SAUCHIE boss Fraser Duncan hopes their Scottish Cup clash with Kilwinning Rangers can be a turning point in their season. 
The Wee County outfit face the daunting trip to Ayrshire this weekend following a disappointing 4-1 loss at Carnoustie in their previous match, and the gaffer admits his players must raise their game for this season-defining clash.
Duncan told Advertiser sport: “I'm looking for a big reaction from the defeat at Carnoustie. I don't think there was an outfield player who got pass marks in the game and it was only really Ross Harkness in goals who kept the score from being a lot worse. Missing Morgy and Morri in midfield was huge for us and we really struggled in there, so it will be great to have them back for the trip to Kilwinning. We just have to write it off as a bad day at the office and move on.  The players are all hurting from the Carnoustie game, but they certainly don't need any extra motivation for this one. Every player wants to play on Scottish Cup weekend and so I know we will go there and give it our all. We will of course look to make changes for this one as we know it will be a difficult one to progress from, but if we can come out of the match with the win then it will be a huge lift for us. I am hopeful that this game might just be a turning point in our season and something that will allow to kick on from here in a big way.”
Duncan's men left as 3-1 victors on their last visit to Abbey Park back in the 2014 Scottish Cup round four clash, but he is well aware of the difficult task awaiting his men in Ayrshire.
The Beechwood Park boss has had his squad in for extra sessions this week in the build up and he admits the famous competition means the world to the club. 
He said: “The Scottish Cup means everything to the club. Myself and Davie love to get a Scottish Cup run because it provides a lift for the club for the whole season. We have only gone out of the Scottish Cup once before xmas in my time here and that was last year against Largs so we must make sure that does not happen again. 

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Duncan puts his Sauchie players through their paces at trainingDuncan puts his Sauchie players through their paces at training


“Of course, Kilwinning is always a difficult place to go and they will no doubt push us to our limits, but we have been working hard in training with extra sessions this week and I am confident the guys can put things right. The fans are always right on top of you down there so it can be an intimidating venue to go, but when we went there last time we managed to come away with a great win at a time when they were flying and hopefully we can do that again this time. The only one worry is that some of the younger lads freeze in that kind of cauldron atmosphere, but we are working hard in training to make sure they are prepared for that.”
The former Ipswich Town trainee is still desperately looking to bolster his squad over the coming month, but admits the prospect of not being in the cup after the weekend is not something he wants to contemplate. 
Duncan added: “I am still always looking to add to the squad, but I think it will boost the calibre of player we can attract if we can stay in the cup beyond Xmas. It is always a difficult job to lift the players after being knocked out of the cup and that experience last season is a situation we want to avoid this year.”