Dundee defender Matt Lockwood insists he is willing to take a penalty tonight but only if the Dark Blues end up in a shootout.
Lockwood blew a golden chance to fire his team into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup when his weak effort from the spot in the first game against Kilmarnock at Dens was easily saved.
It was a horrible hat-trick for the likeable Englishman, who had also failed to convert penalties in games against Ayr United and Morton.
Should Dundee get another spot-kick in tonight’s replay at Rugby Park either during the regulation 90 minutes or extra-time Lockwood will stand aside to leave the responsibility to another.
However, he will put his hand up if the tie goes to a penalty decider to discover who will be going through to face Hibs at Easter Road in the next stage of the competition.
”I don’t think the gaffer will let me take one if we get a penalty during the game!” said Lockwood, sporting a wry smile. ”However, if the match goes to penalties that would be different. I would offer my services and we will see what happens.”
Lockwood is still kicking himself for failing to find a way past Killie keeper Cammy Bell first time around when the match was tied at one-goal apiece. However, he is determined not to carry any of the baggage from the Dens tie into this one.
”We should have won the first game and if I had scored the penalty we would have gone through 2-1,” he said. ”This is a clean slate, though. We can’t afford to think of what might have been because we have another bite at the cherry.
”We know it’s going to be tough as they are a good side but they are not invincible. We know we can do it.
”It is a shame that we didn’t finish the tie here when we had the chance but these things happen. This is another tie.”
Dundee head for Ayrshire tonight buoyed by their impressive 3-0 win over Livingston in the league at the weekend which keeps them firmly in the hunt for promotion back to the top flight.
Lockwood stressed: ”We have been doing really well over the last couple of months so we are obviously quietly confident going into the game.
”They are at home now so are favourites and Killie are a good side for sure. But if we go out and play well then we can cause teams trouble. That is what we intend to do.”
The Livi display has fed into the feelgood factor at Dens, with manager Barry Smith raving about one aspect of the performance in particular.
It was their first goal, which saw every Dundee outfield player touch the ball in a move that comprised 17 passes before Ryan Conroy scored.
But Smith admits he would be happy to sacrifice the flowing football for a dogged display as long as they secure their place in the next round.
”We will take anything to get us through. If it is a scrappy goal then so be it,” said the manager. ”Our first one against Livingston at the weekend involved 17 passes but it doesn’t have to be like that this time. It is all about getting through.
”We are under no illusions going down to Killie, though, because Rangers lost there not that long ago. It will be very difficult.”
Dundee winger Nicky Riley is out after hurting his hamstring when he came on as a substitute against Livi.
Smith said: ”Nicky won’t make it. It is his other hamstring this time but we are hoping it is not too serious.”
Killie boss Kenny Shiels does not believe his side are in the driving seat following their draw against the First Division side at Dens Park.
He said: ”We have eight players out injured James Dayton and David Silva have only rank outside chances of making it two who are ineligible and we have let three players go. So we are 13 players bereft of what we could have had on January 1.
”So I would say that they have a great chance. Dundee are a more of an SPL team playing in the First Division and they have proved that. They will be a major threat and we will be on our guard.
”Hopefully, we can progress. It is going to be hard but we will be up for it.”