Active Nation Scottish Cup Third round: previews of all the ties

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 22:51

ALBION ROVERS v ELGIN CITY

Defender Mick O'Byrne, midfielder Chris Boyle and striker David McFarlane may return for Rovers, but defender Todd Lumsden along with the midfield pair of Mark Canning and Steve McKeown are definitely out, while left-back Michael McGowan is rated as doubtful. Rovers can also include loan signings Adam Strachan and David Gormley.

For Elgin, central defensive pair of David W Craig and Paul Kazcan are out injured and doubts remain over Jake Inglis, Neil Macdonald and Craig Gunn, who have flu.

CLYDE v LIVINGSTON

Clyde have a clean bill of health and no suspension worries as they aim to steady the ship following last week's dismissal of manager John Brown.

Livingston's only concern is Italian striker Raffele de Vita, who has returned to training after four weeks out.

COWDENBEATH v ALLOA ATHLETIC

Cowdenbeath welcome back Mark Baxter, Gareth Wardlaw and Paul McQuade who have all recovered from knocks

but the trio of defender Darren McGregor, midfielder Danny MacKay and striker John Dempster remain out through injury. Alloa manager Allan Maitland welcomes back Mark Gilhaney to help compensate for the absence of on-loan striker Iain Russell who is not allowed to play. Front man Brian Carrigan is doubtful with flu.

DEVERONVALE v AYR UNITED

Deveronvale will miss the suspended Robert Brown and they have doubts over defender Derek Milne and captain Mark Chisholm. Ayr miss defender Martyn Campbell and striker Junior Mendes through injury. On-loan St Johnstone striker Stephen Reynolds cannot play.

EDINBURGH CITY v KEITH

Edinburgh City are sweating on the fitness of defender Jamie Bain, who has an ankle knock while Keith will be missing Gary Nicol, Iain Good and Neil Robertson through injury, with late checks required on Danny Tritton and Phil McCall.

IRVINE MEADOW v ARBROATH

West Region Champions Irvine Meadow will set out to become the first ever Junior side to defeat SFL opponents but have a doubt over defender Stephen Swift. Arbroath miss defender Ian Dobbins and back up goalkeeper Scott Morrison is doubtful with a gashed knee.

MONTROSE v EAST FIFE

Montrose manager Steven Tweed must do without defensive pair Gordon Pope and Sean Fleming along with midfielder James Collier while Robert Campbell, Paul Nugent, Scott Thomson and Goran Stanic remain out for East Fife.

AIRDRIE UNITED v QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

Airdrie will take the field just 24 hours after the sudden death of club director John Ballantyne. "We thought it best for the game to go ahead as that is what John would have wanted," said manager Kenny Black.

David Nixon, Mark Smyth, Tom Parratt, Frankie Lagana and Scott Gemmill are all injured for the home side, while for Queens, the long term injured trio of Ludovic Roy, Steve Tosh and Craig Barr remain out with defenders Bob Harris and Craig Reid both rated as doubtful to start. On-loan striker Dennis Wyness does not have permission to play.

MORTON v DUMBARTON

Morton miss out on the injured Kevin Cuthbert, Dominic Shimmin, Alex Walker, Allan Jenkins, Neil McFarlane and Stevie Masterton. Dumbarton have seen their plans hampered by wet weather.

"My team talk will need to take a bit longer as training was washed out," said manager Jim Chapman.

RAITH ROVERS v PETERHEAD

Raith Rovers welcome back Mark Campbell and Grant Murray after suspension and their squad has also been bolstered by the availability of Graeme Weir after injury and the signing of Dundee United striker Kevin Smith on loan. Jonny Russell, Iain Williamson and Iain Donaldson remain out injured and on-loan United midfielder Greg Cameron will not play.

Peterhead are without striker Scott Michie.

ROSS COUNTY v BERWICK RANGERS

The Dingwall men are only missing Steven Watt through suspension, while Berwick had a full squad for their stay at an Aviemore hotel last night.

"We will need to be professional in our approach as anything other than that could be costly," said County manager Derek Adams.

SPARTANS v FORFAR ATHLETIC

Spartans approach the first ever Scottish Cup tie at their new Ainslie Park ground with a full squad to choose from while Forfar manager Dick Campbell is unlikely to risk his son, former Spartans player Ross, who has a groin injury. However, Campbell Snr joked:

"He cost me 1,000 and four dinners at Spartans when we signed him from there so he may need to go on and recoup some of that outlay."

STENHOUSEMUIR v COVE RANGERS

Strikers Andy Brand and Iain Diack are ruled out through knee and ankle injuries respectively for Stenhousemuir with Coughlin bringing in players from the club's youth team to bolster his numbers.

Cove's co-manager Kevin Tindall is banned following his sending off against Annan Athletic in the last round, however club captain Eric Watson looks set to return to the centre of defence. Former Aberdeen and Partick Thistle midfielder Jamie Buchan is included after signing on at Allan Park recently, however Richie Livingstone is missing because of work commitments. Dean Lawrie is added to the pool as cover.

STIRLING ALBION v AUCHINLECK TALBOT

Stirling defenders Andy Graham and Stewart Devine are both struggling to be fit while Scottish Junior Cup holders Auchinleck have no injury or suspension worries.

THREAVE ROVERS v INVERURIE LOCOS

South of Scotland side Threave Rovers may miss David Irons – the 48-year-old former Morton manager – Paul Cook and Gavin Green. Their highland visitors have doubts over Neil McLean, Mo Morrison and Bruce Cormie.

WICK ACADEMY v BRECHIN CITY

Hamish Lamb is suspended for Wick and there are doubts over Martin Gunn and Gary Weir. Brechin manager Jim Duffy is without the services of winger Bobby Barr, who is cup-tied, along with defender David Murie and midfielder Steven Canning, who miss out due to work commitments.