| Although Dick has left his post as team boss at Brechin City to take over as manager of Partick Thistle, Ian has stepped into his brother’s shoes from his assistant’s role at Glebe Park and, while Dick’s side welcome St Johnstone to Firhill, Brechin host a visit from Morton.
Despite being sent off in Saturday’s 1-0 First Division defeat at St Mirren, Grant Johnson is eligible to play for Brechin.
And although City are a league higher than Morton, the Greenock side have won on cup business in recent years at Glebe Park and will be looking to triumph again. But Brechin want to keep their terrific record going in this event.
They haven’t enjoyed the best of fortune in the league, but a win tonight could springboard a change in First Division form as well as keeping their good record in this event intact.
ST JOHNSTONE are hoping the same applies to them when they go to face Partick.
They’ve lost three on the trot, in the First Division and CIS Insurance Cup to St Mirren and in the league to Airdrie United, and player-team boss Owen Coyle will make changes this evening.
One is forced upon him as defender Simon Mensing is suspended and, although Owen intimated “there might be a couple of changes”, he stressed there wouldn’t be “too many.”
Darren Sheridan has been one of Saints’ star performers so far this season.
And, despite being 37, the little midfield man gets about the park OK, stating emphaticaly that “I feel all right”.
Amazingly, he was once out of football for four years after Leeds released him when he was 18.
“I was 22 before I started playing again, re-starting my career with non-league Winsford United,” he added.
“I was four years there, then six at Barnsley, before going on to Wigan, Oldham, Clyde and now St Johnstone,” said the younger brother of ex-Leeds United and Republic of Ireland international player John Sheridan.
Darren is enjoying his spell with Saints and, despite their recent blips, is confident they will have a successful season which he wants to be part of.
Meanwhile, Owen said there have been “a couple of tentative inquiries” for Saints players from other clubs, but no business has yet been done.
He also intimated it was unlikely that Saints will be adding to their squad prior to the transfer deadline.
In tonight’s only tie featuring a Fife outfit, RAITH ROVERS are at home to Dumbarton.
After two successive away wins, Raith are looking to keep their winning form going at home. They’re likely to show little change from the starting line-up on duty in Saturday’s win over Partick at Firhill.
Brian Fairbairn did well after coming on as a substitute and may be handed a starting berth. But Scott Wilson and Derek Ferguson still miss out due to injuries. |
