East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy insists he is delighted to land the toughest tie possible in the third round of the Scottish Cup after being drawn at home to Championship leaders Falkirk next month.
Lowland League champions Kilby knocked an SPFL side out of competition for the third time this season on Saturday when they sent League Two Bonnyrigg Rose crashing out in a 3-1 win, adding to the scalps of Cove Rangers and Airdrie in the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Now their biggest test so far awaits on the weekend of November 30 after Sunday’s Scottish Cup draw at Hampden paired them with John McGlynn’s high-flying Bairns.
There is also an added edge to the tie for Kennedy, with Falkirk being the side who knocked his Darvel team out of the competition in 2023 when they had just stunned Aberdeen.
On the draw, Kennedy said: “On paper, it is probably the toughest tie we could have got with Falkirk sitting top of the Championship.
“They have started really well under John McGlynn so it will be difficult for us but it is a good occasion for everyone to get them at home.
“John is an exceptional manager, a really gifted coach, who has a distinct style of play, but we won’t be overawed by that and we’ll look forward to the challenge.
“I remember at Darvel, we played Falkirk in the Scottish Cup after we’d put out Aberdeen. It was 2-1 in the game and we looked like the most likely to get the next goal until we went down to 10 men, which really took the game away from us [in a 5-1 loss].
“But it will be a big day for East Kilbride and we’re all excited.”
Kennedy says he is also relishing the chance to pit his wits against veteran gaffer McGlynn, who guided Falkrik to the League One title and won the PFA Manager of the Year last season for an invincible season with the Bairns, beating the likes of Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers to the gong.
Kennedy added: “John is one of those people I have so much admiration for, with how he sets his teams up to play.
“They have a very expansive style, they like to dominate possession, so it is very similar to what we like to do as well.
“It will be a real challenge for us as a coaching team to try and find a solution to try and win the game, but that’s what it is all about.”