East Kilbride boss targeting Cove 'scalp' in cup clash

Mick Kennedy is gunning for an East Kilbride win over Cove Rangers in their SPFL Trust Trophy clash this afternoon.

The Kilby boss says his side goes into the third round clash with League One Cove under no pressure, and looking to take a scalp against Paul Hartley’s men.

Kennedy reckons all the pressure is on their Aberdeenshire visitors, and Kilby can play their own game.

He said: “We would love to go through. Any time we play a team from above us we want to, first and foremost, put in a good high-level performance, but in an ideal world we would like to get into the next round.

“We’re at home, we’ve started the season really well, so we should go into that game with a lot of confidence and belief.

“We have done well in games against senior teams and we have a lot of confidence.

“We have no concerns about playing Cove at home, or anything like that.

“I know they’re a full-time League One club, but we will look forward to that, we’ll go into it trying to win the game.

“Nothing will change in terms of our approach or anything.”

Cove beat Montrose 1-0 last Saturday, but sit second-bottom of League One, with just four points from five games, and Kennedy is wary of Hartley’s side using the cup clash to ignite their campaign.

He said: “The pressure is on Cove. I think it always is when you play against teams from a league below you.

“They haven’t started particularly well this season, Cove, so I’m sure they’ll be wanting to kick-start their own season as well.

“These cup competitions, certainly for clubs in League One and League Two are important, but we will be very hopeful we can get into the next round.”

East Kilbride have been drawn at home to Lowland League rivals Gretna 2008 in the Scottish Cup first round.

The tie is