Hogg hopeful of Kilsyth progress in Scottish Cup

Kilsyth Rangers boss Keith Hogg hopes that victory over Lochgelly Albert could pave the way for his side to have a lengthy run in Scottish junior football's showpiece competition.
Kilsyth Rangers manager Keith HoggKilsyth Rangers manager Keith Hogg
Kilsyth Rangers manager Keith Hogg

Rangers take on the East Region South district side at Duncansfield on Saturday with a place in the last 32 of the tournament at stake.

And with the third round schedule pitting a number of fancied contenders against each other, and several top teams having already bitten the dust, Hogg believes there’s a genuine chances of a run to the latter stages.

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However he knows that first of all Rangers will have to do the business against Lochgelly.

He said: “I haven’t been able to get them watched but have been able to use my contacts in the east to speak to players and managers I know and gather information on them.

“By all accopunts they have had a good start to the season so we know it’s going to be tough and we’ll have to apply ourselves in the right manner to get the result we want.

“As a club we’ve had some good runs in the cup in the last five or six years and if you look at the draw you could have as many as six or seven Super League teams dropping out so if we get through who knows what could happen.

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“At the start of the tournament you would have had people predicting a Pollok v Auchinleck final and yet here they are playing each other in the third roud, so you just never know what can happen when the draw comes out.”

Kilsyth go into the tie looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season at Irvine Meadow last week.

However despite the 4-1 loss Kilsyth remain top of the Super League First Division standings thanks to rivals Shettleston also losing and Hogg is pleased with the progress his side have made so far.

He said: “The players we brought in have gelled and we’re getting big performances from our big players, the likes of Paul McBride and Mark Tyrell.

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“The supporters are also seeing some really good football, it’s not just a case of punting the ball up the pitch and holding it up.

“It [Shettleston’s defeat] just shows you that this is one of the toughest leagues out there. Clydebank have come back, Petershill have come back and there’s just one point between the top four teams.

“At the start of the season we set out with a game plan which the players are executing and we’re really enjoying the season so far.”

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