Saints are big game hunting

Mar 18 2008

DEREK McINNES was in bullish mood yesterday as the countdown began to the Scottish Cup quarter final replay with St Mirren.

The Perth manager took in Sunday’s dramatic CIS Cup final involving two former clubs and he’s longing for Saints to repeat last term’s Hampden Park visit for a semi-final date with Rangers or Partick.

Saints got in tune for tonight’s Paisley encounter with an impressive show against Livingston but McInnes knows they’ll have to notch-up performance levels for a trip to SPL territory.

But he isn’t buying into the theory that the Perth Saints blew their chance by letting the Buddies snatch a replay in a 1-1 result posted at McDiarmid.

McInnes said: “I’m desperate for us to do well in this tournament. I can’t wait for this match. The players are the same. We served the competition well last season. That showed it could be done and we ran Celtic, the eventual winners, very close.

“To get to that stage you have to beat decent teams and St Mirren are a good, solid SPL side. The challenge is the same as the one we faced in the first game. It will be tough but we have SPL class players and I want them to prove it.

“This is comparable to ties away to Falkirk and Motherwell last season. I am confident about the game, if we are right up for it from the start. We are playing with a real sense of purpose. But it is important to start well again.

“St Mirren will be labelled favourites in a lot of eyes but I don’t buy into the theory that we have lost our chance. The prize at stake is still the same. We have always been a good home side but now we are better away from Perth.

“The attitude and desire, on top of easy on the eye football, was there to see at Livi.

“We were a bit wasteful but we created lots of chances. Now we have to deal with a good St Mirren side.”

Goran Stanic (achilles) and Kevin Rutkiewicz (back) are set to return tonight from injury but Steven Anderson is suspended.

Experienced defender Allan McManus will link-up again with travelling companion Rutkiewicz at the core of the Perth defence.

McManus remarked: “Since I have come here the only man I haven’t had an extended run alongside is Dinky.

“I feel we have been doing well together recently. He has been outstanding since the turn of the year.

“I have the jersey at the moment and the gaffer has shown it’s down to players in possession to keep it.

“I don’t intend to give it up lightly. There is a lot of competition for places. I thought maybe we had too many players but it’s been shown the squad is needed.

“It’s good being back in the side. The first time I was benched I felt it was a bit harsh. But I had no complaints after the Queens game. It is either curl up and die or work harder in these situations. I chose to work harder.

“When you get older and more experienced, there’s no team you fear, especially with these boys beside you. You give rivals a healthy respect. We will have to concentrate all the time and will have to be at the top end of our game to progress. But when we reach that level we can compete with any team in Scotland.”

McManus believes the recruitment of one-time Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris has proved a masterstroke by McInnes.

He said: “It is unbelievable having a player like Jody here. I am completely baffled by it. Each day I ask him what he is doing here!

“He might not be 100 per cent fit but the boy can play. He has such a wealth of knowledge and experience that younger guys like Rocco Quinn and Liam Craig are getting a great chance to learn from a player who has been at the top .

“At my age I’d love another cup semi-final. We’re all sick talking about how close we came last year. So it would be nice to get another chance at Hampden.”

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TICKETS are on sale at a Love Street kiosk before tonight’s &.45pm cup tie. They are also available from McDiarmid until 5pm today. Saints are expecting to take around 700 fans to Paisley.