Wick Academy manager Gary Manson expects a determined Rothes side to visit Caithness as Speysiders will try to put Scottish Cup exit and Highland League struggles behind them at Harmsworth Park
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Wick Academy manager Gary Manson does not expect Rothes to be pushovers this weekend despite their poor start to the Highland League season.
After finishing fifth last season, Rothes have won just two of their eight matches so far in 2022/23 and have gone out of both the North of Scotland and Scottish Cups.
The Speysiders' struggles have taken Manson by surprise, but knowing the quality available to opposite number Ross Jack he is still preparing for a tough test at Harmsworth Park tomorrow.
"I know they have had quite a tough start to the season, but they still have much of the same squad that finished high in the league last year," Manson said.
"I am a little bit surprised. They were maybe struggling for numbers in the early part of the season, but so were we – and we were probably a lot worse than them.
"You can't take anything for granted. You can't look at the table and think we're going to roll them over just because they're below us in the league. We'll look at the quality and talent in their squad and know we're in for a tough game.
"It's still early days, I'm sure they will pick up and they will be looking to put things right on Saturday, so we'll have to meet them head on."
Manson knows exactly what it is like to be looking for a reaction from his players.
To Wick's credit, their 5–1 win over Lochee United in the Scottish Cup last time out was a perfect response to the 8–0 drubbing put on them by Banks O'Dee the week before.
Now, they have to avoid being on the receiving end of a return to form when Rothes come to Caithness.
"We were the ones looking for a reaction last Saturday," Manson said.
"I expect Ross Jack will be looking for a reaction out of them to put right a few wrongs that have happened in the opening stages of the season.
"We'll need to be concentrating and fully focused from the first whistle.
"It's one that we'll need to keep our standards high for. We need to maintain the same quality and work ethic, and bring everything we did right last week into this Saturday if we want to take three points."
Sean Munro will miss tomorrow's match while Joe Anderson is still suspended, but Manson will have Jack Henry available after the midfielder serves a ban of his own, and he will hope to help Wick move up the Highland League standings.
"You always hear managers saying they don't look at the league table, but that's a lot of nonsense if you ask me," Manson added.
"Every manager and every player looks at the league table after every game. I certainly do anyway.
"Nothing is won in September, places aren't finalised in September, but it's always nice to be as high in the league as we possibly can be.
"If we can win and climb places on Saturday, that's what we fully intend to do. Hopefully it will make for good reading this week."
