JACK ROSS has told his Alloa Athletic players to focus on being just two games away from the Betfred Cup final as they prepare for mission impossible against Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow (Wednesday). 

The Wasps have seen off the likes of Inverness Caley Thistle, Ross County and Raith Rovers to reach the quarter final stage of the competition and the gaffer believes that experience means his men are battle hardened for this one. 

The game will be screened live on BT Sport tonight (Wednesday), but he is not only certain his in-form squad can handle the occasion, but reckons they could even pull off a shock if things fall right for them on the night.

Ross told Advertiser Sport: “We can really start to look forward to the Celtic game now. We have known about it for a while now, but only really spoken about it in terms of the necessary logistics.

"It will be good to now focus on it as a match. We trained on Monday to allow us the best possible preparation for it and I took in the Inverness game on Sunday, as it was an ideal chance to see them in the flesh for the first time.

"Our approach doesn’t change, although the team selection might. We have had to win five games to get to this point and some hard ones in there, so I have told my players to look at it that we are two games away from a cup final.

“Wednesday’s game is a brilliant game for us to enjoy. Parkhead is a place I never got tired of going to play at because it is a real fantastic arena.

"The players have to go there and make sure they have their heads held high and their chest out just to deal with the occasion. We will also need things to fall for us on the night, but we will go and have a go because nothing is impossible.”


CHARACTER

Ross admits he was delighted with the battling qualities on display from his team last weekend as they fought back from a goal down to overcome Queen’s Park in a feisty encounter at Hampden Park. 

And he believes the way they scrapped their way to all three points despite them not being at their best can only be a good sign for the rest of the season. 

He said: “I am delighted with the result against Queens Park. There hasn’t been too many times this year where I haven’t been pleased with both the performance and the result, but I don’t think we were at our best.

"In fairness, that had a lot to do with how well Queen’s Park played and I thought they were good. They made it hugely difficult for us and even more so when they went in front. 

"We haven’t created a lot in the game, and our normal game of exploiting the wide areas was very difficult this one. We changed things at half time and even then it didn’t look like being our day, but the character we showed as a group was terrific and these are the types of result that help you have a good season.

“The game was difficult and I think that is down to teams now seeing us more and trying to find ways to stop us. That is a compliment to how we have started, but that is something we now have to assess as a staff going forward.

"The game was frustrating at times, but it only becomes heated because you have two sets of players and coaching staff that care and are desperate to win the game and I don’t mind that at all.

"The ruckus is something that happens, but it maybe worked in our favour in that it possibly sparked something with our players, but it certainly wasn’t by design.”


GORDON'S RETURN

The 40-year-old ex-St Mirren star raided his former club for defender Ben Gordon on-loan and he was delighted to see the immediate impact from the fan’s favourite. 

The popular centre back left the Wasps in May 2014 and only joined the Paisley outfit in the summer, so the manager admits he was shocked to find out about his availability. 

Ross added: “Ben Gordon’s goal line clearance was crucial for us. These are the type of moments that define games and that one certainly did. I thought we looked pretty solid defensively and Ben is a top defender who slotted in well for us. 

"He was pleased not only to play the ninety minutes, but also to contribute to the win. When we built the squad, it was always the one missing area for us. At the same time, I didn’t want to bring someone in unless I thought it would strengthen us. 

“That is not always easy, but Ben’s availability, although slightly surprising, made it a no-brainer.

"It was quite hard work to get it over the line, but the player is delighted with it as well and he is with us for over 90 days so he’s a great addition to the squad while we have him. It now gives us three really good centre halves so I can't complain.”