Ramsdens Cup previews

Annan Athletic v Falkirk

Falkirk’s Technical Director Alex Smith is doing all he can to help manager Steven Pressley guide the Bairns to their first Challenge Cup Final since 2004 and he reckons that a couple of members of Craig Levein’s Scotland squad will be taking more than a passing notice in how his side gets on tomorrow afternoon at Galabank.

Smith said, “I was actually the opposing manager when Falkirk reached the Final at McDiarmid Park 7 years ago against Ross County. We had Don Cowie and Charlie Adam in our side that day and I am sure they will be smiling at me trying to help Falkirk get through after they beat us 2-1 that day.”

Despite their defeat Smith only has positive memories of the day saying, “It was a wonderful game of football and I still feel privileged to have managed a team in it. Don was a cracking young player in a good Ross County side. Falkirk were strong as well but we were winning 1-0.”

“I actually took Charlie off and put Sean Kilgallon on as I wanted to try something different to get us a second goal that would win the Final. Charlie had been playing well but the move almost worked as we created a chance really soon afterwards but missed it.”

Falkirk’s Neil Scally struck a thunderous leveller before the Bairns’ little magician Russell Latapy took over to devastating effect with Smith saying, “Russell had started off up front and we had squeezed him out of the game so much that he dropped into midfield. We squeezed him out there as well but when he started playing alongside their central defenders he started spraying passes into areas that hurt us and they scored again before the end.”

“It was a great occasion and whilst I was disappointed at County not winning I will be happy if Falkirk add to that success this season.”

Smith praised his Third Division opponents saying, “It is fantastic that Annan as a new club have reached their second semi-final in only four seasons as a SFL side. Their manager Harry Cairney has done a great job there, and you can tell that he has learned a lot during the time he spent playing for Dick Campbell at Brechin, but we will be looking to end their interest in this Cup.”

“We have a strong spine in our team with Michael McGovern, Darren Dods, Mark Millar and Farid El Alagui and they will have a huge role to play in this game against a side that are really dangerous especially from set pieces.”

Falkirk are missing injured defender Steven Kingsley and banned striker Ally Graham.

Third Division table toppers Annan are out to make up for a disappointing semi-final appearance against Dundee in the Challenge Cup 2 years ago when Falkirk visit Galabank.

Harry Cairney’s side went down limply 3-0 against a Jocky Scott side that went on to lift the trophy and Cairney wants to make sure his men give themselves a fighting chance this time out.

Cairney said, “We went up to Dens Park and went out pretty tamely. We really did not do well that day and I am looking for us to do a lot better this time out. We are at home and have had reports on Falkirk that have identified a couple of areas we may be able to exploit and all that will help.”

The Galabank boss knows that his side are massive underdogs saying, “Falkirk’s young players get a lot of attention but they have good experience in their team as well. Michael McGowan and Darren Dods form a solid backline and Kallum Higginbotham along with Farid El Alagui are very dangerous. We will approach this game like we did the Ayr one in the last round where we did more than okay.”

Annan are certainly going into the game with confidence with Cairney explaining, “We have won 9 out of our last ten matches so we are in great form and I am delighted that we are playing in the international break as it keeps the momentum going.”

Broken hand victim, defender Aaron Muirhead, is again ruled out, however Kevin Neilson returns after missing out in the 1-0 win at Berwick last weekend

Hamilton Accies v Livingston

Hamilton manager Billy Reid is urging his young players to grab the opportunity of being involved in a Cup Final by seeing off First Division rivals Livingston at New Douglas Park.

Reid said, “In my time with Hamilton Accies as a player and a manager the club have been involved in three Challenge Cup Finals. I won one as a player, was suspended as Hamilton won another, and then I was manager when we lost to St Mirren in 2005. They were all great occasions and it would be fantastic for the likes of Stephen Hendrie, Ali Crawford and Grant Gillespie to get that under their belts early in their career.”

“The First Division is our priority this season but this is a big game that we want to win as there a Final to keep us thinking about for a few months and that can only be a good thing.”

Reid is hoping that his men play to their potential to reach next April’s showdown as he said, “Our start to the season has been good but certainly not great and there is a lot more to come from us. Hopefully we can reach the levels we are capable of and see Livingston off in style.”

The Accies are able to bring Lee Kilday and Willie McLaren back into their squad after the pair were declared fit after coming through a reserve game in midweek unscathed.

Alex Neil and Kyle Wilkie will both miss out through injury and Reid will finalise his side after the result of Jordan Kilpatrick’s fitness test on Sunday is known.

Livingston manager Gary Bollan only featured in the Challenge Cup once as a player, ironically in a Clyde side managed by Billy Reid, and he is determined to put one over his old boss by knocking Hamilton out at New Douglas Park tomorrow.

Bollan said, “I was in the Scottish Cup Final with Dundee United and a League Cup Final with St Johnstone but never did much in the Challenge Cup. It is great to have the opportunity to do it as a manager after a couple of disappointing seasons in Cup competitions for Livingston.”

Bollan is hoping that the winning mentality his players have shown in lifting the Third and Second Division titles in successive seasons comes to the fore against Hamilton as he explained, “We have shown that we have a strong mind-set by winning the Third and Second Divisions. It would be great to use that again by winning this tie.”

“You could sense in training this week that the players are excited about this game, and now we need to turn that excitement into a performance.”

Livi will be without defender Cameron MacDonald with a knee injury and attacking midfielder Keaghan Jacobs and midfielder David Sinclair will be included in manager Bollan’s starting eleven if he passes a fitness test.