Dunfermline’s Davie Graham is hoping the Pars will be razor sharp in tonight’s Scottish Cup replay against Inverness so he can finally bid farewell to his flourishing facial fuzz.
Graham is bristling after deciding last month that he wouldn’t shave until his side had tasted victory once again.
Unfortunately for him, their barren spell has now extended into the third week of January and he is itching to banish the beard hopefully after the Pars have secured their first home win of the season tonight against ICT.
He said: ”I had a moustache for Movember and I just said to the lads that I was going to grow a full beard and wouldn’t shave it off until we had won again.
”Obviously, it has been going a while now so hopefully I can get it off sooner rather than later. I’ve had a lot of facial hair in the past but this is maybe a bit extreme and I’ve even been getting a few funny looks on the way to training in the morning.
”But I decided to do it and I can’t go back on my word now. Hopefully, I can get rid of it after a victory over Inverness. Saturday’s defeat in the league against Hibs was another hard one to take, losing to the team a place above us in the league.
”So we just have to pick ourselves up, maybe nick a goal and get that elusive win, especially at home.”
The Fife side have had more than a few hairy moments this season, with goalie Chris Smith experiencing another in the first cup game up in Inverness when the ball took a terrible bobble deep into injury time to gift the home side their equaliser and take the tie to a replay.
McIntyre has since drafted in Preston North End stopper Iain Turner on loan until the end of the season and he was in goal against Hibs.
However, because he was signed after the first cup game, Turner is ineligible to play tonight, meaning Smith is set to regain his place between the sticks.
And Graham insists it is the popular keeper’s big chance to regain the jersey on a permanent basis.
He said: ”There was dejection at the end of the game up there. We really felt for big Chris as he had made a few good saves and then conceded because of a freak accident.
”The ball just bobbled and went right over his foot. Chris was a big part of last season’s championship-winning team and he wouldn’t be here unless he was a good goalie.
”It looks like he will be called on to face Inverness again. Big Iain came in and did well against Hibs but it is a chance for Chris to regain the jersey.”
The winners of the replay will next have a home tie against Celtic to look forward to and Pars boss Jim McIntyre admitted the financial rewards of that game add an extra dimension to this evening’s match.
He said: ”There is a huge incentive for both clubs to get through to the next round. I think we are similar sized in terms of budget and it could make a difference adding to your squad knowing you have that cup game coming. The game will be on TV and Celtic would be certain to bring a large support.
”We are on a bad run just now but all it will take to turn things around is one good result. We all have to keep believing.”
Paul Burns, Nicky Phinn, Steven Bell, Austin McCann and Craig Easton will miss the game through injury.
Inverness defender Kenny Gillet is suspended although forward Richie Foran is available again. Defender Steve Williams is ineligible as like Turner, his loan deal from Bradford was completed after the original tie, while defender Ross Tokely (calf) is again likely to miss out.