Brewster weighs up the opposition

caley thistle manager expects a difficult encounter at home to partick thistle in fourth round

By Paul Third

Published:

Craig Brewster already has the lowdown on his Scottish Cup opponents after seeing them in action a week ago.

The Inverness Caley Thistle manager made the short trip to Dingwall last Tuesday to watch Partick Thistle, his side’s opponents at Caledonian Stadium in the fourth round, lose 1-0 to Ross County.

Brewster saw enough of Ian McCall’s side to know his team faces a difficult afternoon on January 10 if they are to reach the last 16 of the competition. He said: “The home draw is the most important thing and I am sure Partick will make it difficult for us. They will come north hoping to take a Premier League scalp and we will have to be at our best to ensure it doesn’t happen.

“I watched them at County last week and Derek Adams’s side played very well on the night and deserved their win, but a cup tie is a completely different game.

“This club has a good history in the Scottish Cup and I would love to enjoy a good run in the competition as manager here. It’s our national competition, there is always a buzz about the tournament and we want to do well, but I am sure Partick will be hoping to do well this season, too.”

Peterhead’s reward for knocking Morton out of the competition on Saturday is a home tie in the fourth round against fellow Second Division side Queen’s Park. Blue Toon manager Neale Cooper admits his board would have wanted Scottish Premier League opponents but he hopes to give them an extended run in the competition and, hopefully, SPL opposition in the future.

He said: “From a financial point of view I am sure the chairman would have loved a SPL team but, as the manager, I am not too disappointed at getting Queen’s Park at home.

“With home advantage we have a good chance of reaching the last 16 and, hopefully, there are more big games to come in this tournament for us this season.”

The Peterhead manager believes avoiding a trip to Hampden to face the Spiders is key to his team’s hopes of winning the tie.

He said: “Had we been drawn away it would have been a really tough one for us but we have a good record at Balmoor this season which we can take confidence from.

“Gardner Speirs has his team well organised and games against them have always been close but, hopefully, we can do enough to get through.”

Peterhead v Queen’s Park

St Johnstone v Rangers

Raith Rovers or Alloa v Aberdeen

Falkirk v Queen of the South

Airdrie v Elgin City or Spartans

Inverurie Locos or Vale of Leithen v Motherwell

Ross County or Dumbarton v Hamilton

Forfar or Stranraer v Forres Mechanics or Dalbeattie Star

Caley Thistle v Partick Thistle

Celtic v Dundee

East Stirlingshire v Dundee United

Stenhousemuir v East Fife

Hibernian v Hearts

Lochee United or Ayr United v Kilmarnock

Dunfermline v Clyde

Edinburgh City or Brechin City v St Mirren

Ties on January 10 and 11