantage over the League Two side.
In the revamped competition this season, Premiership clubs will field their Development League – or “under-20s” – sides in a change that Shearer is all for. The IRN-BRU-backed tournament will also see four teams from Wales and Northern Ireland enter later in the fourth round, in a tester for potential future cross-border competition.
Inverness’s youngsters were in the rare position that they were able to watch their opponents on Saturday, as they were ruthlessly dismantled by the first team.
Shearer was at the game too and hopes his squad can spring a surprise or two on a Lichties side bound to be suffering from a loss of confidence.
“I haven’t come across anything like it where all the young boys had a chance to watch their opponents right before the game. I know they’re going to make a few changes but I don’t think they’ve got deep enough a squad to make too many,” he said.
“If I was in there situation and just been turned over, they’d be hurting badly. The last thing they’d want to do is come and play us and Dick Campbell, who helped me through my coaching badges, will be wary of that.
“He won’t know a thing about us, which is maybe something we can use to our advantage. He won’t have seen us or my players play so they’ll be going into the unknown a wee bit. My boys have no pressure and I want them to go and express themselves.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our young boys. I’m hoping a few fans, with free entry, a lot of people will come out and see what young boys we’ve got and how much work we’re putting into the youth side of things.”
Shearer takes his side into the game with cautious optimism, aware that it will be a case of men-versus-boys come kick-off time.
However, what his players should have faith in is the track record Shearer has in developing stars of the future, ready to make the step up to the first team.
Ryan Christie was his star pupil and has gone on to play for his country and Celtic, while this summer Cammy Mackay, Jason Brown and Alisdair Sutherland, regulars in the Development squad, have all made the step up to the first team.
He has four new faces of his own this summer: goalkeeper Stephen Foster, Liam MacDonald, Ryan McRitchie and Keir Smith, with the latter missing tonight’s game due to a holiday.
A number of his players, like Sam Robertson, Cameron Gilchrist and Andrew Macrae, have featured in the first team over pre-season as manager Richie Foran continues to shape his squad.
“The boys know what they’re up against,” added Shearer on the Arbroath test. “It’s men v boys – it’s the biggest game for most of them. We don’t move the ball as fast as the first team or have the class of the first team, but we’ve certainly got some players that can hurt them.
“Arbroath will be pleasantly surprised. We’re under no illusions it’s a hard game – we’re not going to think just because the first team beat them 7-0, we’ve got a decent chance. That’s not how football works. You’ve only got a good chance if you work hard and do the right things. We’re looking forward to it probably more than Arbroath will, because people don’t expect us to win the game.
“The gaffer and the first-team coaches came over in training yesterday and gave them a few pointers and I know the senior players have been talking to the kids about some of the players that will be playing. Everything bodes well for them and we haven’t left anything unturned.
“It’s up to them to embrace playing on the pitch and hopefully do themselves justice.”
Kick-off for the game is at 7.45pm and entry is free to all supporters.
