A bit of light relief this weekend as Scottish Cup action takes centre stage. It's off to Paisley to face St Mirren in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at St Mirren Park, or the Simple Digital Arena or even the SMISA Stadium, whatever cranks yer handle. Well it would have taken centre stage had the Duke of Edinburgh not taken his leave of this earth. With his funeral kicking-off at 3:00pm all Scottish Cup ties have been moved from the traditional kick-off slots and we find ourselves heading to Paisley for an early Friday night start at 6:00pm.
The climax to the Championship season is going down to the wire apart from already promoted Hearts. Everyone else has something to play for although Alloa will do well to get out of this one with only three games left. So with the business end of the season in full swing, the Cup will be a welcome distraction for the Caley Jags, or Caley Jabs as we are now known given our vaccination involvement. Three games left to decide our fate. Dundee (H), Hearts (A), Ayr United (H). Anyway, that's for another Preview.
We find ourselves here having squeezed past Buckie away then eliminating Ross County at Dingwall. Dan Mackay's goal against County has been nominated for goal of the round. This will be our third away game in a row in the Cup and our seventh out of the last eight games overall. During that run we have won six on the bounce and a draw on Saturday against Queen of the South where Nikolay Todorov scored his tenth goal of the season.
Check out the contenders for goal of the round
St Mirren entered the Cup in the 3rd round and beat Hamilton 0-3 Jamie McGrath (2) and Kristian Dennis were the scorers. McGrath's first was a great lofted finish (see video above) in the fourth minute, his second a penalty and Dennis ended the scoring with a long range curling strike which can also be seen in the goal of the round contenders.
Our last win over the Buddies was in February 2015 at St Mirren Park when goals by Greg Tansey and Ryan Christie were enough to see off the Buddies who replied through Jim Goodwin. Incidentally, the last time we met in the Cup, we trounced St Mirren 4-0 in a replayed tie in Inverness following a 1-1 draw in Paisley. We went on to lift the Cup that year. Deja Vu anyone? No replays this time out, extra time and penalties should it go that far. St Mirren's last season playing us regularly saw them win the Chamionship, beating us three times and drawing one. St Mirren's last outing was a surprise 1-0 defeat to Motherwell where they dominated for long spells and the result was compounded when McGrath missed a first half penalty.
Last 10 Competitive Meetings with St Mirren (2018 - 2014) - St Mirren's last FIVE Championship games -> D WL DL
Double congratulations are due to born again David Carson for some tremendous performances at right back since his return from injury. Not only has he been awarded the Championship Player of the Month award for March, but he has agreed a three year contract to keep him here until 2024. He has kept some tricky players quiet at right back during this spell, notably against Raith Rovers and Dunfermline where he scored his first goal for the club as they claimed the three points. He has continued this form into April with tremendous performances at Dingwall in the Cup and at Cappiellow in the League where he made his 50th appearance for the Caley Jags in a 4-1 win.
Brad Mckay also get's a mention for inclusion in the team of the week for sterling defensive work at Dingwall, Morton and Palmerston.
Great recognition for the work the Caley Jags have been doing under the temporary leadership of Neil McCann and Billy Dodds.
***Latest Team News***
We have bigger fish to fry as we enter the final three games in the Championship. Neil McCann has a balancing act to get right as we strive to push for a top four finish. So does he go all out for a cup shock or does he keep his top players fresh for the Championship run-in. James Keatings has not featured much since news of his departure leaked out and injuries came along, but I wonder if the cup will see him re-instated. Unsettling news about on form Toddy, I hope he can put this behind him for now and do what he does best. Maybe we could wheel Ross Tokely out for this one, the Buddies fans love him!
Jim Goodwin has built a battle hardened side who can play with the best of them on their day. Former County captain Marcus Fraser has been performing well for the Buddies. Attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath is top scorer so far this season with thirteen goals to his credit. Striker Jon Obika is struggling to make this one and midfielder Ryan Flynn has picked up a hamstring strain and could be out for a month. Colin Quaner (medial ligament) and Eamonn Brophy (broken foot) are also receiving treatment and unlikely to feature. They will also have to get through this tie without their manager in the dugout. St Mirren have confirmed that manager Jim Goodwin has been issued with a three-match suspension after breaching Disciplinary Rule 203 in the match against Hamilton Academical on Saturday 20th March. He will serve two matches immediately beginning with the cup tie against Inverness.
St Mirren's starting XI v Motherwell: Jak Alnwick; Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Connolly, Flynn, Erhahon, Doyle-Hayes, Durmus, Erwin, McGrath
A second game away against a Premiership side and a second very creditable performance. A game which, with a bit more good fortune, we could easily have won.
Many positives to take forward to Tue
bughtmaster
Excellent game, I feel we edged it but luck desreted us at the wrong time. good performances from all our guys Storey worked hard and meritted his place, Carson strong, aware and positive as ever. T
CaleyCanary
Feel proud of a great effort.
Took some balls to make the decision to go with a strong team and all out for the win, confidence in the camp obviously high enough to feel we were capable of doing
Scottish Cup Movement
A bit of light relief this weekend as Scottish Cup action takes centre stage. It's off to Paisley to face St Mirren in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at St Mirren Park, or the Simple Digital Arena or even the SMISA Stadium, whatever cranks yer handle. Well it would have taken centre stage had the Duke of Edinburgh not taken his leave of this earth. With his funeral kicking-off at 3:00pm all Scottish Cup ties have been moved from the traditional kick-off slots and we find ourselves heading to Paisley for an early Friday night start at 6:00pm.
The climax to the Championship season is going down to the wire apart from already promoted Hearts. Everyone else has something to play for although Alloa will do well to get out of this one with only three games left. So with the business end of the season in full swing, the Cup will be a welcome distraction for the Caley Jags, or Caley Jabs as we are now known given our vaccination involvement. Three games left to decide our fate. Dundee (H), Hearts (A), Ayr United (H). Anyway, that's for another Preview.
STREAMING £12
OFFICIAL PREVIEW
TODOROV STATEMENT
DAVID CARSON
To the Cup
We find ourselves here having squeezed past Buckie away then eliminating Ross County at Dingwall. Dan Mackay's goal against County has been nominated for goal of the round. This will be our third away game in a row in the Cup and our seventh out of the last eight games overall. During that run we have won six on the bounce and a draw on Saturday against Queen of the South where Nikolay Todorov scored his tenth goal of the season.
Check out the contenders for goal of the round
St Mirren entered the Cup in the 3rd round and beat Hamilton 0-3 Jamie McGrath (2) and Kristian Dennis were the scorers. McGrath's first was a great lofted finish (see video above) in the fourth minute, his second a penalty and Dennis ended the scoring with a long range curling strike which can also be seen in the goal of the round contenders.
Our last win over the Buddies was in February 2015 at St Mirren Park when goals by Greg Tansey and Ryan Christie were enough to see off the Buddies who replied through Jim Goodwin. Incidentally, the last time we met in the Cup, we trounced St Mirren 4-0 in a replayed tie in Inverness following a 1-1 draw in Paisley. We went on to lift the Cup that year. Deja Vu anyone? No replays this time out, extra time and penalties should it go that far. St Mirren's last season playing us regularly saw them win the Chamionship, beating us three times and drawing one. St Mirren's last outing was a surprise 1-0 defeat to Motherwell where they dominated for long spells and the result was compounded when McGrath missed a first half penalty.
2 - 2
(H)
0 - 1
(A)
0 - 2
(H)
2 - 4
(A)
2 - 1
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
4 - 0
(H)
1 - 1
(A)
1 - 0
(A)
2 - 2
(H)
Brad Mckay also get's a mention for inclusion in the team of the week for sterling defensive work at Dingwall, Morton and Palmerston.
Great recognition for the work the Caley Jags have been doing under the temporary leadership of Neil McCann and Billy Dodds.
***Latest Team News***
We have bigger fish to fry as we enter the final three games in the Championship. Neil McCann has a balancing act to get right as we strive to push for a top four finish. So does he go all out for a cup shock or does he keep his top players fresh for the Championship run-in. James Keatings has not featured much since news of his departure leaked out and injuries came along, but I wonder if the cup will see him re-instated. Unsettling news about on form Toddy, I hope he can put this behind him for now and do what he does best. Maybe we could wheel Ross Tokely out for this one, the Buddies fans love him!
Jim Goodwin has built a battle hardened side who can play with the best of them on their day. Former County captain Marcus Fraser has been performing well for the Buddies. Attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath is top scorer so far this season with thirteen goals to his credit. Striker Jon Obika is struggling to make this one and midfielder Ryan Flynn has picked up a hamstring strain and could be out for a month. Colin Quaner (medial ligament) and Eamonn Brophy (broken foot) are also receiving treatment and unlikely to feature. They will also have to get through this tie without their manager in the dugout. St Mirren have confirmed that manager Jim Goodwin has been issued with a three-match suspension after breaching Disciplinary Rule 203 in the match against Hamilton Academical on Saturday 20th March. He will serve two matches immediately beginning with the cup tie against Inverness.
St Mirren's starting XI v Motherwell: Jak Alnwick; Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Connolly, Flynn, Erhahon, Doyle-Hayes, Durmus, Erwin, McGrath
Subs: Lyness; Tait, McAllister, MacPherson, Finlayson, Reid, Dennis, Henderson
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