Buddies need to get it rout of their system
QUEEN’S PK v ST MIRREN
ALAN STUBBS hopes St Mirren’s trip to Hampden provides a tonic to cure the hangover of Saturday’s drubbing from Sunderland.
The Buddies boss believes tonight’s meeting with the League Two side can blow away the aftershock of a 6-0 friendly loss.
Stubbs said: “The players need to get another game and kick things on. The Sunderland game was part of our pre-season programme and not what we wanted in terms of the result.
“But Queens Park presents a chance to get back to cup football. We have put ourselves in a good position to progress from the group.
“What I will be looking for is a response from my players after the disappointment at the weekend.”
Spiders boss Gus MacPherson wants his players to use the tie as a proving ground for their own ambitions.
He said: “It’s a fantastic game for our players, some of them were playing junior football only four weeks ago.”
The Motherwell midfield star was thrown on by Alex McLeish as a late substitute in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Peru at the end of the season.
Cadden sat inside the dressing room of Lima’s national stadium afterwards before emotional calls home to dad Steve and mum Avril.
The 21-year-old then played the final 35 minutes against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in the second game of a trip that has given him the hunger for more international action.
After that dream experience, Cadden admits being on Betfred Cup duty with Well has been quite a contrast, with a home game against Edinburgh City followed by a trip to Stair Park at the weekend.
Last season’s finalists take on Queen of the South tonight looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a shoot-out defeat to Stranraer after a 1-1 draw.
And as he gets his focus back on club matters, Cadden said: “I loved every minute of being away with Scotland.
“I tried to cherish it and take in every experience that I could.
“It was the best and proudest moment of my career, pulling on the Scotland jersey.
“After the Peru game I was sitting in the changing room getting emotional and then I phoned my mum and dad.
“I never touched the ball in the game but that also meant I didn’t give it away!
“Seriously, I was always brought up with Scotland being the pinnacle of your career so to achieve that was incredible.
“I have to admit the atmosphere at Stair Park was a wee bit different from the Azteca but it’s a game of football and I treat them all the same.
“It’s good to get the competitive action underway straight away.
“It’s just different to playing in friendly fixtures.
“Pre-season friendlies are good for fitness but you can’t really recreate a competitive game.”
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson admitted he’s wary of the threat of Doonhamers striker Stephen Dobbie, who has bagged seven goals in three Group G games.
And the Northern Irishman reckons the veteran could still do a job in the top flight.
But Robinson laughed and said: “I don’t want to advertise him and make any of the Premiership teams stronger!
“Seriously, Stephen Dobbie is still a very good player and it’s possibly a surprise that he’s not in the top league.
“He’s an excellent finisher and we need to be on our guard against him.
“I do rate him and he has scored goals over the years at every club he has been at.”