Arbroath boss Paul Sheerin reckons his side have a great chance to get to a national final after drawing Rangers’ conquerers Queen of the South in the Ramsdens Cup semi-finals.
The Doonhamers knocked Ally McCoist’s men out of the competition on Tuesday night and their reward is a home tie against Sheerin’s Lichties on October 14.
But while the current Second Division league leaders will no doubt be favourites, the Arbroath manager remains confident his side have what it takes to progress.
”I would have much preferred a home draw but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers at this stage,” he said.
”I thought Queens were excellent and their never-say-die attitude paid dividends with an upset, going to a place like Ibrox and getting a win.
”To be fair, they are flying at the moment and gave us a right going over earlier in the season (Arbroath lost 6-0), so that winning habit obviously breeds confidence.
”Obviously the board would have fancied Rangers at Ibrox but from a personal point of view it gives us a chance to get to a cup final.
”With four teams left in the hat it’s just a lottery, but it’s a massive opportunity to get to a final and it’s something we’ve never done.”
Lichties captain Stuart Malcolm reckons that the Gayfield players will be extra determined to see off Queen of the South and reach their first-ever Ramsdens Cup final.
The Angus side head to Dumfries just six weeks after the 6-0 hammering.
Malcolm said: ”It is a result we will be out to rectify by trying our very utmost to get a win. We need to give a better account of ourselves as the last time we were down there they were sensational and really did give us a lesson. That gives us a real incentive to win.
”We had been conceding sloppy goals but getting through in games so perhaps going down there and losing so heavily gave us the fright we needed. To be fair it looks as if it has worked as we have kept two clean sheets since.”
Malcolm added: ”We are a new team as there were a lot of changes in the summer as there were only six or seven of us that stayed. We are in a bit of transition just now but getting to the semi-finals is a positive sign and reaching the final would be great.
”It will be hard to do as they had a great result at Ibrox beating Rangers at their place at any time is a terrific achievement.”
In the other semi-final, Cowdenbeath were paired with fellow First Division side Partick Thistle, who clinically disposed of Raith Rovers in the previous round.
Both ties are due to be played on Sunday October 14.