Cove manager John Sheran rates tonight’s league opponents Turriff as one of the best teams in the Press and Journal Highland League and has warned his players there can be no cup final hangover.
Cove completed one leg of the double when they won the League Cup last Saturday, defeating Formartine United 2-1, and a win at Turriff tonight will keep their hopes of retaining the league title alive.
Sheran said: “I have said before, Turriff are one of the best teams in the league and going to the Haughs at any time is a tough ask. We know it will be tough but we are capable of winning, we just need to make sure we get the right level of performance.
“At this time of year we always know that the pitches are going to be hard to play on, we just have to deal with that.”
Sheran will make changes to that cup-winning side and added: “We will have Mitch Megginson and Harry Milne back from suspension, Stuart Walker and reserve goalkeeper John McCafferty will also be back. Dean Lawrie is out and forward Daniel Park will face a fitness test after coming off at half-time with a leg injury.”
Turriff manager Ross Jack knows what to expect from tonight’s opponents and said: “All the pressure is on Cove, they’re going for the championship while we’re playing for pride.
“It is a game they have to win, we’re not in the game to do anybody favours and if the race for the title does go to the last game of the season I think it really would be great.
“We drew 0-0 against Cove at Inverurie recently. They will be buoyant after their League Cup win and, although it is a massive ask for them to go on and do the double, I’m sure John will be expecting them to do just that.”
Turriff are without full backs Lewis Davidson and Chris Herd as well as midfielders Robbie Allan and Antonio Vastano.
