Showdown specialist Murphy happy to assume Annan’s underdog tag
Annan manager Peter Murphy has in-depth experience of play-off football and he knows that being written off in their League 1 final against Clyde does not matter once the first whistle goes tonight.
Murphy said: “We are the underdogs as Clyde are the bigger club.
“However, I know a good bit about play-offs and things do not always work out the way people expect.
“I played for Carlisle in Conference play-offs back in 2005 and scored the winning goal in the final at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium against Stevenage Borough. We won League Two the following year and were involved in the play-offs for the Championship next season.
“In Scotland I was involved in play-offs with Ayr. I know what goes with the territor y and I know that favourites do not always win.”
Murphy added: “Stenhousemuir were favourites in the semi-final and we beat them home and away. They had us under pressure in both ties but our players stood up to the challenge.
“Clyde will be a challenge as they have been on a great run and still have a sense of grievance over the points penalty that affected them. However, I am confident we can stand up to the challenge.”
Scott Hooper, David Wilson and Aidan Smith are all injury doubts.
Clyde saw off Edinburgh City 3-0 on Saturday to complete a 4-0 aggregate success and manager Danny Lennon is hoping his men learn quickly again.
“The turnaround in these games is quick so you are restricted to what you can do on the training ground,” he said. “You go through the analysis of our opponents and our game plan with the players and hope they have picked it up. Against Edinburgh City that was certainly the case and we now need to hope that will be the case at Galabank.
“Saturday’ s performance was a complete one and we need the same against Annan.”
Clyde’ s only injury doubt is full-back Barry Cuddihy.