Clach must avoid a superiority complex as they tackle Ryan Esson’s underdogs Strathspey Thistle in the Highland League Cup, says boss Conor Gethins
Conor Gethins is warning high-flying Clach to ditch any superiority complex as they prepare to face Ryan Esson’s Strathspey Thistle.
The former Caley Thistle goalkeeper has been tasked with reviving the Grantown-on-Spey outfit’s fortunes after Bobby Beckwith’s short stint in charge.
In between hefty beatings by Buckie Thistle and Brechin, Esson guided his new team to a rousing 3-0 victory over Lossiemouth.
Gethins, witnessing some fine Lilywhites form of late, enjoyed five wins in a six-game unbeaten run before last Saturday’s close-fought home defeat to Buckie Thistle.
But during that run, Strathspey ran them close in the North of Scotland Cup, losing 3-2 in Inverness.
The team meet again at Seafield Park tomorrow in the League Cup.
“Strathspey will feel they can take something off us,” the Irishman stressed. “They probably should have in the last cup game.
“They certainly didn’t deserve to lose on the day and we only just got over the line at 3-2. The conditions were terrible and they played them superbly that night. They probably should have gone a couple of goals up, even before we went and scored three.
“Ryan Esson will have them really well organised this weekend.
“They recently beat Lossiemouth 3-0 and that’s no mean feat because Lossie are a pretty solid team.
“They will believe they can beat us and it is going to be down to our boys’ attitude and mentality.
“We need to go into that game and say we can take control and dominate, rather than thinking ‘we’re a better team than them’.
“No matter how good we are, if we don’t work hard and properly then we come unstuck. We need to go about it the right way.”
Sixth in the league and through to a North Cup semi-final against Inverness Athletic on October 2, Gethins is relishing fighting on all fronts.
“The cups are very important to us. We have to be giving a good account of ourselves,” he said.
“We’re one game away from a final in the North Cup and we want to progress in the Highland League Cup.
“It is important for the fans and for everybody who puts the work in at the club. It is a day out for them that they’ll enjoy.
“That’s what we’re there for, to give them that enjoyment and see if we can get to a final and go and win it.
“In the North Cup, we’ve got to get past Inverness Athletic first who have started their season really well and on Saturday we’ll face a really determined Strathspey side.
“We’ll have to be on our game and go about it with the right attitude.”