Two fans of Hearts and St Mirren preview the League Cup final

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ON Sunday Hearts or St Mirren will lift the Scottish League Cup. Something we don't get to say often.

Hearts have not won the famous three handled trophy for 50 years. The Saints are yet to get their hands on it.

Following in the footsteps of Kilmarnock's triumph last year though, we are set for another historic occasion, with the trophy bypassing Ibrox and Parkhead on the way to either Paisley or Edinburgh.

Hearts-daft Matthew Harold, and Saints fan Holly McCormack, put their cards on the table and tell us how they're getting ready for the Hampden showdown, and who is going to win.

Does the managerial uncertainty at Hearts give St Mirren an advantage?

Holly: A few weeks ago Saints beat Hearts in the league and whilst this should've potentially been ideal preparation - it was ultimately the final nail in John McGlynns coffin. Coupled with ongoing financial situation in Edinburgh then on paper Saints should certainly have an advantage.

Things don't tend to follow logic in reality and particularly where St Mirren are concerned. The match will be a very even game but think the bigger advantage held by Saints is having higher quality players, many with crucial experience.

Matthew: It certainly has helped Hearts, knowing that Gary Locke will be leading the side out at Hampden.

The chaos that would have reigned if Peter Houston had been given the job prior to the final would have been unthinkable.

What are your views on the uneven ticket split?

Holly: The main gripe with the whole debacle was that the decision to hand over 3500 family priced tickets to Hearts without prior consultation and at that time, Saints had just 100 tickets left and were unable to heed warning to families, who weren't going to pay £30 a ticket even for children.

The board acted quickly and appeased the Saints support. Selling the tickets was never the issue but to be considered as equals. Over 15,000 Buddies are going to the game and it'll be the biggest black and white crowd since 1987.

Matthew: It was always going to be an uneven split because of the size of support each team carry.

But where the SFL have completely blown it is by not having the £10 child tickets available throughout the stadium.

Because if these tickets were available in the South Stand then we might not have seen the same level of frustration.



What would winning this mean to Paisley?

Holly: Paisley is already buzzing with banners, St Mirren cupcakes as there's a definite wave of optimism through the younger generations (myself included) who haven't had the privilege of seeing Saints win a major trophy at Hampden. The lift and buzz is definitely a boost for the town and if Saints win then there will be a huge street party in the town.

Will Hearts fans still call it "the wee cup" if they win? And what if Hibs win "the big cup"?

Matthew: As long as the hoodoo remains over Hibernian, then Hearts fans will continue to refer to the League Cup as the wee cup, even if the team wins it on Sunday.

What is the key to you winning on Sunday?

Matthew: Winning the midfield battle is key for Hearts, especially because they will probably be outnumbered in that area, so whoever the two are that are slotted into central midfield, they will have to work their socks off.

Who from the opposition do you fear?

Holly: My main fears from the Hearts team are Ngoo and Sutton. The on loan striker has shades of the unknown an he can produce but with Sutton, the Saints fans know exactly what e can produce. Sutton links to an important part of our past but hopefully the Saints eleven will cement themselves in the history books.

Matthew: After the most recent encounter it would be Graham Carey for most fans, but the one I'd be most worried about if he starts, is John McGinn.

He has looked solid and comfortable in the centre of midfield and I believe if he starts, he'll be a dangerman.



Your favourite league cup memory to date?

Matthew: Unfortunately the League Cup has rarely been kind to Hearts, so the best memory is probably the most recent, as a cult hero was born when Michael Ngoo struck the equaliser against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the semi-final.

Holly: Saints haven't done too badly in the League Cup recently, a great moment for me was Billy Mehmet sending the support into raptures and into the 2010 final. Mehmet may be in Thailand but that goal against Hearts lives on but it'd be superb for Saints diehard, Steven Thompson to make headlines on Sunday.

Pick your starting XI for Sunday.

Holly: Samson, Van Zanten, Dummett, McAusland, Carey, McGinn, Newton, Teale, McGowan, Thompson, Gonçalves

Matthew: MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Wilson, McHattie; Holt, Stevenson, Tapping, Walker; Sutton, Ngoo

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