Defence key to Bluebells’ chances

Lochee United captain Lunan relishing prospect of reaching cup final

Lochee United skipper Paul Lunan believes that their defensive meanness can be the passport to reaching the Scottish Cup final for the second time in the club’s history.

The 35-year-old made just shy of 350 appearances while playing as a senior with Forfar, Arbroath and Montrose before turning junior with Broughty Athletic more than four years ago. And in those four seasons, he hasn’t enjoyed much luck in this competition.

“Until this season, sides that on paper we should have beaten have knocked us out,” he said.

But all that has changed this season with the Bluebells having conceded a paltry single goal – and that came from the penalty spot at Beith in the last round – en route to the last four.

Even although the Thomson Park outfit’s 1-0 win at Auchinleck – the first the Ayrshire side has suffered since the semi-finals became two-legged affairs – completed a hat-trick of wins in Ayrshire, Lunan acknowledges that denying the 11-time record winners of the trophy will require all their defensive resilience.

He said, “The tie is definitely not over and we will have to stand firm against a side that battles all the way and will try to intimidate us. Because of that it will be physically very demanding especially as they go long playing balls from back to front.

“We proved last week we could withstand everything they could throw at us and know that it will be very much same again today. In fact, it suits the way we play because we like to hit teams on the counter.

“But all the boys are up for the challenge. Everyone was bouncing at training this week and up for the challenge. Speaking personally, I am relishing the prospect of potentially playing in the final and the game couldn’t come quickly enough.”

The Bluebells will hope that history doesn’t repeat itself after their last semi experience in 2010 when they also took a single goal lead into the second leg.

Having beaten Linlithgow Rose at home, they even went ahead in the return leg before losing 4-2 on aggregate.

The difference this year is that they have home advantage for the second leg.

Other than long-term casualties Kevin Buchan and Paddy Deane, manager George Shields has a full squad.

If it aint broke, don’t fix it is the Bluebells boss’s approach to this crucial tie.

“It has worked well for us in the previous rounds so, we won’t change anything.

“Training went really well during the week and the boys are all up for it realising that this is a one-off chance to reach the final.”

Super League

Broughty Athletic, 3-0 winners over struggling Forfar West End in midweek, face Jeanfield Swifts – another club battling to beat the drop – at Riverside Stadium today.

With a clean bill of health after Wednesday’s game, Fed defender Ryan Blair is added to the squad after serving a two-match ban

Now free of GA Cup commitments after their 3-1 defeat at Carnoustie in midweek, Swifts can concentrate on the important business of retaining top flight status and are likely to show changes from the midweek defeat, though Lee Deans remains suspended.

Having booked a place in the semi-final of the GA Cup against Jeanfield in midweek, Carnoustie head to Penicuik seeking three points to ease any relegation fears.

Not that they will find it easy against the side sitting second in the Super League and who were 3-0 winners at Laing Park.

The Gowfers are without John Roberts and Luke Mcgeehan, but Marc Walker is available again after the expiry of his loan spell to Brechin Vics.

Wednesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Broughty leaves Forfar West End rooted at the foot of the table. For the tricky trip to Newtongrange, they will be along the same lines.

Hill of Beath have the toughest task of all away to league leaders Bonnyrigg Rose. The Lothian side have only failed to win two of their 12 home games and both of those were drawn.

Haws have only lost one of their last six in the league and that was at home to title contenders Linlithgow, but they are without suspended pair Russell Grierson and Shaun Leishman.

Premier League

Tayport still harbour outside promotion hopes after their 3-2 win at Thornton in midweek.

Next port of call is second from bottom Whitburn where they will be without the injured duo of Connor Ireland and Alan Tulleth. Ryan Suttie returns but Jamie Mackie is a doubt.

After defeat at Dunbar, Downfield’s hopes of a return to winning ways on Wednesday were dashed by the postponement of their match at Glenrothes. Now the Spiders are Bathgate bound and with their hosts just two points adrift of Paul Marr’s side, it is a great opportunity to put light between them and the bottom four.

Both Calvin Colquhoun and Phil Hagan are absentees.

Bottom side Kirrie Thistle head to sixth-placed Blackburn United and really must win if they are to have a chance of staying up.

St Andrews United have appointed former Craigroyston and Crossgates Juniors boss Andy Brown as their new manager.