ANNAN Athletic travel to the southside of Glasgow on Monday night to face Pollok in the second round of the Scottish Cup, and the tie at Newlandsfield Park will be shown live on BBC Scotland.
Pollok breezed past Huntly 6-1 in the first round of the competition in front of a packed home crowd.
The game will be tough for the Black and Golds against the West of Scotland Premier League outfit. And the television cameras will add glamour to the occasion, attracting a large audience.
However, Annan are used to all of the aforementioned, just last year they experienced cup jubilation against a West of Scotland team, when Iain Anderson scored a winner in the 120th minute at Clydebank, the win set up a money-spinning fifth round tie in front of the Premier Sports cameras at Galabank against eventual cup winners Rangers, the Ibrox side won 3-0.
Annan manager Peter Murphy is fully aware of the threat that Pollok pose and he knows that they will prove to be a tough opposition.
There are many quality players plying their trade in the lower leagues, especially since the formation of the new pyramid, whereby teams from the West have a clear route through to the SPFL.
But the boss pointed towards the Clydebank victory last campaign, proving Annan know how to navigate through the tricky cup ties.
Murphy said: “They are a good side in the lower leagues who are well backed.
“It will be a tough atmosphere, but we went to Clydebank in last year’s competition and did well.
On the presence of the TV cameras, Murphy added: “I’m sure the players will love it, for me it’s another game and I need to make the players aware that it will be tough.
“Some players that we were after went to teams below because they are paying wages that we’re not.
“There is plenty to play for, for both teams, they have very good players and we know full well these teams are good.
“If we’re at it we should win the game, but it’s not going to be easy.”
Kick off on Monday is at 7.45 pm live on BBC Scotland.
