Saints can lay some ghosts to rest

Mar 11 2013 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

Determined Graham Carey plans to be a Hampden ghostbuster this Sunday – if he gets the nod to feature in the Scottish Communities League Cup Final with Hearts.

The Irishman is one of only three current St Mirren players who experienced the nightmare of 2010, when the Paisley side lost the cup 1-0 to nine-man Rangers.

Left sided ace Carey, 23, was on loan to St Mirren from Celtic at the time and he admitted that it took him weeks to recover from the heartache of that defeat three years ago.

And the set-piece expert does not want to experience it again.

Carey said: “It still gives me nightmares. That was one that took a while to get over, especially as Rangers went down to nine men.

“We thought we’d have the legs to beat them but it wasn’t the case.

“It probably took me the rest of the season to get over that. It was a tough one.

“It’s not very often a club like St Mirren get to a final.

“And when you think about the opportunity we had then, playing a team with nine men, then losing, it’s a ghost we would very much like to bury.”

Carey’s only victory at Hampden so far in his career came against former club Celtic in the League Cup semi-final.

And he plans to extend the winning streak at the National Stadium this weekend.

He revealed: “Personally, I didn’t have a good record at Hampden prior to the semi-final.

“There were a few Youth Cup games but they never really went well. Hopefully, we can get the victory this week.

“It’s great that we have this opportunity so quickly, especially after the disappointment of 2010.”

Carey, though, knows opponents Hearts are going to prove a tough nut to crack.

Saints, though, do have the edge, having beaten the Jambos 2-0 in the league recently.

Carey warned: “We know it’s going to be tough game. We have to prepare right and be at our best.”

Saints go into Sunday on the back of a 0-0 SPL draw with Dundee United.

Carey said: “It was a tough game.

“Both teams are really quite balanced.

“I think a draw was a fair result as there wasn’t that many attempts on goal.”