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Cove Rangers’ dreams of reaching the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup for the first time in the club’s history are in the balance after the weekend defeat to Livingston.

The loss, despite being ahead and up against ten men for three quarters of the match, was a huge blow, and it has left us requiring two wins against Kelty and Caley Thistle to have any hope.

The players more than matched their Premiership opponents for much of the game, but failed to make the most of their advantage. It was a situation which left boss Jim McIntyre frustrated:

“We had lots of possession against Livi, and I was really pleased with the opening twenty minutes or so, but the sending-off changed things, they sat in, and we found it difficult to break them down.

“We took the lead thanks to a superb strike from Iain Vigurs, and we warned the boys at half-time that Livi would be dangerous on the counter attack. That’s exactly how it turned out, and we didn’t manage the game in the way we should have.

“There was a lack of composure, a lack of patience in the second half, and we just didn’t show that bit of quality we needed to punish them. There were some really good opportunities, but not that cleverness, the execution of pass we required.

“Having said all that, there was a lot of good play and plenty encouraging signs. I have faith in the boys, and I don’t think we’re far away from putting it all together.”

Captain Mitch Megginson shared his manager’s disappointment:

“I thought we were the better team throughout the ninety minutes and that’s testament to the boys, as we were up against strong, well-established Premiership opposition. We had a lot of the ball and the better of the chances as well, but we just couldn’t get that final bit to click.

“If you give a team like Livingston the chances then they’ll punish you, and they certainly did that with some quick counter attacks.

“We just weren’t clinical, but that comes with the more games you play as your confidence in and around the area improves. The positive thing is we are creating the chances – on another day we’ll be able to take them.”

There have a been a few early season injuries – Blair Yule is currently side-lined – and that has put pressure on what is already a squad short in numbers. It is a situation the boss is trying desperately to rectify:

“I have had to ask a lot of the boys in this early part of the season and some of them have had to play more football than I’d have wanted them to. I need three more outfield players to ease the pressure on the lads, and I’m working hard to bring them in. We’ve been close to adding to the squad on a number of occasions only for the deal to fall through at the last minute.

“It is frustrating, but I’ll keep scouring the transfer market and hopefully we’ll be able to add the quality I’m looking for.”

Kelty have lost their opening two fixtures, at home to Caley Thistle and Albion Rovers, and will be keen to get their campaign up and running, but Jim says he expects his side to further extend our visitors’ losing sequence:

“If we’re to have any chance, we need to win this one. That’s what I will be demanding of my players.”

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