Longridge will put Docherty friendship to one side when ex-accies lock horns

By Louis Longridge and Greg Docherty will leave friendship at the side of the pitch for 90 minutes tomorrow when Falkirk face Rangers at Ibrox.

Bairns attacker Longridge started the season at Hamilton alongside Docherty but joined Paul Hartley’s side on loan in October before making the move to the Championship club permanent in January.

Midfielder Docherty, 21, signed for boyhood heroes Rangers before the transfer window closed for a fee of around £675,000 and the pair will meet up again in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarterfinal.

Longridge said: “I am really close to Greg and I speak to him on a daily basis and there has been a bit of joking about the game on Sunday.

“He has been winding me up, saying he is going to get stuck in about me and I have been saying the same thing, just banter, just winding each other up. It is all good-humoured.

“The two of us are itching for the game to go on although it is a bigger occasion for myself, being the underdog.

“We will embrace each other before the game, shake hands and then the two of us will get stuck right into each other and have a wee chat after the game.”

Longridge was not surprised that Docherty got his big move, although for a time he did not think the midfielder would be heading to Rangers.

He said: “At the start of the season I knew something was going to maybe happen in January for him although at the time I didn’t think it was going to be Rangers. I thought that he would maybe go down south.

“But it was inevitable that he would move, especially this season because he started adding goals and assists to his game. He is also a fit boy and keeps himself in good condition. If you look at his stats and what he covers every game, he is still able to produce the goods as well as cover the distance.

“So it was only a matter of time before a club was going to come in for him, and no disrespect to Hamilton because they developed him.

“He seems to be enjoying it and I am going to be excited to line up against him on Sunday.”