MacPherson says Ogilvie agrees new rule is required

ST MIRREN manager Gus MacPherson hopes the elation of their Homecoming Scottish Cup triumph over Motherwell will carry them through the physical challenge of today's clash with Hearts.

Less than 42 hours after Billy Mehmet's solitary strike set up a quarter-final clash with Celtic, Saints will line up at Tynecastle on Clydesdale Bank Premier League duty.

Hearts refused St Mirren's request for the game to be played tomorrow after their cup replay was moved for satellite television broadcast.

"It's certainly easier going into the game because you have won," MacPherson said. "Spirit is not a problem in the dressing room, but I certainly much prefer going into this game on the back of a victory.

"We have just got to keep playing in the manner in which we have. You enjoy the win for maybe half an hour, but then you are switching back into preparations for Saturday's game against Hearts.

"We have left that to the medical department and the sports scientists. The players were in this morning having a recovery session in the swimming pool. That's really all you can do when the games are so close together.

"We'll make one or two changes just to freshen things up. That's inevitable; it's no slight on the performance we had on Thursday. But we look forward to going to Tynecastle because it's a fantastic venue."

MacPherson has called for a rule to be put in place to ensure there is no repeat of Saints' plight. And he has an unlikely ally in the shape of Hearts managing director Campbell Ogilvie, who turned down St Mirren's request so Hearts fans and sponsors would not be inconvenienced.

MacPherson said: "To take the awkwardness out of it, you must have a ruling place now; that for any reason a game is played on a Thursday, the following league game should be played on a Sunday.

"It was Campbell Ogilvie who suggested it to me. He is on quite a few committees and is a very well respected administrator in football. It's common sense. I can understand why Hearts don't want to move it, but I think for football it's better to move it."

Taken from the Scotsman