St. Johnstone will need to shrug off the disappointment of losing 4-0 to Aberdeen last weekend in the Semi-Final of the Scottish League Cup to see off Forfar in the William Hill Scottish Cup on the artificial surface at Station Park.
Just to make sure the tie has an extra level of spice nearly half of the Loons used to be Saints players and they will be looking to take advantage of any present day Perth player feeling sorry for themselves.
Centre back Stuart Malcom is one of the former McDiarmid Park players and he is looking forward to the chance of locking horns with his former employer.
Malcolm said: “I started my career off at St. Johnstone and that seems a very long time ago. Paul Sturrock was the manager when I went there aged either 16 or 17 as an apprentice and then Sandy Clark took over.”
“I am not alone at Station Park as a former St. Johnstone player as Darren Dods, Martyn Fotheringham, Gavin Swankie and Mark Baxter where all there as well. There are a few of us but I was probably the one that had the most frustrating time there due to the injuries I picked up.”
“I was with St. Johnstone for 7 seasons but it was not a great time for me as I had a number of bad injuries. I did get to play in the first team once, and it was a big game as we played Celtic at McDiarmid Park.”
Malcolm added: “We lost 2-0 but more disappointingly I never played for the first team again and in fact never played football for two years after that. I moved down to Plymouth before playing with Ross County, Alloa, Montrose and Arbroath before joining Forfar for a second time last summer.”
The centre back has featured in games against the Perth club before as he explained: “I have played against St Johnstone when I was with Ross County a few times. I remember the first game really well as I got an absolute mauling from Mixu Paatelainen. That was back in the First Division and they won 3-0 at our place.”
“We got a draw at McDiarmid in December 2003 and then won down at their place 2-0 but I missed that game as I had been sent off against Clyde the week before. I only played against them once the next season and they won that one 1-0 at Victoria Park.”
Malcolm is looking forward to Saturday’s clash saying: “I not sure what the team will be but whatever eleven players Forfar send out Forfar will be going all out to give them a good contest. Our manager Dick Campbell will want us to attack and he knows how to generate a cup-tie atmosphere all on his own.”
“He knows what will be needed for us to be successful and he will work hard on getting us into shape to do it.”
Events at Tynecastle last Saturday could have an impact as Malcolm explained: “We have to hope that they have a hangover from their 4-0 defeat from Aberdeen in their Scottish League Cup semi-final last weekend. I would prefer that to them coming out extra determined to make someone pays for denying them a Cup Final place.”
“They are a good top flight side and have been for a number of years. Everyone connected with Forfar will want to make sure that they do not bounce back too highly against us.”
Campbell’s side have had a mixed 2014 as he started with bang with rousing wins over Brechin City and Stenhousemuir however that was followed by defeats from Rangers and East Fife and a draw last weekend with Airdrie.
Malcolm said: “We have had a couple of disappointing results after a good performance but disappointing result against Rangers. Against East Fife and then Airdrie we never reached the standards we had reached against Rangers or in the games just before that against Brechin City and Stenhousemuir.”
“However we have good players here and good experience here so we will be looking to bounce back as well.”
That experience will be tested against the Saints as Malcolm explained: “Stevie May he is getting a lot of plaudits and that is only right as he is a right good player. I am sure he will move on to bigger things however hopefully Darren, Marvin Andrews and I can find a way to keep him out.”
“It is good to be the young player at the middle of our defence as they are both older than me however they are top players. They have both played at a very high level and in the case of Marvin an international level so they are very experienced.”
“They are excellent professionals and have looked after themselves very well. They have shown everyone at Station Park that you can have a good long career in football. It obviously helps when you still enjoy playing like they do.”
Malcolm is also enjoying playing regularly after so many interruptions due to injuries throughout his career as he explained: “This is my first full season at Forfar after a disappointing time here a few seasons ago. I think I played 8 games and then had to take a break from playing due to a groin injury.”
“It is case of second time lucky although I have to admit we have been hot and cold this season. On form we are a strong and dangerous side as we showed when we went to Glebe Park at the New Year and won 5-1 but we know that we let ourselves down against East Fife and then Airdrie.”
Beating St. Johnstone could have other benefits with Malcolm saying: “A win in the Scottish Cup would give us a real platform to push on and go for promotion as well. That is the level we should be looking at. We had a disappointing start to the League 1 season but had a good run in the second quarter of games.”
“We know our points total is not what it should be and will be doing all we can to change that after the St Johnstone game.”
It is the second season running that Malcolm has been involved in a high profile cup tie and he is hoping to go one better this year after giving the eventual winners a real fright.
Malcolm said: “I played against Celtic last season for Arbroath and was involved in what was the worst goal ever. I kicked the ball off Alex Keddie’s backside and it went into the goal at Parkhead.”
“However we scored a late goal to earn a replay which was a great result. That was the type of result that sums up Cup football and it is a day that I am sure Arbroath will long remember and the Chairman certainly appreciated.”
“We lifted our game and they were below their best and the same thing happened in the replay on a really frosty night at Gayfield. We lost 1-0 to a much better goal when Adam Matthews thumped the ball home but we deserved extra time that night.”
Malcolm finished by saying: “Hopefully Forfar will get what they deserve against St Johnstone.”
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