The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Elgin: Ding wall sibling rivalry at Raith.
● Dingwall sibling rivalry adds spice to last-eight tie
The Dingwall family will be divided for the first time when brothers Tony and Russell face each other in tonight’s Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup tie between Raith Rovers and Elgin City.
The pair came through the youth ranks at Ross County before going their separate ways last season, with Tony joining Raith in January before Russell made the switch to Elgin in the summer.
Both will be watched by a large travelling family contingent from the Highlands, with Russell, who is three years younger, determined to produce an upset against the League 1 leaders.
“It will be the first time we have played against each other, having been in the same team a couple of times,” Russell said.
“I had missed the draw but he texted me straight away as soon as the draw was made with a bit of banter. Hopefully he is fit and can play – he has had bother with his ankle.
“My mum and dad, my girlfriend, his girlfriend and her mum and dad are going down. They have got hospitality at the game.
“It should be a good event. They are going to be happy one way or another.”
City have enjoyed an excellent run in the competition so far, which has seen them defeat higher league opponents Dundee and Airdrieonians.
Russell sees no reason why Gavin Price’s men cannot repeat the feat to reach the last four for the first time.
The 22-year-old said: “It’s good for the players and the club.
“If we can get through this we would have the chance of maybe getting into a final.
“That would give us a chance to win a bit of silverware, which I don’t think the club has done in a long time.
“We are obviously underdogs going into this game, but in the last two rounds of the same cup we have been underdogs as well.
“We have gone in with a good gameplan which has worked for us, so we will just hope to do that again. If our chances come, hopefully we can take them and it will be a good result for us.”
City are fifth in League 2 following a run of three wins from their last four league matches, and Russell added: “In the last wee while we have kicked on and started playing better, so it’s going well at the moment.
“We had a bad start for the players we have, but we have got a wee bit of momentum now.
“With the squad we have got, I feel we can give anyone in the league a game. We are definitely hoping to be in the playoffs come the end of the season.”