Lee Clark confident Kilmarnock can claim cup success
Manager Lee Clark is confident his Kilmarnock side can reach the last 16 of the Betfred Cup and go on to avoid the relegation scraps which the club have been involved in during recent seasons.
The Rugby Park outfit looked sluggish after losing to Betfred Cup opponents Morton last Saturday and then had to fight back from two goals down to beat bottom tier outfit Berwick Rangers on Tuesday night as their hopes of qualifying from Group H came close to unravelling.
But, speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Albion Rovers, Clark said: "Hopefully we can get the win which should see us through as one of the best runners-up or if even if there's a shock in the Morton-Berwick game, we can go through as group winners.
"Confidence isn't an issue. If I include the friendly games we've played, we've won five out of six. If we start the season like that we'll be more than happy.
"I certainly think this group of players will get us to an improved level on last season. It's a big ask to get into the top half but with a little luck and a good start I think we can achieve that. I've still got total belief in what the players are doing."
Clark's only absentee for the match is winger Greg Kiltie, who is still struggling with an ankle knock sustained last weekend against Morton.
The visitors will be without Scott McBride who is on holiday when they look to get the win that would see them finish higher in Group H than their top-flight hosts.
Cliftonhill player/ manager Darren Young is expecting his men to come up against a highly motivated side as he explained: "Kilmarnock will have been hurt at losing to Morton last weekend and then going two behind at Berwick in midweek.
"They fought back to win that game however they still faced a bit of criticism. They will be out to make us suffer for that however we will look to sit in and hit them hard on the break."
Source: PAR
