Wee Sauchie boss Stuart McInnes hopes for big things after Edinburgh United draw

That’s certainly how it felt for Reds boss Stuart McInnes on Saturday when the community club talisman stepped off the bench to score in their first game in nearly six months. 

Sauchie’s Junior team were denied a win over Edinburgh United by a last-gasp equaliser at Lornshill Academy, but that didn’t stop McInnes from seeing the bright side. 

The gaffer was able to hand debuts to a number of summer recruits, including Sean Preston and Scott Bruce, and was delighted to see his side come through the challenge unscathed. 

READ MORE: Wee Sauchie gaffer Stuart McInnes looks forward to bright future for Clacks club

McInnes told Advertiser Sport: “It was weird circumstances but everything, touchwood, went alright. 

“We got there and the procedure was no changing facilities, we had to take people’s temperature before the game, and had the hand gel in place for everyone before and after. 

“It seemed to go really well. We also had staggered arrival times for the guys. 

“Everyone got on the pitch, which was the main thing for me and we had no injuries as well.

“Edinburgh were really high-flying before lockdown and we knew it would be a tough game.” 

Kleinman, who excelled in his first season in Clacks last time out, opened the scoring for a dominant Sauchie when he rounded the visitor’s goalkeeper and found the net. 

“The game went as I thought it would,” McInnes said. “Edinburgh came out like a whirlwind in the first 20 minutes until we weathered the storm and got our identity back.

“Between the 15th minute and the 75th minute, we were the better team, had the better structure, and the better chances." 

McInnes continued: “I was really happy with how it went. They scored in the last couple of minutes, which is never good for morale. 

“But, I said to the boys: ‘look, we are playing against a good level of opposition who looked really sharp. 

“We have five games before the league starts and plenty of time to get ready’.

“All of the boys were very happy and all in all, with 11 debutants or so, there was no failing. 

“They all played the formation they were asked and did what we needed them to do.

“I was really happy with the new boys. 

“Sometimes when you bring people in they are used to playing a certain way, but at this level you have a wee bit more responsibility than you do at amateur level.

“The biggest compliment I got at the end of the game was the Edinburgh management congratulating us and telling us we’d have a very good season.” 

He added: “Kleinman came on and Edinburgh couldn’t handle it. His goal was superb. 

“He beat two defenders, rounded the keeper, and then lobbed a defender on the line.” 

Wee Sauchie, who will play in a newly formed East Region ‘superleague’ this season, will return to action on Saturday when they visit Burntisland Shipyard. 

The challenges come thick and fast for McInnes’ men, but he wouldn’t have it any other way as he gears up to take the Reds’ ‘feeder team’ to the next level. 

READ MORE: Wee Sauchie forge ahead after encouraging start

“We want to go and play against teams who mix it up,” he said. “Edinburgh were a really fast, sharp team.

“I was very conscientious of that when I made the decision to play these teams. 

“We are playing teams who want to finish high up in the league.”