Liam Craig targets a cup scalp

Jan 9 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

LIAM Craig admits Perth players are relishing the prospect of matching themselves against Rangers again, reports Gordon Bannerman.

And if Saints are to triumph in Tuesday’s all-ticket tie, they’ll have to do it the hard way.

Craig insist there’s no chance of Rangers anticipating a stroll in the park on Tuesday.

And he fully expects Ibrox manager Walter Smith to field his strongest eleven.

Craig successfully converted a penalty in the Hampden semi-final shoot-out last year and believes that scare will influence Smith’s thinking ahead of the Homecoming Scottish Cup clash at McDiarmid.

“No one gave us a chance going into that game at Hampden but we matched them all the way.

“It’s up to Rangers what they do team-wise and Walter is a great manager with a squad of very good players

“He knows how good we are and he certainly won’t treat us lightly.

“I believe we have a team here that’s good enough to play in the SPL.

“That’s why I came here from Falkirk. The gaffer, Derek McInnes, and Tony Docherty were also big factors in my decision to stay after initially arriving on loan. I love coming into work here.

“No disrespect to Falkirk but a top six SPL finish would be massive for them.

“Here, I’m part of a team trying to win a title.”

He remains one of the options to fill-in at left-back if on-loan Paul Hanlon is, as expected, unavailable.

And Craig, who got just 60 minutes in the manager’s favoured midfield role before injury prompted a shake-up last time out against Clyde, admits he’s ready to answer the call.

“There are options with Graham Gartland coming in and Steven Anderson fit again. But I’m happy to play anywhere.

“I’m looking forward to another big cup game with Rangers.

“In April I found myself playing at Hampden for the first time and it was in a semi-final in front of a massive crowd.

“I could have been playing for Falkirk reserves at the Linlithgow Juniors ground so it was brilliant for me.”

Saints fans have savoured three cup semi-finals and a Challenge Cup win in recent years but Craig hopes the current team can deliver a memorable scalp.

“There should be a great atmosphere and while the league is our priority we want to put in a good performance and win it for our fans. We owe it to the supporters and ourselves.

“We have gone 14 games unbeaten and it would be brilliant to take it to 15 against a side as good as Rangers.”

Five-goal Craig successfully converted a spot-kick in the Hampden shoot-out and he’s ready to step-up again on Tuesday.

“I like taking penalties and so does Paul Sheerin. If I am at left-back and Nuts is ahead of me in midfield I’ll have to move fast to grab the ball if we do get a penalty!

SAINTS have now sold nearly 3000 tickets for Tuesday’s cup game. The McDiarmid ticket office will be open today, Monday and Tuesday for season ticket holders and voucher holders to secure briefs. There is no public sale to assist with segregation.