Underdog tag will suit Jags

East Kilbride Thistle gaffer Alan Paterson reckons his side will relish their underdogs tag as they head to Lochee United in the Junior Cup this weekend.

The Jags had been due to make the trip to Dundee on Saturday, but heavy snowfall in the City of Discovery forced the match to be postponed.

The sides will try again this Saturday and Thistle will big outsiders at 9/1 with some bookmakers.

But Paterson said:“We just have to go up there and embrace the challenge.

“I’ve heard we are 9/1 with the bookies, so they obviously think Lochee are strong favourites.

“But that suits us. We’ll just play to our strengths and focus on our game.

“A lot of the guys might not get to this stage of the competition again, so they should take the chance to give it their best shot.

“And hopefully the more experienced players in the squad like Dunga [Steven McClung] can help us get through.

“After all the snow, the weather is to pick up and it will be a lot milder, so we should be okay for this weekend.”

Paterson will be without Matt Gray for the trip after the Jags decided not to appeal his controversial red card during their fiery defeat to Port Glasgow.

“We didn’t appeal it because if it had been rejected his ban would have been increased to four games,”said Paterson.

“The league is more important to us than the cup, so we’ll just need to take the hit on that.

“Joe McIntosh is still carrying an injury from a bad tackle against Port Glasgow, but apart from that we have a clean bill of health.”

Thistle have received a boost ahead of their trip north after a local business stepped in to fund their bus to Dundee.

Derek Graham of EK Service Centre in The Village has sponsored the team and Paterson has thanked the businessman for backing his boys.

“It’s a big thing for us to get this sponsorship,”said Paterson.

“It’s a long journey up there and a it would have cost a bit of money for everyone travelling up in their cars.

“Another thing is, for a lot of the cup games, your team spirit is built on the bus on the way up and it’s always great travelling back on the bus after a win.

“I’d like to thank EK Service Centre for that, it’s really good of them to get behind the team.”

Meanwhile, the Showpark side will warm up for Saturday’s clash with a friendly away to Bonnyton Thistle on