St Duthus consider themselves underdogs against Loch Ness
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ST Duthus manager Stuart Ross believes his team will be underdogs when they face Division Two Loch Ness in the North Caledonian Cup.
The Tain outfit have suffered an injury crisis with a number of players out during the start of the campaign.
With Loch Ness having home advantage and a large squad to choose from, Ross says on paper, the Inverness club will go into the match as favourites.
But Ross believes he knows what to expect from Loch Ness manager Shane Carling and how his team will line up.
“We used to manage Dores in the Inverness amateur league so we know Shane and Loch Ness well,” said Ross.
“They’ve tried to get in the league for years and they have been a great addition. They’ve had an indifferent start but they are finding their feet.
“We will have a difficult game.
“I wouldn’t say we’re favourites due to the bodies we have out injured.
“ I think Loch Ness will be favourites due to being at home and they have a strong squad.”
But Ross is expecting his team to progress saying the North Caledonian Cup is an important competition to the club.
“We are a club that have always done well in the cups.
“With the way we have been going it is a welcome break from the league.
“Its a one off game and we go into it full of confidence.”
St Duthus came from behind in a 2-2 draw against Thurso in North Caledonian League Division One last week. Thurso took a 2-0 lead in the second half with goals from Bobby Gunn and Sean Campbell.
Ben Bruce pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining, before Adam Allan equalised in the 89th minute.
Ross says despite pleased to take a point, thought they should have done enough earlier in the match to take all three points.
“It was a funny game on Saturday, I thought that we started really well against Thurso,” said Ross.
“Over the piece a draw was a fair result but I thought we could have got in front in the first half but we didn’t take our chances.”
