'You can never rule anything out' - Elgin boss looks ahead to Scottish Cup tie with Aberdeen

Borough Briggs is sold out this Saturday

Author: Liam RossPublished 16th Jan 2025

Elgin City boss Allan Hale feels it would be "huge" for his side and the Moray town if the team can beat Premiership Aberdeen on Saturday.

The Black and Whites face the Dons in the Scottish Cup this weekend, after beating Kelty Hearts and Clyde to make the fourth round of the competition.

Despite a very positive start to their League Two campaign, Hale admits the "stars will need to align" to pick up a famous win against the top flight side.

"Everyone fancies the underdog"

Elgin are flying in the league this season, they currently sit third and are six points off first place.

A dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Clyde followed by a 3-2 win at home to Kelty Hearts has booked their place in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

After being drawn against Premiership Aberdeen, excitement has been building to this momentous match with Borough Briggs sold out on Saturday.

Hale, who is an Aberdeen fan himself, admits beating the Dons will be a huge challenge, but not impossible.

He said: "It would be huge.

"In these club competitions, you dream of those things to be honest, particularly when you're a club in our position.

"The financial rewards of winning the game, the exposure the club and the players would generate from such a historic win would be great.

"Everyone fancies the underdog and everyone wants the underdog to succeed, it's certainly one of those occasions on Saturday.

"Despite Aberdeen's form they are a top quality team, they've got players with so much quality and ability.

"We obviously know the stars need to align and we need to have a bit of luck, but we do have players who can cause teams problems.

"We're going to have to defend well, we're going to have to create our luck, but it's possible.

"You can never rule anything out."

Injury list "speaks volumes" for character of players

Despite an injury dilemma at the club, Hale also outlined how they could hurt their top flight opposition.

He added: "The volume of the injuries and the seriousness of the injuries is one I've never experienced in football before, in terms of having that volume of players out for the length of time that they have been.

"I think it speaks volumes for the character of the players that we do have that we've still managed to maintain a level of consistency within that period where we've had 8-10 first team players out.

"Of those ten players who are missing, seven of them started the first game of the season against East Fife.

"We've got that ability to break at real speed. We're always threatening on the counter.

"Hopefully that can pose a challenge for Aberdeen, and we can execute those moments that we do have really well and the players can play with clarity and make good decisions.

"It would be great to get a goal and really give the crowd something to get behind on the day.

"We're looking forward to it."

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