WE’RE CUP FOR QUEENS BATTLE*
IMRIE HOPING TO SECURE A Gaffer challenges squad to continue their unbeaten run at Cappielow PLACE IN 4TH ROUND DRAW
MORTON boss Dougie Imrie has challenged his players to avoid a shock and launch a Scottish Cup run ahead of their Cappielow clash against Queen of the South today.
In-form Ton are hoping to seal a place in the fourth round draw - which will see the Premiership sides introduced into the competition.
And Imrie insists today’s opposition will be a tough nut to crack despite dropping out of the Championship last season.
He wants his men to carry their good league form into the competition.
Imrie told the Tele: “That is the main aim - to try and get a cup run going.
“But we also want to try and keep our home form intact, and that means winning today.
“We have been brilliant the last few weeks at home and want to continue that, and if we can then we know we will be in the next round.”
The 39-year-old says he is well aware of the danger that the side currently sitting in seventh in the league below will pose.
He says Willie Gibson and his squad will come to Greenock determined to cause an upset and that his team have to stand up to that challenge.
The manager said: “Queens will be looking to take a scalp from a team above them in a different league.
“Over the last few weeks Willie
has changed the shape of his team and how he wants to play his way of football and we need to try and combat that.
“I know Willie well as a player, we have played against each other many times in our own careers. “He will have them fired up - they like to try and get the ball down and play, switch the ball side to side and get balls in the box, so we know what to expect. “We just need to deal with that and then take our game to them.” The Ton will be facing two former players with Gavin Reilly and Iain Wilson looking to return to haunt their old side.
Imrie says he knows the threat they carry, as he wanted to resign both of them in the summer before they went south to Dumfries.
He told the Tele: “They’re both great lads.
“I wanted to try and keep them in the summer but unfortunately they moved on, so they will be coming back with a point to prove.
“You expect that with former players coming back to play at their old clubs.
“We know their strengths and weaknesses and the guys have been told to be well aware of them - so I expect the players that are asked to start today to take care of that.”
Challenge Imrie, says Gibson’s team will want to take a scalp