Watt worries? Renwick is ready to push his students

MICHAEL RENWICK, the former Hibs defender who is now head coach of Heriot-Watt University, has guided his side into fourth spot in the Central Taxis Premier Division and wants to ensure his students maintain that lofty position until the end of the season.

Tomorrow, Heriot-Watt meet fellow contenders for a top-half finish when they entertain Preston Athletic at Riccarton Campus, a side that they lost 3-1 to at Prestonpans only four weeks ago.

"I thought we were very unfortunate to lose that game by what looks like a big margin," said Renwick.

"With the score at 1-1 we had a great opportunity to go ahead and suddenly, from us thinking we could win the game and pick up all three points, Preston scored two goals in stoppage time. All three of Preston's goals were avoidable."

The students warmed up for this return clash with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory last weekend against Ormiston after the teams had finished goalless in the first round of the King Cup.

Renwick is looking forward to meeting Preston again and is hopeful that four players who were unavailable last Saturday will make it for tomorrow. Erik Thomson, Ross Leask, Lars Berger and Ryan Wilkie all hope to be in contention for the game which, with a win for the students, would open up a nine-point gap between the two clubs.

"It's back to league business tomorrow and we are definitely looking upwards in the table," added Renwick. "I genuinely believe that we should be in a higher position in the Premier Division. We have dropped avoidable points when we have been on top of teams and that is something we have to address.

"I will have a more or less full squad tomorrow which gives me loads of choices. Preston have proven goalscorers in Kevin Haynes and Stuart Miller so we will have to be very wary of them. They are a very competitive side and, at present, I think that they are in a false position in the league table. I know we will have to perform at our best to take anything from the game."

In the Preston camp, manager Stevie Myatt reflected on his side's recent win against the students when he said: "Heriot-Watt were in the lead and we eventually won with a late goal and another even later goal in what was a tough game.

"Tomorrow will be similar with the points meaning so much to both clubs in terms of league positions. There are six or seven teams in the middle area of the Premier Division and all of them are trying to move up the table. Any team which goes on a winning run can achieve that and we want to be that club and clear up any misunderstandings that Preston Athletic are having a disappointing season."

Preston beat Edinburgh University 1-0 in extra-time last Saturday in the King Cup and Myatt added: "It was another tight, competitive game between two very even sides and we had to be really up for the game. We've done a bit of talking in these past ten weeks or so because of the weather and we've tried to get through to the players that they should be hurting a bit because we showed so much promise in early season.

"We are now in a new year and have changed the shape of the team in our three games in which we have not been beaten over ninety minutes."

Myatt has, in essence, a front four of Haynes, Miller, Craig Manson and Gary Docherty to give Preston a very attacking formation.

"I will be asking my players to give me similar performances to the previous three games this year and I can sense a real determination about them."

Matt Costello is definitely out although regular goalkeeper Ross Gilpin returns from holiday.

The action kicks off at Riccarton at 2.30pm with admission 3 for adults and 10 for concessions.