Manson wants Wick Academy to take out their frustration on Speysiders
It’s third from bottom versus second from bottom in the Highland League at Harmsworth Park this weekend – and Wick Academy manager Gary Manson wants his players to take out their frustration on Rothes after a poor run of results.
The Scorries’ 4-0 defeat to Banks O’ Dee in Aberdeen in their latest outing means they have lost eight games in a row in all competitions. Saturday’s match against the Speysiders represents a chance to pick up points at home for the first time since early August and ease any immediate concerns about potentially dropping further down the table.
As things stand, Academy are one of four teams involved in the fight to avoid the wooden-spoon position. They and Lossiemouth are four points ahead of bottom club Strathspey Thistle, with the Jags having two games in hand.
Rothes are three points behind the two sides just above them, having played one game fewer.
The last-placed club in the Highland League could face a relegation/promotion play-off at the end of the season.
“When you set your sights at the start of the season it’s certainly not where we wanted to be,” Manson admitted after seeing his team slip to 16th with the defeat at Spain Park.
“You don’t set your stall out to just be above the relegation battle, and it’s certainly not where I want to be or where the players want to be.
“But you just need to face reality and that’s exactly where we are.
“I said to the boys after the game on Saturday that they’ll have a lot of built-up frustration over the last few weeks and it’s a good opportunity to take that frustration out on Rothes and walk away with three points.
“In the context of our season it has turned into a big game. That’s disappointing in itself. But that’s where we are, I’m afraid, and we’ll just need to get on with it.
“It’s a game that we should be winning and we’ll try our best.”
An 87th-minute strike by Ross Gunn gave Wick a 3-2 win when the teams met at Mackessack Park in September. Manson felt the scoreline flattered Rothes that day.
“It was 3-2 but that game really should have finished about 8-2,” he said.
Highland League bottom four: 15 Lossiemouth (played 21, points 13, goal difference -31); 16 Wick Academy (21, 13, goal difference -37); 17 Rothes (20, 10, goal difference -55); 18 Strathspey Thistle (19, 9, goal difference -45).
Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 4, Wick Academy 0; Clachnacuddin 7, Deveronvale 0; Inverurie Locos 2, Brora Rangers 3; Keith 1, Formartine United 3; Lossiemouth 2, Strathspey Thistle 0; Nairn County 1, Forres Mechanics 5; Rothes 1, Huntly 6.
Scottish Cup (ties involving Highland League clubs): Brechin City 1, Hearts 4; Rangers 5, Fraserburgh 0.
Highland League fixtures – Friday, January 24: Deveronvale v Banks O’ Dee. Saturday, January 25: Brora Rangers v Fraserburgh; Buckie Thistle v Clachnacuddin; Formartine United v Nairn County; Forres Mechanics v Inverurie Locos; Huntly v Turriff United; Lossiemouth v Keith; Strathspey Thistle v Brechin City; Wick Academy v Rothes.
Saturday, February 1: Banks O’ Dee v Buckie Thistle; Clachnacuddin v Brechin City; Fraserburgh v Forres Mechanics; Huntly v Brora Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Formartine United; Keith v Strathspey Thistle; Nairn County v Lossiemouth; Rothes v Deveronvale; Turriff United v Wick Academy.
Wick Academy’s forthcoming Highland League fixtures: January 25, Rothes (H); February 1, Turriff United (A); February 8, Brora Rangers (H); February 15, Fraserburgh (A); February 19, Clachnacuddin (H); February 22, Forres Mechanics (H); March 1, Turriff United (H); March 8, Formartine United (A); March 15, Lossiemouth (H); March 22, Keith (A); March 29, Nairn County (H); April 12, Inverurie Locos (A). To be arranged: Strathspey Thistle (A).