East Kilbride have a point to prove to Airdrie, but won't change style, says boss

East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy admits his side have a point to prove after an 8-0 mauling at Airdrie in the Premier Sports Cup, but won't change their approach
-Credit: (Image: SNS Group)


Mick Kennedy admits East Kilbride have a point to prove in their cup clash at Airdrie on Saturday – but won’t change their style.

Kilby travel to New Broomfield in the SPFL Trust Trophy fourth round, looking to avenge their 8-0 Premier Sports Cup group stages defeat back in July.

Kennedy reckons his side were undone by individual errors rather than performance, and will go with the same philosophy.

And though the Diamonds are bottom of the Championship on a run of eight games without a win, Kennedy says boss Rhys McCabe will get it right.

Kennedy said: “We have a point to prove, but we’ll go there and nothing will change with how we play.

“We’ll go there with the same belief, confidence and game-plan, to try and impose ourselves on the game.

“But there will definitely be periods when we won’t have the ball, and it’s about us making sure we’re compact, switched on and focused, and limiting individual errors is probably the most critical part.

Kennedy says his side will attack Airdrie in their cup tie
Kennedy says his side will attack Airdrie in their cup tie -Credit:SNS Group

“In the last game, 35 minutes in we were really happy, dominating the game, but by half-time we were 5-0 down!

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“That’s just the quality, and it’s just the way we play. At our level you can get away with those mistakes, but it was just one of those nights where Airdrie were clinical.

“But the boys are in a good place, there’s a lot of confidence and belief, so we’ll go there and hopefully get into the next round.”

Mick added: “I have a lot of time for Rhys and Airdrie as a club. He has similar beliefs to myself and [assistant] Si Ferry, so we’re looking forward to it, but hopefully it’s a better score-line!

“I know Airdrie are struggling with a wee bit of form, so hopefully we can go in there and try to get a strong result.

Kennedy admires Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe and is confident he will turn around a poor run of results
Kennedy admires Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe and is confident he will turn around a poor run of results -Credit:SNS Group

“It’s two teams that will play attacking football and that’s why I have so much time for Rhys.

“A young man going into that job – Airdrie are a club with a big history and he’s stuck to his beliefs, imposed them on the club, and he’s done fantastically well.

“If there’s anybody in Scotland I would like to see doing really well it’s him, and I hope and I’m sure he’ll turn Airdrie’s fortunes around this season and they will start to pick up the league a little bit.

“I have so much admiration for him as a coach and as a manager.”

Saturday’s game is a 1.30pm kick-off.

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