Wotherspoon on course to be fit for Hampden final

Callum Davidson is “optimistic” David Wotherspoon will win his battle to be fit for Sunday’s Betfred Cup final.

The St Johnstone manager believes there is a good chance both Wotherspoon and Murray Davidson will return to training by the middle of the week and put their hands up for Hampden Park selection.

The former Hibs man has arguably been Saints’ best player this season and was on top form again in the 3-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday.

Realising that his groin was starting to tighten around the hour mark and calling the physio on straight away may prove to be as significant as anything he did in the game before it.

“Spoony’s a bit tight and sore,” said Davidson.

“It was a little bit of a precaution taking him off.

“I’m optimistic. I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t make it.

“He gets a lot of work on his glutes and lower back area during a season.

“There was maybe a bit of fatigue in his groin on a muddy pitch.

“He’s an experienced player who is acutely aware of his own body and has had a few groin problems during his career.

“Hopefully by Wednesday or Thursday he’ll be fine and we’ll have a full squad to choose from.”

Midfielder Davidson, who picked up a calf injury against Rangers three weeks ago, is also on course to be available for the Livingston match.

Livingston’s fast start to their Betfred Cup semifinal against St Mirren isn’t the only warning St Johnstone will need to heed at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The echoes of a League Cup final past send the same message.

As Saints’ 1969 goalkeeper Jimmy Donaldson recalls, Willie Ormond’s team that faced Jock Stein’s Celtic at the national stadium were caught cold by a secondminute Bertie Auld goal that proved to be the only one of the game.

Finals are about hitting the ground running and nerves need to be left in the dressing room.

“I remember getting a touch to Stevie Chalmers’ header to tip it on to the bar and it landed for Bertie to stick it in the net,” said Donaldson, 73, who still lives locally in Methven.

“John Lambie was back on the line but couldn’t do anything to stop it.

“It was the worst possible start for us. We were only two minutes into the game.

“We were nervous before the match, probably a bit overawed if I’m being honest.

“I remember thinking the dressing room was much quieter than usual in the countdown to kick-off.

“We had been relaxing at Allan Water in the build-up and arrived at Hampden on two buses, one for the team and one for the directors and wives.

“I was a bit apprehensive myself before the game got going. Like the other lads, it was my first final.

“The crowd at Hampden was huge, around 75,000, and of course most of them were backing Celtic.

“Our fans made themselves heard but the place erupted with their goal.

“We had to hang on for 20 minutes or so. They were pressing all the time. And remember half their team were Lisbon Lions.

“But we showed what we were capable of in the second half and John Fallon had to make a few very good saves to stop it going to extra-time, especially one from Benny Rooney late on.”

There were plenty of Hampden eyewitnesses who would suggest what happened after the second minute was worthy of extra-time, the legendary Parkhead boss among them.

“I remember Jock Stein coming into our dressing room after the game to say we should be proud of ourselves and we deserved a draw,” said Donaldson.

“He’d warned his players we were no pushovers after a 2-2 draw at Parkhead earlier that season. We were in that final on merit.

“We were downhearted but it was a lovely touch from a manager who had won the European Cup two years before.

“It was quite touching, a nice gesture.

“Looking back now we can be proud of our performance. Celtic were between European Cup finals at the time, with seasoned internationals in that team.”

Donaldson’s team were the first from Perth to get to a national final and in a few days they will lose their tag of the only one to compete for a trophy at Hampden.

And the former keeper gives Callum Davidson’s men a great chance of completing a Fair City Scottish and League Cup double.

“I’d love to see this Saints team go one better and win it,” he said.

“They got rid of a Livingston hoodoo with a win at their place a few weeks ago.

“The club has won the Scottish Cup and now they have a great chance to win the League Cup for the first time in their history.

“I certainly think this team has a fair chance of winning the trophy.”

Saints forward Henry Hall gets his head to the ball.

Bertie Auld (arm raised) celebrates his early goal.