Excitement reaches fever pitch as cup final approaches

Mar 15 2013 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

Excitement is reaching fever pitch ahead of this weekend’s League Cup Final ... and St Mirren fans are hoping Sunday’s big day out at Hearts will have a silver lining.

The Buddies can claim the famous old trophy for the first time in the club’s history if they defeat Hearts.

And messages of support for Danny Lennon and his players have been pouring in from the Paisley faithful.

Gregor Lansbury, from Renfrew, e-mailed to say: “I just want to wish the Saints all the best for Sunday.

“They’ve done so well to make it through to the final and I hope they can now go on to win the trophy as they deserve it.

“My message to the players is to make sure you give everything you have from the first whistle to the last.

“If you do that, you’ll be heroes in my eyes – no matter what the result is.”

And Jane Harrison, of Seedhill, Paisley, added: “I can’t wait to get to Hampden for the big game.

“I’m going with friends and family and I’m sure it will be a day to remember.

“If Saints win the cup, I reckon the party in Paisley will go on for a week.

“Come on you Saints!”

Fans have also taken to Twitter to have their say on the big game.

Alan Gallacher (@Gally87) kicked things off when he Tweeted: “Smoke billowing from the chimney can mean only one thing ... Danny Lennon has picked his team and burnt the evidence! #stmirren #breakinghearts.”

David Nicol(@DJ_Nicol) is hoping for some divine intervention on Sunday.

He Tweeted: “Black and white smoke out of the Vatican all week – the new Pope must be a Buddie! #waveofsupport #marchingintogether #believesmfc.”

Die-hard Saints fan Holly McCormack (@Hollz2012) is certainly ready for a Hampden roar.

She said: “When the Saints go up to win the League Cup, I’ll be there!”

Sheila Connolly, from Paisley, is taking her two sons to the game and can’t wait to see history being made.

She said: “This week has felt like the run-up to Christmas.

“I can’t wait for Sunday. I’m pumped up for it and have a wee feeling that it’s going to be our day.”

Paisley man Charles McGuinness added: “It’s got to be our year. We’ll never have a better chance of wining the cup.

“I’m going for a 3-1 win, with Paul McGowan, Stevie Thompson and Esmael Goncalves the scorers.”

David Stoker (@davidstoker_lfc), meanwhile, has praised the Buddies for the way they handled the cup final ticket debacle.

The Scottish Football League left Saints chiefs fuming by handing Hearts 3,500 West Stand tickets which had been earmarked for Paisley fans.

After a wave of outrage, however, league chiefs agreed to release another 600 briefs to St Mirren.

And club bosses appeased those fans who had been caught up in the fiasco by offering them cut-price admission to the SPL game against Celtic at the end of the month.

David said: “Hats off to St Mirren on their statement about cup final tickets. Turning a negative into a positive.”