The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rovers striker eyes another shot at cup glory
Cup final hero in 2014 thinks Stark’s Park men are capable of creating shock at Partick
Photos of John Baird adorn the walls of Stark’s Park thanks to his exploits in winning the Challenge Cup.
But the Raith Rovers striker is determined to create new memories as he eyes a return to the final of the competition and another shot at glory.
Rovers have a shock in their sights as they prepare to travel to take on Partick Thistle in the semi-finals this evening.
It is an intriguing tie that pitches bottom of the Championship against top of League One and Baird is convinced the Fifers have a chance of causing an upset. The 34-year-old wrote his name into the Kirkcaldy club’s folklore with his extra-time winner against Rangers in the 2014 final of the tournament, then called the Ramsdens Cup.
Now with a different sponsor, the aim is still the same as John McGlynn’s men bid to go one step closer to lifting the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup.
Baird said: “It’s a competition that brings back happy memories for me. Every time I play in this cup that winner against Rangers gets mentioned, especially now I’m back at Raith Rovers.
“This is a great opportunity for the club and the team to get to a cup final again. There’s only three finals you can get to in Scotland, so it’s a massive thing.
“We’ve got a lot of good young players who have got the opportunity to go and play in a cup final and we’ve got to grasp that. It could be our first, it could be our last, it’s something where we’ve got to do everything we can to get there.
“It’s about making memories, not just for myself but for everybody.
“I saw first hand that the memories are not just for the players, but for their families, friends, everybody at the club. It brings everybody together. Hopefully we can do that again.”
Raith can take belief from their record in the league, where they have lost just once in their last 12 matches.
Partick, meanwhile, have not won in their last six games and are currently rock bottom of the table.
Baird added: “There’s a league between us and Partick but they’re at the bottom and we’re at the top, so we’ll go there with confidence and without any pressure on us whatsoever.
“There’s definitely pressure on them because we’re in the league under them. They’re expected to win because we’re from League One and they’re at home.
“We went to Livingston and did alright in the Scottish Cup, so I’m sure we’ll be more than capable of giving Partick something to think about.”
“This is a great opportunity for the club and the team to get to a cup final again. JOHN BAIRD
Firhill manager Ian McCall is delighted to have the opportunity to book a place in the final despite his side’s relegation concerns.
The Jags sit at the bottom of the Championship but McCall is happy to be fighting on two fronts.
He explained: “This semi-final is not a distraction, it is a great game to have. This club has never won this competition so it is a game to be welcomed.
“A final would excite everyone connected with the club so, despite our other challenges, this is an opportunity I am really looking forward to.”
“I do not see us as the favourites, despite being in the higher league. There is only one league place between the two teams and they have had a season all about wins whereas our season has been something different.
“I know their management team of John McGlynn and Paul Smith well and they know how to get the best out of their team.”
Getting the best out of his team is McCall’s aim after a disappointing 2-0 defeat from Dundee last weekend with the Jags boss saying: “Dundee have strengthened and improved whereas we were very poor.
“I took the heat for that as I did not pick the right team for the game. I will get that right for this game.
“Whatever side I put out will be sent out to win and take Thistle closer to our first success in this competition.”