Divided loyalties but Preston gives Saints the edge
come at a good time before the cup final. But we can’t get too carried away. It only really matters what happens on the day but the win last week does help us with spirit and confidence.
“It’s a clean slate for Sunday. Livingston beat us at our place earlier in the season. We’ll put the games against them so far to one side and go and attack Sunday.
“We know what they are like. They are direct, fight for everything and don’t give you any time on the ball.
“We need to nullify their threats and get on the ball to create chances. The intensity of the game will be high.
“We’ve been defending brilliantly in the past few weeks and hopefully we can take that into the weekend as well.”
For McCann, there is a sadness that supporters will not be able to attend the final due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He feels their support, though.
Perth has this week turned blue and white and McCann said: “Liam Gordon had mentioned all the photos of Perth. He’s obviously from the city so it’s massive for him.
“It shows the impact that football has on the city. Hopefully we can do them proud.
“I know the fans won’t be there but I’m sure it will still be a great day for everyone if we win.”
Allan Preston has reason to be supporting both teams at Hampden.
But the former full-back admits he will be edging towards St Johnstone.
Preston enjoyed a successful playing career in Perth and helped Saints book a League Cup final ticket in 1998.
He netted a screamer in the semi-final against Hearts and still remembers the celebratory roar from delighted fans who had travelled in their numbers.
From a Livingston perspective, he was on the coaching staff when the West Lothian club lifted the trophy in 2004.
Preston said:“I have great memories from my time with both clubs, playing in a final with Saints and winning the League Cup with Livingston back in 2004 when I was assistant to Davie Hay. “Like St Johnstone, they have only won one trophy. So this is a huge opportunity for both teams to get their name on another cup.
“It’s a tough call for me. But I’ll be sneaking towards St Johnstone in this one, simply because of my years in that dressing room, finishing third in the league and getting into Europe. That was the happiest time of my career.”
Preston didn’t start in the League Cup final but entered the action in the second half as Saints attempted to claw back Rangers.
He said:“In the lead-up to the final I was toiling even to make the bench. Thankfully I got a late 15-minute run, which was good to have.
“After the semi-final win over Hearts I only started one more game, against Dunfermline a few days later, because of the hip injury that forced me to quit playing.
“It was killing me. But I didn’t think at the time it was going to be the end of the line.
“That final at Celtic Park was a big thing for the club. They hadn’t reached a final for around 30 years.
“Rangers were crammed with big-name players and were winning trophies right, left and centre at that time.
“But Nick (Dasovic) scored a wonderful goal and we acquitted ourselves well. It was a great occasion for everyone at the club.
“Despite the result Geoff Brown must have been happy because unbelievably there was a free bar back at McDiarmid after the game!”
Preston, who is now a radio sports pundit with the BBC, has watched Saints and Livingston face off already this season.
He was at the Tony Macaroni Arena to see the Perth men claim a deserved 2-1 win thanks to goals from Scott Tanser and Shaun Rooney.
Preston said:“It’s a real shame whoever wins on Sunday will be denied celebrations at full time with their fans.
“But both teams have had experience of a Hampden with no crowd so they know what to expect.
“I think it will be a really tight game. I was at the recent league game and St Johnstone thoroughly deserved their win.
“But this is a completely different game.
“If Davie Martindale wins the League Cup and gets Livingston into the top six then for me he has to be the manager of the year.
“You could also make out a case for Callum Davidson in his first season as a manager. Saints aren’t out of the running for top six either.
“It will be a great achievement for whichever one of them wins.”