The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Iwelumoto takenothing forgranted inForfar
ST JOHNSTONE striker Chris Iwelumo has enjoyed his fair share of memorable cup experiences throughout his career.
No doubt today’s trip to Forfar in the Scottish Cup fifth round will be another to add to the collection.
But while the 35-year-old is looking forward to the occasion at Station Park, the Saints hitman admits it will be a little bit different to what he has previously been accustomed to.
Iwelumo knows all about the romance of cup competitions and was part of the Colchester United team who gave Chelsea a scare in the FA Cup back in 2006, when a Paulo Ferreira strike and two late goals from Joe Cole saw the Blues come from behind to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge and book a quarter-final place.
This afternoon will be a world away in terms of the personnel he will be up against, but he reckons Forfar will be just as determined to cause a cup upset as his Colchester side were that afternoon.
“I’ve had a few decent cup runs down south and it’s been all right,” he said.
“When I was down with Colchester we got Chelsea in the fifth round, so that’s probably the furthest I’ve been.
“I was up against Ricardo Carvalho and Robert Huth at the back in that game and they are two very, very hard players.
“I remember I smashed Carvalho as well and he just never even acknowledged it — I think I got him with a peach as well.
“He just stood up, brushed himself off and never even looked in my direction, so that’s when I thought: ‘Oh, we’re in a game here’.
“They are just different breeds down there at Chelsea and I’ve played against them a few times in the cup.
“When I was at Stoke, I thought we were a big team but you come up against Chelsea and walking out they were all just machines.
“I’m sure Forfar will be a bit different but they’ll be up for it.
“Having said that, hopefully if we can win this we’ll be in the quarter-finals and you never know.
“Games are coming thick and fast at the moment and it’s not a bad thing for us.
“You just get your head down training and you look forward to all these games, and I think they are all amazing games to play in.”
Having signed just a fortnight ago, Iwelumo made his Saints debut as a secondhalf substitute in Saturday’s League Cup semi-final againstAberdeen.
At that point though, the Perth men were 2-0 down and, just two minutes after Iwelumo entered the fray, Adam Rooney’s third meant it was effectively game over for Tommy Wright’s men.
The 4-0 loss will be hard for everyone at Saints to get over but Iwelumo hopes reaching the Scottish Cup quarter-finals will help ease the pain.
“We’ve just got to look ahead to this weekendaftertheAberdeendisappointment,” he said.
“We’ve got to try and bounce back, get the last couple of days out of the way and look forward to the Forfar game.
“I just came on in the second half on Saturday but I come on and do what I do.
“I try to keep the ball up, win my flick-ons and hopefully a chance drops to you, but unfortunately it wasn’t the case on Saturday.
“Obviously everyone was disappointed after the match because the boys have been on fire recently and have been doing really well.
“Of course people are going to be on a real downer after losing a semi-final.
“Everything was going well and everything was falling into place and now everyone is going to say: What if?
“It wasn’t to be.”
Saints will be without injured keeperAlan Mannus, midfielder Murray Davidson and striker Steven MacLean, while defender Tam Scobbie is suspended.
Iwelumo could be in line for a start this afternoon— although he revealed this week was the first time he has ever trained on an artificial surface, let alone played on it — while fellow forward Michael O’Halloran could also come into contention.
Free parking for Saints fans’coaches and cars is available in the Lawrie & Symington (Forfar Auction Mart) Yard off the Jail Road and through the Market Muir.