MATCH: Aberdeen Colts vs. St Johnstone Colts COMPETITION: IRN-BRU Cup First Round DATE: Tuesday 15th August 2017 VENUE: Glebe Park, Brechin KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
Preview with Aberdeen U20s Coach Paul Sheerin
“Ideally we have liked to have been drawn against a League side. I thought the ‘Colt’ teams might have been separated. So hopefully we can get through against St Johnstone and then see where the draw takes us. But I know St Johnstone will be thinking the same.
“It would be nice to go on a little run on the cup but we know it will be difficult.
“Last year against Forfar we were a bit unfortunate with Sam getting sent off early on. The game against Formartine was great with the boys coming up against the likes of Paul Lawson, Stuart Anderson, good seasoned pros. You want the boys to come against teams who are different and play against players who have that experience.
“It is so different from your Development League games. So it would be nice to go a few rounds.
“There is a big incentive for both ourselves and St Johnstone to get through especially with the sides from out with Scotland coming into the next round. But we have to try and take care of St Johnstone. We know that won’t be easy. They are a tough U20 side to play against. We have found that in the past. All the games are normally very close with only the odd goal in it.
“As it is the first competitive game of the season I hope we can put in a good performance but it is a cup tie and it is all about making sure we get into the next round.
“Pre-season has been great. It has been much longer than we thought and maybe hope for but now we are coming into the competitive stuff. All the boys have done well. I am very pleased with the younger ones who are just starting out as full-time professionals. They have acquitted themselves well.
“As well as Dean Campbell, Ethan Ross, Jack MacKenzie and Archie Mair; Ryan Harrington has joined us this season. Ryan was with us for a few weeks and has earned his contract. It is up to him now to kick on push himself into the first team squad because he is one of the older ones. But I will say the same to all the players. They all have to take the opportunity they are given at this club and make the most of it.
“Seeing Scott Wright playing in the first team is encouraging.
“It has been tough for Scott. He has performed so well for us over the past few seasons. He has been on the fringes of the first team since I came into the job. When you have McGinn and Hayes ahead of you it is going to be difficult. What he did last season when he was thrown in against Partick Thistle, was show everyone that he was capable of performing at that level. He took his opportunity. Again this season he has been great. He is so positive and direct.
“So it is encouraging to see and hopefully encouraging for the young boys. No matter how long they have to wait, the opportunity will come along and they have to be ready to take that opportunity. Scott to his credit has been really patient and now hopefully he will figure more regularly in the first team.”
“So it is encouraging to see and hopefully encouraging for the young boys. No matter how long they have to wait, the opportunity will come along and they have to be ready to take that opportunity. Scott to his credit has been really patient and now hopefully he will figure more regularly in the first team.”
