BRING ON SAUGHTON

Cup pitch row doesn’t bother veteran hitman

John Sutton has played almost everywhere during a successful career across the UK and beyond.

However, the St Mirren striker admits he will be crossing a new ground off his list this weekend when the Buddies travel to Saughton Enclosure for their Scottish Cup clash with East of Scotland side Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

Saughton has come in for criticism from some quarters, with Saints issuing a statement following the confirmation of the clash highlighting their concerns over the ground being able to meet the demands of hosting the game.

However, Sutton, who admits he isn’t entirely sure where the ground is, revealed that the squad is all looking forward to the challenge of facing off against the non league side at unfamiliar surroundings.

Sutton told Express Sport: “I’ve never been there – though I have probably driven past it a few times and not even realised.

“But it is still a big game for us. It has something of a novelty factor, going to somewhere that I am sure the majority of the squad have never been, but we will be treating it every bit as seriously as we would if it was a league game.

“People may have been talking about the ground but that isn’t for us to worry about. At the end of the day we just want to get through to the next round.

“We will treat Lothian Thistle and the ground with the utmost respect and we will head there full of confidence.”

St Mirren will be looking to replicate their cup heroics from last season, which saw them reach the final of the Irn-Bru Cup, as well as doing well in the Scottish Cup before being knocked out by all-conquering Celtic at Parkhead.

Sutton, who won the Challenge Cup with St Mirren back in 2005, insists that another run in the tournament could do the side a world of good, after seeing the momentum it gave Saints in the league last season.

He added: “We want a cup run, and we want to go far in these competitions.

“I think it worked well for us last year as it gave us a break from the league.

“A couple of results in the Scottish Cup got us firing in the league and pushed us over the line.

“It is an important one for us and there’s a massive game at Inverness too the following week.

“There is a lot to look forward to at this club and it is still early days in the season.

“There is a good chance of it being a successful one – and that is all we can hope for.”