Cup draw makes Hearts first big guns at Hampden

MARTIN McMILLAN August 12 2005

Billy Stark, the Queen's Park manager, has declared himself comfortable with the prospect of taking on Scotland's most in-form side.

The draw for the second round of the CIS Insurance Cup paired the Glasgow-based amateurs with Hearts, current leaders of the Bank of Scotland Premierleague, who were last at the national stadium in April, when they lost to Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

George Burley, the Hearts manager, has been busy signing players, and has also tied up Scotland midfielder Paul Hartley on an extended deal.

Stark is not fazed by the prospect of taking on Hearts, who have scored four goals in both their games this season. He said: "A hundred people out of a hundred would look on that as Hearts being overwhelming favourites and us having no chance.

"As long as you perform to the best of your ability then nobody can ask any questions."

The former St Johnstone manager will take time away from the third-division programme to assess Hearts. But he admitted: "It might be a completely new team by the time they get here, as they have already signed half-a-dozen new faces. They are the most talked-about team in the media at the moment and have had a flying start to the season.

"They will relish coming to Hampden. They will look at that big terrific pitch out there as conducive to the type of football they have already been producing."

Hearts were one of eight top-flight sides in the draw, which did not feature the four clubs who have been involved in European competition.

Dunfermline will probably not be relishing their south-west trip to the border to take on Gretna. The experienced Jamie McQuilken said: "We played Dunfermline in a pre-season game and did reasonably well in that, so we will know what to expect from them, and being at home gives us an advantage."

Veteran striker and coach Andy Smith said: "Not only me, but David Bingham and David Nicholls were with Dunfermline and will look forward to coming up against one of their former clubs. We played Dundee United in the Scottish last season and it was a great night. We are all looking forward to the occasion."

The draw threw up a local derby in the shape of Hamilton's short trip to Motherwell. Hamilton manager Billy Reid said: "A great game for the club and for the fans. This is one everyone, our players and our fans, will look forward to."

Secretary Scott Struthers added: "We played Motherwell in the Scottish Cup in 1997 and there were 8000 at the game. It was a tremendous atmosphere, and so was the replay. Our fans will be up for this one."

Clyde manager Graham Roberts, after seeing his side head for Peterhead, said: "I was told when I came up here that it would be like all home games, for our opponents would be in the central belt. But since I came we have been on the road all the time."

Draw

Motherwell v Hamilton Academicals
Peterhead v Clyde
Aberdeen v Berwick Rangers
Gretna v Dunfermline Athletic
Ross County v Ayr United
Raith Rovers v Livingston
Kilmarnock v Stirling Albion
St Johnstone v St Mirren
Falkirk v Partick Thistle
Stranraer v Dundee
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Alloa Athletic
Queen's Park v Hearts

Ties to be played 23rd and 24th August


Taken from the Herald